The three-quarter center Virimi Vakatawa, one of Stade Toulousain's main assets for this European Cup final.
-
Franck Fife / AFP
The EPCR "has no other choice but to announce (...) a temporary suspension" of the group stage of the two European Rugby Cups, the organizer announced on Monday after the decision of the French government to ban Franco-British meetings "at least until the beginning of February".
The 3rd and 4th days of the continental rugby competitions were to take place on the weekends of January 15 and 22.
"The government wants to fight as a priority against all risks of introduction" of more contagious variants of the virus and their "circulation on the territory", specifies a letter sent by the ministry a little earlier in the day to the National League of rugby, on which French clubs depend.
The third and fourth days of the two continental competitions, the European Cup and the European Challenge, are therefore effectively postponed “both for matches organized in France and those taking place on British and Irish soil”.
Lyon was to receive the Scots from Glasgow while Toulouse was to go to England, to face Exeter, the title holders.
Clermont had to face the Irish from Munster, Racing 92 the Harlequins.
Sport
Coronavirus: From the VI Nations Tournament to the Champions League, can the English variant upset the end of the season?
Rugby european cup
Coronavirus
Rugby
Sport