Leicester Tigers through to Challenge Cup semi-final after Castres forfeit due to coronavirus outbreak

Chaos enveloped the European Challenge Cup on Saturday evening as Castres Olympique accused tournament organisers of an “amateurish” lack of planning after throwing the French side out of competition due to an out-break of Covid-19 among their players.

Following some concerning reports in the French media, which suggested that Castres had yet to leave France for their quarter-final against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Sunday afternoon, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) produced a statement on Saturday afternoon.

It explained that three Castres players had tested positive for coronavirus, meaning the Top 14 outfit would have to forfeit the match. A medical committee, chaired by Scotsman Rod McKenzie, had met the previous evening and determined that Sunday’s game at Welford Road “could not go ahead safely”.

The game would be abandoned, with Castres forfeiting the fixture and Leicester progressing to next weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-final. However, Castres immediately released an official statement in response, declaring themselves “surprised” at the decision.

They explained that the three players to have tested positive had immediately isolated, with the rest of their squad, all of whom had tested negative, undertaking additional tests before traveling to Leicester.

The statement from Castres Olympique read: “The three positive players having been immediately isolated, Castres Olympique waited before leaving for England for the results of the tests carried out urgently at the request of the EPCR in order not to take any risk with the health of the players.

“No precise rule, including on a maximum number of cases, appears in the EPCR regulations, which seems to be amateurish [and] unworthy of a European competition.

“The exclusion of the CO [Castres Olympique], even before the results of the new tests are known, leaves players, staff, and the public in the misunderstanding and frustrated at not being able to defend their chances in this long-awaited quarter-final.”