It’s a thunderclap that could cost Stade Toulousain, defending champion, their place in the Champions Cup. By deciding, Friday, January 21, to give lost match to Toulouse, who were to receive Cardiff on Saturday, match canceled because of cases of Covid-19 within the French club, the organizing body of the European rugby cups cut the Ugo Mola’s men’s wings. “We will go to court against this decision because we are witnessing a total lack of respect“Warned Didier Lacroix, president of the Toulouse club, during a press conference.
On the same day, the EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) took two different decisions. First, the meeting between RC Toulon and Newcastle, counting for the fourth day of the Challenge Cup, and scheduled for Saturday evening at the Mayol stadium, has been canceled, due to numerous cases of Covid-19 in the English camp, but without an immediate decision concerning the result. The court simply mentioned that a “Match Results Resolution Committee would be convened as soon as possible to determine the outcome of the match”.
A few hours later, noting the large number of positive cases, including Antoine Dupont, within Stade Toulouse, the EPCR again canceled Saturday’s meeting between the French club and the Welsh Cardiff, which counts for the fourth day. of Champions Cup. “As a result, the Cardiff Rugby club were awarded the Pool A match 28-0 with five ranking points, in accordance with tournament regulations.“, said the EPCR in a press release.
The reigning European champions, who believed until the end in maintaining the meeting and who had revealed their team composition, therefore no longer have their destiny in their hands. for qualifying. With seven points, Toulouse is seventh in Pool B, and is currently one of the eight teams qualified before the fourth day. But Castres and the Wasps could pass in front of them, and therefore send the Rouge et Noir back to the camp of the eliminated.
The National Rugby League (NRL) has “strongly contested” Friday the decision to cancel this match. In a press release, the body in charge of professional rugby in France denounces a “scandalous and totally unfounded decision”. Son president, René Bouscatel (former boss of Toulouse) even speaks of a decision “irresponsible“. According to the LNR, the Toulouse club, despite numerous cases of Covid-19 in its ranks, has complied with the health rules in force in France to prepare for this home match, as required by the ECPR.
“We have adapted our training week so that our players benefit from separate locker rooms and individual sessions. However, today we are able to present a negative and competitive team” explained Didier Lacroix in front of the journalists. And to regret that the EPCR did not hold “account of our arguments“.
#STCAR, @didierlacroxx : “The decision to cancel the match and Stade Toulousain’s loss to Cardiff was disrespectful. EPCR warned Cardiff before us, without taking into account our arguments: A superior Covid-19 protocol, a negative team .”
– Stade Toulousain (@StadeToulousain) January 21, 2022
On the second day, last December, the match between Pau and Saracens was canceled due to a significant number of players testing positive for Covid-19 within the English club. Section Pau won the game 28-0.