too many cases of Covid-19 in Toulouse, Cardiff winner on green carpet
The pandemic continues to seriously disrupt the Stade Toulousain season. 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 the winner on the green carpet, the organizer announced on Friday.
“As the risk of additional contamination was deemed too great, it was unfortunately decided to cancel the match. As a result, the Cardiff Rugby club were awarded the Pool B match 28-0 with five ranking points, in accordance with the rules of the tournament”, indicated EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) in a press release.
>> READ ALSO: Rugby: the Stade Toulousain-Stade Français match will take place during the Six Nations Tournament
An “injustice” according to the president of the Toulouse stadium
The president of the Toulouse stadium Didier Lacroix cried “unfair” over 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 points to seventh place and must finish in the top eight of Group B to advance to the next stage.
Castres, the Wasps, the French Stadium and the Scarlets can still mathematically pass him, but it will take a disaster scenario for Toulouse to be eliminated.
>> READ ALSO: European Rugby Cup: Dupont injured and two cases of Covid-19 in Toulouse
Several internationals were absent
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, normally holders, did not appear in the composition decided for the meeting: Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka and Anthony Jelonch.
>> READ ALSO: European Rugby Cup: Toulouse will have to settle for a draw