The match between Toulouse, defending champion, and Cardiff, scheduled for Saturday on the occasion of the 4th day of the European Cup, was canceled due to Covid-19 contamination in the Toulouse ranks and Cardiff declared winner on green carpet , the organizer announced on Friday.
“Injustice” for Didier Lacroix
“The risk of additional contamination having been deemed too great, it was unfortunately decided to cancel the match. As a result, the Cardiff Rugby club was awarded the Pool B match 28-0 with five ranking points, in accordance with the tournament rules,” said EPCR (European professional club rugby). in a press release.
The president of Stade Toulousain Didier Lacroix cried “injustice” concerning this decision which deprives his team of a chance to comfortably ensure their qualification for the knockout stages.
Before the start of the 4th day of the group stage, the five-time European champion is in seventh place and must finish in the top eight of group B to access the next stage.
Castres, the Wasps, the French Stadium and the Scarlets can still mathematically pass him, but it would take a disaster scenario for Toulouse to be eliminated.
The Haut-Garonne management did not wish to communicate the number of positive cases of Covid-19 in its ranks, nor the identity of the contaminated players, but several French internationals, usually holders, did not appear in the composition decided for the meeting: Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka and Anthony Jelonch.
The program for the 4th day of the Champions Cup
Friday, December 21
(9 p.m.) Harlequins – Castres
Saturday January 22
(2 p.m.) Bath – Leinster
Toulouse stadium – Cardiff (canceled)
(4.15pm) Leicester – Bordeaux-Bègles
(6.30pm) Scarlets – Bristol
Ulster- Clermont
(9 p.m.) Glasgow – La Rochelle
Sunday January 23
(2pm) Dirty – Ospreys
French stadium – Connacht
(4:15 p.m.) Munster – Wasps
Racing 92 – Northampton
(6:30 p.m.) Montpellier -Exeter