Scarlets awarded 28-0 triumph after Toulon withdrawal

David Skippers
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The Scarlets have been awarded a 28-0 victory and five match points after Friday’s Champions Cup match against Toulon was cancelled due to the Top 14 club’s late withdrawal from the fixture.

The match was called off less than two hours before kick off when Toulon cited concerns over a Scarlets player testing positive for coronavirus after playing in last weekend’s match against Bath.

The Scarlets withdrew the player and other players who were in close contact with him from their squad before naming their side to face Toulon at Parc y Scarlets.

Although European rugby organisers were satisfied with the action taken by the Scarlets, Toulon’s management were not. European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) offered to reschedule the match to Sunday but Toulon did not accept that offer.

A statement from the EPCR said: “EPCR have been informed by RC Toulon that the club will not be fulfilling their Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 fixture against Scarlets, and the match is therefore cancelled.

“Although a Medical Risk Assessment Committee was satisfied that the fixture, which was scheduled for yesterday (Friday, 18 December) at Parc y Scarlets, could go ahead safely, it was initially postponed following concerns by RC Toulon for their players and staff.

“As has been previously communicated, RC Toulon were offered the opportunity to play the match at a later date during the allocated Round 2 weekend, however, that offer has not been accepted.

“Following the decision to cancel, a Match Result Resolution Committee was convened today (Saturday, 19 December) to determine the outcomes of the Scarlets v RC Toulon fixture in the Heineken Champions Cup, as well as the Challenge Cup match between Benetton Rugby and Agen which has also been cancelled.

“The committee, comprising EPCR Director General, Vincent Gaillard, EPCR Board member, Andrea Rinaldo, EPCR COVID-19 Manager, Tom Walsh, EPCR Chief Financial Officer, Anthony Lepage, and EPCR Head of Governance and Regulations, Liam McTiernan, considered the facts regarding the two matches.

“In respect of the Scarlets v RC Toulon fixture in Pool A, Scarlets were deemed to be the winners and were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0.

“In respect of the Benetton Rugby v Agen match, it was decided that as Benetton Rugby had recorded a number of positive test results for COVID-19, the match could not be played safely. Agen 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 and Challenge Cup in unprecedented circumstances.”

The Scarlets v Toulon match is the fourth Champions Cup game which has been cancelled in the second round of fixtures. This follows Lyon, La Rochelle and Toulouse handed victories over Glasgow, Bath and Exeter.

 

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