France v Scotland: SRU pushes for match to go ahead on Sunday

Ten France players have tested positive for coronavirus. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Organisers will make a final decision on Wednesday evening as uncertainty continues to swirl around the fixture.

Reports on Monday night said an eleventh France player, Baptiste Pesenti, had tested positive for coronavirus. The forward was only called into the squad earlier in the day as a replacement.

The match is due to take place in Paris on Sunday afternoon but if the situation continues to deteriorate the game could be pushed back.

France's Charles Ollivon attends the Captain's run training session, on November 21, 2020 on the eve of the Pool B Autumn Nations Cup international rugby union match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The following weekend is a fallow one for the Six Nations, but there are club matches scheduled which could present a challenge for Scotland in terms of having their English-based players released.

Thirteen members of the current squad play in England, including captain Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray, Chris Harris, James Lang and Sean Maitland.

Postponing the France match until the weekend of March 6-7 would also mean Scotland playing three matches in three successive weeks which would raise concerns around player welfare.

The Six Nations Testing Oversight Group (TOG) met on Monday to review the situation in France. They will reconvene on Wednesday to decide whether the match can go ahead amid concerns about the virus spreading further within the French camp.

It was announced earlier on Monday that five more France players had tested positive for the coronavirus. That took the number of players in the squad to have contracted Covid-19 to ten, with the unconfirmed case of Pesenti making it 11.

France coach Fabien Galthie has also tested positive along with members of his backroom staff.

However, the Scottish Rugby Union wants the game to go ahead. In a statement, the governing body said: “Scotland’s national team are continuing their preparations to play France in Paris on Sunday. Our players, coaches and fans hope the game can go ahead as planned in the existing tournament schedule.

“Any postponement would have an impact on the player release agreement in place with clubs, which could see more than 10 Scotland players unavailable for selection if the game is rearranged.

“We will be working closely with our Six Nations counterparts to press the case for this week’s game to go ahead, should it be medically safe to do so.”

Six Nations organisers said in a statement: “A meeting of the Six Nations Testing Oversight Group (TOG) took place today to review the situation in France in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak in the French team.

“The TOG was advised by the French Rugby Union representative that all players who returned to the National Training Centre yesterday were tested on arrival and put in isolation pending results.

“All five players who tested positive have now left the training base.

“The rest of the squad, all of whom tested negative are training with restricted movement and no close contact for the next 48 hours. All players and staff will be tested every 24 hours.

“The TOG will reconvene on Wednesday 24 February in the evening to review the situation. A decision on whether the France v Scotland fixture can go ahead will be made at that stage. Ensuring the health and safety of all players and staff is our number one priority. Should the decision be that the fixture cannot go ahead, the match will be rescheduled for the earliest possible date.

“Six Nations would like to wish all affected players, coaches, and support team a speedy recovery.”

Charles Ollivon, the France captain and flanker, is among the latest group of players to have tested positive along with prop Cyril Baille, hooker Peato Mauvaka, lock Romain Taofifenua, and full-back Brice Dulin.

Scrum-half Antoine Dupont, hooker Julien Marchand, prop Mohammed Haouas, centre Arthur Vincent and winger Gabin Villiere, previously tested positive for the virus.

Reinforcements were summoned and Gaetan Balot, Thierry Paiva, Cyril Cazeaux and Thomas Ramos were all called into the squad along with Pesenti.

A statement from the French rugby federation said: “Following RT-PCR tests carried out on Sunday February 21, five new players tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the selection of five new players to prepare for the match against Scotland.

“Cyril Baille (25 selections, Stade Toulousain), Peato Mauvaka (6 selections, Stade Toulousain), Romain Taofifenua (22 selections, RC Toulon), Charles Ollivon (20 selections, RC Toulon) and Brice Dulin (33 caps, Stade Rochelais) have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Two members of the management are considered to be a suspicious case. With a view to isolation, the return home of the players and members of the management concerned is under way.

“The return to collective training is set for Wednesday February 24, subject to the results of tests carried out every 24 hours.”

France are top of the Six Nations table after winning their first two games, against Italy and Ireland, both away from home.

Scotland, who have not won in Paris for 22 years, opened their campaign with a victory over England at Twickenham but lost 25-24 at home to Wales in the second round of fixtures.

A message from the Editor:

Get a year of unlimited access to all of The Scotsman's sport coverage without the need for a full subscription. Expert analysis of the biggest games, exclusive interviews, live blogs, transfer news and 70 per cent fewer ads on Scotsman.com - all for less than £1 a week. Subscribe to us today