Glasgow Warriors hit with heavy defeat for COVID cancellation in Champions Cup

Glasgow Warriors’ inability to field a team against Lyon this weekend due to COVID pre-cautions has seen the club dealt a heavy blow by European rugby’s match resolution committee.

The Warriors will be out of action after the weekend's cancellation and that of the Pro14 match with Edinburgh on December 27. (Ross MacDonald - SNS Group)

The cancellation of the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B fixture at Scotstoun originally scheduled for tomorrow has handed victory, as expected, to the French side.

However the committee issued Glasgow, and two other clubs affected by the virus and unable to play – Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs – with a heavy defeat, awarding the opponents of each team 28-0 wins, accounting for four penalty tries.

The awards will also result in five match points for La Rochelle, Toulouse and the Warriors’ opponents Lyon in the competition.

The decision was reached, a statement from European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said, ‘with a view to facilitating the completion of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup in unprecedented circumstances’ but sought to emphasise that ‘blame was not considered as a factor during the deliberations’.

Warriors were unable to field a team due to a ‘significant number’ of isolating players. Bath were in a similar position with additional injuries ruling replacements out while reigning champions Exeter were unable to field a team on Sunday after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff ruled out any travel to face Toulouse in France.

The Chiefs’ outbreak followed their opening 42-0 win over Glasgow in the competition last week which has had a knock-on effect for several Warriors having to isolate and a number of positive tests returned, leading to the fixture cancellations this weekend and against Edinburgh later this month.

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