Concern is growing within the Top 14 rugby championship. More than a dozen matches have already had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The clubs were hoping for an improvement for the second half of the season.
But their hopes were dashed.
Between the cases of Covid-19 which are increasing in rugby clubs, a suspended European Cup and stadiums still empty, many presidents, coaches and players of the Top 14 are sinking into depression.
Currently, they do not know in what state they will arrive at the end of the season, "if we get there", nuance a club president.
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"There is great concern for this second part of the season. We hoped to be able to start it by having the public. In view of what has been announced by the government, we believe that this situation will continue", deplores Jean-François Fonteneau, President of Agen, last in the Top 14. "Concern is growing and we feel totally powerless. We say to ourselves that we will never get out of it," he adds.
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The arrival of the English variant of the coronavirus in some French clubs has also revived psychosis.
Lately, the league recommended that players limit celebrations after a tryout to avoid contact.