Sale Sharks forfeit their final Premiership match with Worcester Warriors
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Sale Sharks' rescheduled final-round of the Gallagher Premiership has been called off with their opponents Worcester Warriors collecting five league points.
This means that Exeter Chiefs will now face Bath on Saturday (4.30pm KO) after Wasps host Bristol earlier in the day (13:30 KO).
Premiership Rugby confirmed the news on Wednesday with the following statement:
PREMIERSHIP RUGBY can today confirm that it has cancelled tonight’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors.
The Round 22 match is awarded 20-0 to Worcester Warriors with the Warriors given five league points.
On Tuesday 6 October 2020, all Sale Sharks players and staff members in the testing pool were tested for COVID-19 as part of the Premiership Rugby weekly programme.
On Wednesday 7 October the results returned from the Randox testing laboratory confirming that an additional six players and two staff from Sale Sharks had tested positive for a COVID-19. All were immediately placed into isolation for 10 days. This means that there 27 positive tests at Sale Sharks in the last seven days and due to the size and severity of the outbreak Premiership Rugby and Sale Sharks are in close contact with Public Health England.
Premiership Rugby Chief Executive, Darren Childs said: “I have spoken to Sale Sharks this morning and neither the club or Premiership Rugby will take risks with people’s health.
“Together we won’t compromise our commitment that matches will only happen if it is safe to do so, therefore the game is off. Today’s decision demonstrates that commitment.
“Our first thoughts are now with those at the club, both players and management, who have tested positive and we wish them a speedy recovery. We mustn’t forget we have a significant number of people at one of our clubs with Covid-19, and we will give the Sharks all the support they need.
“We know everyone at Sale Sharks will be devastated, and we share their disappointment that their season ends this way. But we can’t jeopardise the health of any players, staff or management at any of our clubs. This is why we took action at the weekend to prevent the match going ahead on its original date, and again today to cancel the game.
“We all love rugby and want it to thrive and grow but sport has to be put in perspective compared to the devastating effects of Covid-19. We aren’t prepared to take unnecessary risks with people’s health.
“We stated there was no room in the calendar for matches to be postponed but last weekend the health of everyone involved took precedent to ensure the Sale Sharks squad could be tested again, following the initial positive tests. Those concerns were proved today when we saw an additional seven positive tests. People fight hard for points in Gallagher Premiership Rugby, and for a place in the semi-final but everyone agrees this has to take second place to people’s health and well-being.
“Covid-19 has created the biggest challenges rugby has ever faced, as it threatens the future of the game, but with this case resolved, it is now crucial we now look forward to two compelling Gallagher Premiership Rugby semi-finals on Saturday, which are followed by two of our clubs contesting European Finals the weekend after and our season ending on a high at Twickenham Stadium on 24 October.”
As required under the Professional Game Board’s Minimum Operating Standards, Sale Sharks will now complete their contact tracing and will isolate any contacts (of those players who tested positive) for a period of 14 days.
An independent audit, by the RFU, of the track and trace processes at Sale Sharks is also being undertaken.
Sale Sharks responded to the news with the following statement:
"Sale Sharks has worked closely with Premiership Rugby, Public Health England and Public Health North West, the RFU and Worcester Warriors and would like to thank all parties for their contribution during this challenging period.
This is devastating for Sale Sharks, the players and staff with Covid-19 denying the club the chance to challenge for the Premiership title at the final hurdle. Sale Sharks and all involved with the club are determined to come back stronger than ever in time for next season.
The owners are very proud of, and grateful to, the players and staff for the effort that has been demonstrated throughout the protracted season and particularly over this past week.
Sale Sharks would like to thank all its supporters for wishing the club’s players and staff a speedy recovery during these difficult circumstances. They would like to reassure those well-wishers that no-one who has been infected has any serious health concerns at present. The club will continue to ensure that everybody is closely monitored and supported over the coming weeks.
Although everyone at Sale Sharks is disappointed to see our campaign end in this manner, the club wholly understand that the welfare of players, staff and officials is the most important factor. Throughout the last six months, we have followed the official guidelines and protocols given to us by the RFU and Premiership Rugby, with rigorous testing regimes and safety measures in place to protect everyone connected to the game. Sale Sharks is confident the audit carried out by the RFU over the past few days will confirm this absolutely.
Reports over the weekend suggesting our players acted irresponsibly by partying and socialising throughout Manchester after our Premiership Rugby Cup victory are completely inaccurate and untrue.
Health and Safety has always been our top priority throughout the return of professional rugby in England and we have an important role to play in supporting the Premiership Rugby players that have tested positive for this terrible virus."
