- French clubs ask for standardised testing procedures
- Organisers hope next week’s games can go ahead
European rugby chiefs are investigating how testing procedures might be altered to prevent Covid-19 causing more disruption to the Champions and Challenge Cup group phases this month. Some French clubs had threatened to boycott the rest of the competition but, for now, organisers are still hoping next week’s round of fixtures will proceed as scheduled.
The French clubs have been asking for testing rules to be standardised across the European leagues following recent cancellations on both sides of the Channel. The Top 14 sides are used to their players being tested 72 hours before games, with three or more positive tests for a club leading to the match being called off. A different system is in place in England where Premiership club players are routinely tested on Mondays and contact tracing is more prevalent.
