Simon Halliday hits out after European cancellations
EPCR Chairman Simon Halliday during the European Rugby Champions Cup/Challenge Cup tournaments Pro 12 Clubs launch at Dublin Convention Centre, Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 5, 2016. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission, please contact PA Images for further information: Tel: +44 (0) 115 8447447.
Champions Cup rugby boss Simon Halliday has criticised the French government after their decision to prevent the Top 14 teams from travelling abroad resulted in the final two European pool matches being cancelled.
The coronavirus pandemic had already forced rugby bosses into a major reshuffle, and has resulted in a significant format change in Europe.
European tournaments lost nine weekends to stage matches and the revamped format has seen 24 clubs drawn into two pools of 12 teams, with each team playing a mere four pool matches.
However, the plan was quickly plunged into chaos following the French government’s decision, leaving officials looking for a solution over the final four weeks they have available..
“I will choose my words carefully. We have put up with and survived and dealt with the British government’s multiple decision-making and of course, everyone has the right to change their minds and we have seen plenty of that as well,” Halliday said when speaking on The Rugby Pod.
Although Halliday accepted that the French government was simply making a decision, he questioned the logic behind the call.
The safest environments
He said: “You’re never going to make a call on people’s health but I turn the question to another question which is what are the safest environments that have been created during this pandemic?
“I pay great credit to the sports authorities, sports grounds, the stadia, certainly in the UK and everywhere, they have created incredibly safe environments for those players to go and play so we’re not talking about crowds. We’re talking about players.”
Problems surrounding Covid testing has ensued with French clubs regularly asking for rules to be standardised across every European league.
It was an issue which saw Bayonne threaten to refuse to play the remainder of their fixtures and saw Toulon pull out of their fixture with Scarlets.
A number of games against French teams were also cancelled due to positive tests and contract tracing including Exeter vs Toulouse, a repeat of last season’s semi-final, Glasgow vs Lyon and Bath vs La Rochelle.
Despite this, Halliday paid credit to the sports stadia and questions as to whether the French government analysed the presentation submitted.
“The French government’s decision was extremely disappointing. Yes, there have been one or two cry-offs and one or two numbers of infections but, as a percentage, I pay credit to what sports stadia have done to create secure environments and that should have been the key issue,” he added.
“Flying players to and from a secure environment, I’m not sure they looked at that in enough depth and certainly the presentation the LNR and EPCR made was very strong, that the protocols were absolutely best in practice. So it’s disappointing.”