Premiership: Gloucester-Worcester match referred to independent panel

Lawrence Nolan

The outcome of last week’s cancelled Premiership match between Gloucester and Worcester has been referred to an independent panel for resolution.

Worcester pulled out of the clash, citing the unavailability of enough specialist front-row players, and leading the match to be cancelled. It will not be replayed.

Further investigation required

But the circumstances under which Worcester were so short of players is under the microscope, with Premiership Rugby referring the matter to Sport Resolutions UK.

“In accordance with the Premiership Regulations we are investigating this matter. We have been in contact with Worcester Warriors and Gloucester Rugby, and have also asked Sports Resolutions UK to form an independent panel,” read a statement.

“We don’t have a timescale to resolve this matter, but we will update in due course once the date of the hearing has been fixed. Following the conclusion of the Panel hearing we will publish the initial verdict, followed by the full written judgement.”

Worcester’s lead rugby consultant and next season’s director of rugby Steve Diamond was quite expansive on the subject at Tuesday’s pre-Premiership Cup press conference, insisting the Warriors had been caught in an impossible mix of illness and injury.

“We had a spate of players who went down ill overnight (on Thursday),” he said.

“We had already got some Covid cases and other players were showing similar symptoms to Covid of coughing, sweating and general fever.

“We informed Gloucester at 2.30pm on Thursday that we were having problems in meeting the requirement to have six front-row players in the squad.

“We did try to source other players for possible loan deals. We contacted the other Premiership clubs and also looked around the Championship.

“But you can’t just bring a big 17 stone lad in off the street and expect him to play at tighthead in the Premiership. You have to consider the welfare and safety of players.

“On Friday morning we went down to one fit tighthead and then that tighthead became very ill and required medical attention at home.

“We did ask if we could postpone the game to another date but Premiership regulations do not permit that.

“We also suggested the possibility of playing a hybrid game with uncontested scrums from minute one but, again, the regulations do not permit that.

“We didn’t stand to gain or lose anything by not playing the match. We did everything we could medically to play the game. In the end it was a decision based purely on medical advice and on the grounds of player welfare.

“The commercial impact for Gloucester is big and I feel sorry for them. But that should not come before player welfare.”

READ MORE: Tom O’Flaherty swaps Exeter Chiefs for domestic rivals Sale Sharks