Toulon decided not to play on Friday night due to concerns surrounding a positive coronavirus test in the Scarlets camp this week; Champions Cup organisers said Toulon were offered to play the game at a later date, and since the Top 14 club refused, Scarlets were awarded the victory
Saturday 19 December 2020 22:10, UK
Scarlets have been awarded a 28-0 victory after Toulon opted not to play Friday's Champions Cup match amid coronavirus concerns.
The Scarlets players were going through a workout on the pitch at Parc y Scarlets 75 minutes before kick-off, but Toulon had not arrived at the stadium, and the Top 14 club said in a statement: "Rugby Club Toulonnais learned this Thursday, December 17, that at least one player from the Scarlets team had tested positive earlier this week for Covid-19.
"Following this, the Bath Rugby club, which had faced the Scarlets last weekend, were forced to forfeit the second day of the Champions Cup (against La Rochelle) because 12 players in their squad had been in 'close contact' with this Welsh player.
"Despite this eminently delicate context, the EPCR, with the approval of the Welsh Rugby Union, wished to maintain the Scarlets-Toulon match."
The statement went on to say club president Bernard Lemaitre had spoken with EPCR director general Vincent Gaillard to reiterate they felt the "sanitary conditions" had not been sufficiently met for the fixture to go ahead.
"The EPCR nevertheless upheld its decision," the statement continued. "Faced with this state of affairs, Rugby Club Toulonnais, although aware of the serious consequences, decided not to play this meeting as planned this evening."
EPCR soon confirmed that the game had been postponed, adding that a medical risk assessment committee was "satisfied that the risk of further transmission had been contained before recommending that the match could go ahead safely".
The sporting body then released a further statement on Saturday, which said that Toulon had been offered to play the game at a later date, and since they refused, Scarlets have been awarded the points.
"EPCR would like to emphasise that blame was not considered as a factor during the deliberations, and the committee's decisions were made with a view to facilitating the completion of this season's Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in unprecedented circumstances," the tournament organisers said.
Stade Francais have forfeited their Challenge Cup clash with Cardiff Blues over Covid-19 concerns, while Benetton's Challenge Cup game against Agen in Italy on Saturday has been cancelled.
Stade raised fears over coronavirus issues to tournament bosses, revealing their reluctance to travel for Sunday's fixture at Rodney Parade.
EPCR awarded the Blues a 28-0 win, with the French club returning no positive Covid tests.
Stade were left concerned about their Covid status after last week's fixture with Benetton, and the Italians since returning a number of positive coronavirus tests.
An ECPR statement read: "Although there is no evidence that any Stade Francais Paris players or staff were exposed to the virus during the Round 1 fixture, and they have all subsequently tested negative for the virus, there are doubts over the Covid-19 status of the travelling matchday squad and staff, which have prompted the club to report their concerns to EPCR.
"Although a Medical Risk Assessment Committee was satisfied that tomorrow's fixture at Rodney Parade could go ahead safely, Stade Francais Paris were reluctant to travel to Wales."
EPCR said of Benetton's fixture: "EPCR has been informed of positive Covid-19 tests recorded by members of the Benetton Rugby testing pool.
"As a consequence, the club's Challenge Cup preliminary stage match against Agen, which was scheduled for today at Stadio di Monigo, is cancelled.
"As per its Covid-19 protocol, EPCR will convene a match result resolution committee to determine the result of the cancelled match, and the decision of the committee will be communicated as soon as practicable."
Agen, beaten at home by London Irish in their Challenge Cup opener last weekend, were later announced as 28-0 winners by EPRC.
