Welsh side handed victory in Heineken Champions Cup after Covid cases found in the French camp
CARDIFF Rugby have been handed a 28-0 bonus point victory over Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup after the French side were hit by Covid.
The victory takes Cardiff Rugby’s total to seven points, meaning they will move up to 8th place in their pool, occupying the final qualifying place for the Champions Cup knockout round.
If results go their way over the weekend, they could qualify for the knockout stages of the cup without winning a game.
For the unlikeliest of qualifications, Cardiff now need:
- Wasps to lose
- Caestres to get less than four points
- Stade Francais and Scarlets to not get a bonus point win
Toulouse had registered the Covid cases throughout the week with European Professional Club Rugby and were confident the game would go ahead, even tweeting their line-up for the game on Friday morning.
Clement Poitrenaud, a Toulouse coach, said in his press conference this morning: “We have absences but are able to field a strong team. We want to win on the pitch, especially on our lawn.”
But the EPCR were not convinced that the game would be safe to play with virus in the French side’s camp. There were reported to be more than 10 cases of Covid-19 among players and staff.
Speaking before the announcement, Cardiff Rugby’s director of rugby, Dai Young said: “One thing that Covid has taught us as coaches and directors of rugby is that you have to be adaptable.
“You’ve got to expect the unexpected because something seems to be thrown up every week. I’m sure the health authorities will do the right thing for everyone involved.”
With Toulouse having to forfeit 28-0, it means that if Castres win by eight or more against Harlequins on Friday night, the reigning European champions knocked into the second tier Challenge Cup.
