Rather than setting a new date, the EPCR (European rugby body) preferred to simply cancel the matches of the second day of the European Cup, scheduled for the weekend of December 19. The Stade Toulousain was to welcome the Wasps to Ernest-Wallon in particular, but the meeting had been postponed sine die, in the face of the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
Finding a new date, in an overloaded calendar, was going to be particularly complicated. In addition to the deletion of the meeting, the EPCR Steering Committee “decided that the appropriate solution was to record a draw of 0-0, with two classification points awarded to each club“.
In a press release, the EPCR explains that “the options of changing tournament formats and / or rescheduling matches were discussed in detail by all parties. However, given the increasingly complicated schedule due to Covid-19, it was unfortunately decided that the only choice under these circumstances was to cancel these matches.“.
This 0-0 result could weigh on the final classification of the European Cup pools. It is also a shortfall for Stade Toulousain which will not be able to fill Ernest-Wallon.
Matches affected by the EPCR decision:
Bath Rugby – Stade Rochelais
Sale Sharks – ASM Clermont Auvergne
Scarlets – Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Toulousain – Wasps
Stade Francais Paris – Bristol Bears