The next rounds of the Heineken Champions’ Cup are expected to go ahead as planned after agreement on the alignment of testing protocols is understood to have been reached between medical representatives of the different unions whose clubs are involved.
The group met virtually on Monday to discuss French club concerns that their Covid PCR tests were being done on later in the week than those of the other nations. English tests were being done on Mondays and those from Scottish, Welsh and Irish on either Tuesday or Wednesday. French tests were being done on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
It is believed that a middle ground will now be found. The later tests are clearly better from a health perspective while the earlier tests provided more flexibility in terms of scheduling of games and the certainty that is needed across the overall competition.
Clearly in the current surge of cases and locking down of vast swathes of our society, the health issue and the safety of players and backroom teams, as well as those involved in the staging of games and the logistics of getting players to the games, is paramount.
Elite sports stars are exempt from the current travel restrictions in place between Britain, Ireland and France.
The statement released by European Professional Club Rugby yesterday read:
“EPCR Medical Advisory Group, comprising medical leads of its shareholder leagues and unions, met by video conference today (Monday, 4 January) as part of an ongoing review of the COVID-19 protocols for the Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup tournaments.”
“Key topics discussed included testing schedules, contact tracing and case management, matchday risk assessment, cross-border travel and protocol compliance, and the Medical Advisory Group also received independent input from leading Swiss-based physician and virologist, Dr Daniel Koch, during what was a productive meeting.”
“Outcomes of the meeting will be communicated as soon as is practicable, and EPCR will be making no further comment until that time.”
“In addition, it can be confirmed that no club participating in the Heineken Champions Cup or Challenge Cup has officially informed EPCR of any intention not to fulfil their remaining fixtures in the 2020/21 season.”
Leinster and Connacht will be travelling to play in England, against Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears, while Ulster will host Gloucester and Munster will entertain Clermont Auvergne. The games will take place between Friday 15th and Sunday 17th January.
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