The team are scheduled to face Toulouse on December 11
CARDIFF Rugby face an automatic 28-0 defeat if they fail to field a team for their forthcoming European fixture against Toulouse.
Dai Young’s side are due to host Toulouse in the opening game of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday, December 11.
The fixture looks in serious doubt with the Welsh side currently isolating in a hotel in South Africa following two of their players testing positive for Covid-19.
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the governing body for the Heineken Champions Cup, will not force teams to play their fixtures, but will stick to their regulations which state if a side cannot field a team they forfeit the game with a 28-0, five-point defeat, reports the Daily Mail.
Teams need to stick to their fixture list as much as possible after pressure to satisfy broadcast deals with the likes of BT Sport.
The EPCR may allow a relaxation of registration rules, so additional players can fill a match-day squad.
Cardiff Rugby currently only have seven established players at home – Josh Adams, Ellis Jenkins, Uilisi Halaholo, Seb Davies, Tomos Williams, Dillon Lewis and Olly Robinson.
It has been suggested that Cardiff may field a team dominated by youth players for the fixture at Arms Park, but this could damage the integrity of the competition.
Yesterday, Cardiff chairman Alun Jones said the bulk of the squad can leave South Africa if the region can secure a flight and quarantine hotel.
However, Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan said there are currently no quarantine hotels in Wales and new legislation would need to be passed to allow that to happen.
The team must still complete a 10-day quarantine which places their fixture against European Champions Cup Holders, Toulouse, extremely unlikely.
It is estimated that it will cost more than £100,000 to quarantine almost 50 players and staff, this figure not including the charting of a flight home.
It is unclear whereabouts the team will quarantine upon their arrival from South Africa.
Cardiff are due to face Harlequins on Saturday, December 18, which seems more definite if the players and staff can complete their quarantine period back in the UK.
