Champions & Challenge Cup COVID Timeline Update

Champions & Challenge Cup COVID Timeline Update

A look at all the squad updates throughout the week as some Champions Cup & Challenge Cup fixtures get axed.

Monday Updates

Montpellier vs Leinster:

Leinster Rugby

Given the positive Covid-19 cases in Leinster Rugby, the club has been facing some headaches this week and went on a several full round of antigen and PCR testing at its UCD base on Monday.


The Irish province said last week that three senior players and one member of staff had tested positive for Covid-19.

  


 
Montpellier

Montpellier on Monday reported a fifth positive Covid-19 test ahead of the would-be Friday's scheduled Champions Cup game against Leinster in France.

"Following the series of tests carried out on Monday, December 13, Montpellier Herault Rugby formalises a new positive case for Covid-19 within the group," read a statement posted on Montpellier’s official website.

"This is the fifth case of contamination detected over a period of seven days in the Herault workforce, which considerably impacts the preparation for the match against Leinster Rugby scheduled for Friday, December 17.

"In view of the latest results, the people concerned have been isolated and the team is now carrying out training in separate groups before being tested again this Wednesday, December 15.

"The club remains mobilised by continuing to apply a strict and rigorous health policy in order to preserve the health of its players and staff."

Wednesday 

Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby returned to training on Wednesday at UCD following Monday’s postponement and a full round of antigen and PCR tests which were carried out on site.

Leinster confirmed that the club was assisting an additional number of senior players who have tested positive for Covid-19 and were self-isolating.

Montpellier did not give an update following the confirmation of a 5th positive in the squad.

 

 Thursday

Montpellier v Leinster called off

Following a meeting of an independent Match Risk Assessment Committee, EPCR was advised that the Champions Cup, Round 2 fixture between Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Leinster Rugby scheduled for Friday, 17 December, at the GGL Stadium cannot go ahead safely.


The contest in Pool A was therefore cancelled with Montpellier Hérault Rugby awarded the match on a 28-0, five-match points basis, in accordance with the Tournament Rules.

  

Ulster v Northampton Saints:

Monday

Ulster Rugby

After a week in which Covid-19 cases caused havoc with the opening round of Heineken Champions Cup fixtures, Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper provided an update.

"All we can control is our own environment and how we go about our preparations, how we go about preventing that from impacting on us,” said Soper.

“That's a very difficult thing because unless you put players on a very tight leash that restricts their lives, they have to be people and get out there, be with their families that are coming back from school and from work.

"The guys over the past couple of years have been excellent in how they've done things, they've been very sensible with the protocols and following all the protocols that the majority of people are. We can only control what we can control. I guess there's a bit of luck involved as well.”

Northampton Saints offered no updates on Monday.

Wednesday

Ulster vs Northampton Saints

The Ulster Rugby Medical Performance team issued no COVID-related updates ahead of Friday’s Heineken Champions Cup fixture against Northampton Saints at Kingspan Stadium.

Rob Baloucoune, who sustained a shoulder injury in the win over Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin, will be unavailable for selection this weekend.



Harlequins v Cardiff Rugby:

Monday

Cardiff Rugby

Six members of Cardiff Rugby's squad and staff were serving another 10-day quarantine upon their return to the United Kingdom after they tested positive for coronavirus in South Africa.

 

 

The vast majority of the group flew back from Cape Town last week after a surge in cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant led to South Africa being added to the United Kingdom's red list for travel.

Six squad and staff members were forced to stay behind and undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus, however.

No other updates were issued by the clubs.

Scarlets v Bordeaux Begles: 

Monday 

Scarlets

Scarlets forfeited their European Champions Cup pool game against Bristol last weekend after the coronavirus crisis forced their players into quarantine.

 
 
 

The Scarlets had 32 players in quarantine at a Belfast hotel after flying home from South Africa, which is on the British government’s coronavirus red list.



No updates were issued for Bordeaux Begles.

Wednesday

Having had to forfeit their opening game against Bristol Bears following the completion of 10 days in an isolation hotel in County Antrim, the Scarlets squad returned to training at Parc y Scarlets.



Leicester Tigers v Connacht:

Monday

Leicester Tigers

  

Leicester Tigers confirmed they were working on plans to address the main points of the Government's updated restrictions on Covid while still allowing supporters to book and visit the stadium safely.

The Government revealed its ‘Plan B’ to slow the spread of Covid and the Omicron variant which includes restrictions on sporting venues.

 No further COVID-related updates were issued by both clubs. 

Wasps

 Monday

Wasps was forced into a slew of changes for their clash with Munster due a number of players testing positive for Covid-19 on the eve of their Round 1 game.

Four players, out-half Jacob Umaga, second-rows Sebastian de Chaves and Elliott Stooke and No 8 Tom Willis were ruled out of the game while a number of players have shifter positions.

In total, there are 13 changes to the team that was named on Friday, with Jimmy Gopperth moving to out-half and Luke Mehson coming on to the wing.

"Following the latest round of testing, Wasps can confirm a number of players and coaches will be unavailable for today’s game (Round 1) resulting in changes to the matchday squad," Wasps said.

"Please be advised though that today’s game against Munster will go ahead as planned.

"The health and safety of staff, players and supporters is paramount. The Club’s COVID-19 contact tracing, measures and protocols, which remain rigorous, will continue to be adhered to."

Wednesday

Wasps were confident of sending a side to Toulouse despite being severely depleted by Covid-19 cases and a lengthy injury list.

"I think we've got nine people including staff unavailable [due to Covid-19]," said Blackett. "Mainly players, you can see how it hit us. We had five from the game that would've been involved.

"The guys were retested and they all came back negative. As you can imagine, there's some frustrated guys out there with no symptoms. We only tested six out of the eight and, all six came back negative. We've looked into it, they were towards the back end of the illness, nothing has come up on the lateral flows.

"To be fair at the time it shocked us really."

 La Rochelle, Munster: Monday
 
 
 

La Rochelle had reported two positives in the run up to the match while the virus had a much more dramatic impact on the encounter between Wasps and Munster.

Wasps, without 17 injured players, lost four more to positive tests on Sunday morning. Munster have 34 personnel in quarantine following an ill-fated United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa, but still won.

 
 

Scarlets opted to concede their match to Bristol while a youthful Cardiff team lost 39-7 at home to champions Toulouse on Saturday.

Challenge Cup:

Pau vs Saracens: Monday

A Covid-19 outbreak in Saracens camp saw the club withdraw from their Round 2 fixture against Pau on Saturday.

The club took the immediate action of closing the training ground and isolating all players, coaches and support staff.

The squad will return to full training on 24th December following the necessary period of isolation.

Friday Updates

Following a meeting of the EPCR Board today (Friday, 17 December) it has been decided that due to current exceptional circumstances, Round 2 matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup between French and UK clubs scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday are postponed.

This is a consequence of new travel measures between the UK and France which are being introduced by the French Government.

The Board received briefings from the three professional leagues which included updated information from the respective governments, however, there were insufficient assurances that these matches would not be at risk.

Therefore, the intention is to reschedule the following Round 2 fixtures to a later date:

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
Bath Rugby v Stade Rochelais
Sale Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Scarlets v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Toulousain v Wasps
Stade Francais Paris v Bristol Bears

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Worcester Warriors v Biarritz Olympique
London Irish v CA Brive

All other Round 2 matches scheduled for this evening (Friday), and over the weekend, will go ahead as planned.

EPCR will provide a further update as soon as practicable and will continue to liaise directly with all clubs, leagues and stakeholders.

  

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