This weekend’s full round of fixtures in the Heineken Champions Cup will go ahead with the French Government having granted an exemption for players and teams travelling into the country based on their being in “pursuit of an economic activity”.
Prior to this, it had been uncertain whether UK teams would have been able to enter the country.
Five of the French teams are hosting matches this weekend, including Castres Olympique who are playing at home to Munster on Friday night.
The leading eight Heineken Champions Cup clubs from each of the pools will qualify for the knockout stage, with 10 clubs progressing to the Challenge Cup Round of 16, plus a further six qualifiers to be added in from the Heineken Champions Cup.
At present, the situation on qualification is clouded by the five Heineken Champions Cup games that were postponed in December because of border control issues between France and the UK. Discussions are said to be ongoing about how these will be resolved.
The three games that were cancelled due to Covid outbreaks remain listed as 28-0 defeats for Leinster, Ospreys and Scarlets. Because there are only four games to be played in the group stage, how the non played matches are determined will likely have a major impact on the teams going forward.
As things stand after the first two rounds Munster and Ulster lie second on full points in their respective groups. Connacht are 4th in Pool B and Leinster 5th in Pool A.
Last week the EPCR said that it was “optimistic that this season’s tournaments will be played to a successful conclusion.”
This weekend Connacht host Leicester on Saturday while Leinster entertain Montpellier on Sunday and Ulster travel to Northampton on Sunday. All the Irish games will be televised on BT Sport.
Sport for Business Perspective
Teams can only play the game that is before them and winning matches is the most certain way to ensure qualification for the the knock out stages. It may be that two wins will be enough to secure a Round of 16 place but we will not know for sure until a decision is confirmed on whether the five postponed games will be replayed or divided on points, or indeed on whether there is a change of mind on Leinsters plight. Sport in the steward’s room is never ideal but it may be a crucial part of this season.
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