Bath get four points for cancelled match

NEWS: Premiership Rugby confirmed that Bath have been awarded four match points and Gloucester two following the cancellation of their Premiership Round 21 match.

The match score will be recorded as 0–0.

The decision has been made by a Premiership Rugby Panel comprising Premiership Rugby chairman Andy Higginson and Rugby Director Phil Winstanley.

The match was cancelled after Gloucester returned positive Covid-19 tests this week.

Following consultation with local Public Health England officials and the Professional Rugby Testing Oversight Group, the match has been called off and the Gloucester training ground and match venue closed for 10 days. Further testing will be conducted on Monday, June 7 before the club training recommences.

Due to the closure of the training facility and the match venue, as well as the isolation of its playing squad, Gloucester were no longer able to fulfil its fixture obligations under Premiership Regulations for its Round 21 match against Bath on Saturday.

Premiership Regulations state that: "In the event that the PRL Panel decide that a Referred Match in the League Season is cancelled, or any governmental authority recommends or requires that a Match in the Premiership League Season is cancelled [in either case, a " Cancelled League Season Match "], then [without prejudice to any action which may be taken under or relating to any Covid Minimum Operating Standards]:

• The result of that Cancelled League Season Match shall be deemed to be 0-0; and

• four league points shall be allocated to the club who was able to play the Cancelled League Season Match and two league points shall be allocated to the other club."

A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "The health and safety of players, staff, management and officials is our only priority, so following consultation with local Public Health England officials and the Professional Rugby Testing Oversight Group the correct decision was taken to call the game off.

"Bath Rugby have been awarded the win and four league points. Gloucester Rugby shall be deemed to have lost the match but awarded two league points. The match score shall be recorded as 0–0.

"We wish those affected at Gloucester Rugby a safe and speedy recovery."