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Premiership panel allocates derby points

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Premiership Rugby has confirmed that Leicester Tigers have been awarded four points and Northampton Saints two following the cancellation of their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Round Six match between the clubs.

The decision has been made by a Premiership Rugby Panel comprising Premiership Rugby chairman Andy Higginson, chief executive Darren Childs and rugby director Phil Winstanley.

The match was cancelled after Saints returned a number of positive tests in the round of PCR testing, with further players identified as close contacts and therefore placed into isolation.

In the context of the number of cases, Public Health England could not rule out if this was the start of a Covid-19 outbreak within the club. This was of particular concern in respect of the increased infectiousness of the new variant and the potential impact from a player and staff welfare point of view, together with the wider public health of their families and the community, it was considered unwise for the club to continue training.

Saints were advised to keep the club’s training facility closed and not to play the Round Six match.

Due to the advice of Public Health England, Northampton Saints were no longer able to fulfil fixture obligations under Premiership Regulations for Round 6 on January 9. A further round of testing will be undertaken on Monday, January 11.

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
  • Four league points shall be allocated to 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: "Following the recommendation from Public Health England that Northampton Saints’ Gallagher Premiership Rugby Round Six fixture against Leicester Tigers should be cancelled as a result of Covid-19, Tigers have been awarded the win and four league points. Northampton Saints shall be deemed to have lost the match but awarded two league points. The match score shall be recorded as 0–0.

“The health and safety of players, staff, management, officials and supporters is our only priority, so following advice from Public Health England the correct decision was taken to call the game off."

Derby Day fixture cancelled

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Premiership Rugby has called off the Round 6 fixture between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints, scheduled for Saturday January 9 at Franklin's Gardens.

Northampton returned positive tests in the latest round of PCR testing and, in consultation with Public Health England and the Professional Rugby Testing Oversight Group, the match has been called off and the Northampton Saints training ground closed, with the next round of testing on Monday 11 January.

A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "The health and safety of players, management, staff and match officials is our priority.

"We wish those who have tested positive at Saints a speedy and safe recovery.

"Neither Premiership Rugby nor the club will be naming any of the players or staff involved and we'd ask everyone to respect their privacy."

Under the Premiership Rugby regulations, the match between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers will be cancelled. A Premiership Rugby panel will now be convened to determine the allocation of points and a further announcement will be made in due course.

Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said: "The health and safety of everyone is paramount and we wish everyone at Saints well during this time."

"We understand the situation, having been through it, and will offer whatever support we can to our friends down the road."

Read more from Borthwick following the decision to cancel the fixture HERE.

Saints Director of Rugby, Chris Boyd said: “We are incredibly disappointed and frustrated that we are unable to proceed with such an important fixture for the Club."

“The Club has been absolutely rigorous in how we have followed the protocols laid out for us, and despite returning a number of positive tests this week, we were confident that we have more than enough of our squad still healthy and available to play the game if required.

“However, we are following the advice we have been given, which was not to play the game and to close our training facility until next week. While this is a bitter pill to swallow, the health and safety of the players, staff and families of everyone at both Saints and Tigers is of course paramount.”

Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (Gallagher Premiership) - FIXTURE CANCELLED

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
5
Northampton Saints
Northampton SaintsNOR22110114694571259566557
6
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI2211011478492-1451625354
Form Guide
Form
WWWWL
Last Match
Lost to Bristol Bears 21-52
Past Meeting
Lost 17-26
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LWWLL
Last Match
Lost to Gloucester Rugby 25-27
Past Meeting
Won 26-17

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