Saracens succumbs to COVID curse

NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby has been informed by Saracens that they have recorded a significant number of positive tests for COVID-19 among their playing squad.

As a consequence, the club is not in a position to safely fulfil its EPCR Challenge Cup, Round Two fixture against Section Paloise - scheduled for Saturday, December 18.

The Pool C fixture at Stade du Hameau is therefore cancelled with Section Paloise awarded the match on a 28-0, five match points basis, in accordance with the tournament rules.

EPCR would like to emphasise that awarding the match to Section Paloise is a tournament management measure with the objective of ensuring that all fixtures in the 2021/22 EPCR Challenge Cup are accounted for, and not a sanction.

Saracens are featuring in this season's Challenge Cup after returning from the English Championship this term following relegation from the Premiership due to salary cap rules breaches.

Saracens said that the squad would return to full training on December 24 ahead of a Premiership fixture against Worcester on Boxing Day.

In the Champions Cup last weekend, Bristol Bears were handed a 28-0 win over the Scarlets after the Welsh region lacked first-team players due to a quarantine upon their return from South Africa.

Leinster's trip to Montpellier this Friday in the top-tier tournament is in doubt with both outfits registering Covid-19 cases.