Premiership Rugby has confirmed that this year’s Premiership Rugby Cup, scheduled to be played as a midweek competition commencing in April, will be cancelled this season due to ongoing issues with the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Premiership Rugby statement said: “The Covid-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges for sport and, following consultation with our clubs over the past few weeks, we have decided to cancel the Premiership Rugby Cup for this season.

“Alternative options were considered but all raised concerns around the safety of players and the risk of games not being completed. In the light of these player welfare and competition integrity concerns, the Cup cannot proceed this season.

“The 2020/21 Premiership Rugby Cup was planned as a development competition, but it was clear that in this unique season it would not be possible to add additional players to playing squads and properly prepare them for competition without compromising the club’s Covid-19 training bubble which everyone has fought so hard to protect.”