Champions and Challenge Cup set to be postponed - report
- 2025
The Champions and Challenge Cup is set to be suspended for the next two weekends after a decision from the French government to prevent Top 14 clubs from taking part in the cross-border competition.
According to The42, the tournament organisers will postpone the fixtures due to be played on the weekends of 15/16/17 January and 22/23/24 January.
On Thursday, EPCR met with the French Ministries of the Interior, Health and Sport, as well as the LNR – which represents the Top 14 clubs – and a representative from the office of French President Emmanuel Macron, amidst concerns over the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases across Europe and new strains of the coronavirus.
Bayonne reported positive cases of the so-called ‘UK strain’ of Covid-19 in their squad after playing against Leicester Tigers in the Challenge Cup last month and have since had to shut down their club temporarily.
For now, the suspension of the European fixtures this month leaves the Irish provinces without scheduled games over the next two weekends.
