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EPCR confirm bonus points wins in cancelled Champions Cup games

Three of this week's cancelled Heineken Champions Cup games have been awarded as bonus-point wins...



Three of this week's cancelled Heineken Champions Cup games have been awarded as bonus-point wins. 

Sunday's Pool B meeting of Exeter Chiefs and Toulouse was called off after a number of players and staff at the Premiership club tested positive for COVID-19.

Glasgow Warriors' Pool B clash with Lyon also bit the dust as the Scottish side had played Exeter last week.

In accordance with Public Health Scotland guidelines, many of the Glasgow players were forced to self-isolate having been deemed close contacts.

On Thursday, Bath called off their Pool A game with Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle.

Twelve members of their squad were isolating having been adjudged to be close contacts of a positive case at the Scarlets, who they played in round 1.

The EPCR have confirmed O'Gara's suggestion on Wednesday night's Off The Ball.

La Rochelle, Lyon and Toulouse have each been awarded 28-0 wins over their respective opponents. They'll each earn five match points, with the EPCR's Match Result Resolution awarding each side four converted tries each.

They say blame is not a factor, and that their decisions "were made with a view to facilitating the completion of this season’s" Champions Cup.

They are yet to rule on Toulon's game with the Scarlets.

The Top 14 team withdrew from the game at Parc y Scarlets hours before kick-off citing safety concerns around the positive coronavirus case in the Scarlets camp.

A Medical Risk Assessment Committee earlier confirmed that Friday night's game was safe to go ahead, but Toulon did not agree, saying it wouldn't be sufficiently safe for their squad.

EPCR statement: 

Following the cancellation of the Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 fixtures between Glasgow Warriors and Lyon, La Rochelle and Bath Rugby, and Toulouse and Exeter Chiefs, in the interests of the health and safety of players and club staff alike, the results of the matches have been decided by a Match Result Resolution Committee. 

The committee, comprising EPCR Director General, Vincent Gaillard, EPCR Board member, Andrea Rinaldo, and EPCR Head of Governance and Regulations, Liam McTiernan, considered the facts regarding the cancelled matches today (Friday, 18 December). 

In respect of the Glasgow Warriors v Lyon Pool B fixture which had been scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, 19 December) at Scotstoun, it was decided that as Glasgow Warriors were unable to safely field a matchday squad due to the unavailability of a significant number of isolating players, Lyon were deemed to be the winners, and were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0. 

In respect of the La Rochelle v Bath Rugby match in Pool A which had also been scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, 19 December) at Stade Marcel Deflandre, it was decided that as Bath were unable to safely field a matchday squad due to the unavailability of a significant number of isolating players, in addition to reported injuries to other squad members, La Rochelle were deemed to be the winners, and were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0. 

In respect of the Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs fixture in Pool B which had been scheduled for Sunday (20 December) at Stade Ernest Wallon, it was decided that as Exeter Chiefs had recorded a number of positive tests for COVID-19 among players and staff and were therefore unable to travel to France to fulfil the fixture on public health advice, Toulouse were deemed to be the winners, and were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0.  

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 in unprecedented circumstances. 

DECISIONS OF THE MATCH RESULT RESOLUTION COMMITTEE 

Pool A  La Rochelle 28 (4 converted tries) Bath Rugby 0
Match points – La Rochelle 5 Bath Rugby 0 

Pool B – Glasgow Warriors 0 Lyon 28 (4 converted tries)
Match points – Glasgow Warriors 0 Lyon 5 

Pool B – Toulouse 28 (4 converted tries) Exeter Chiefs 0
Match points – Toulouse 5 Exeter Chiefs 0 

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Bath Champions Cup Coronavirus Covid-19 Epcr Exeter Chiefs Glasgow Warriors Heineken Champions Cup La Rochelle Scarlets Toulon Toulouse