French teams to pull out of Rounds 3 & 4 of Champions Cup

French teams to pull out of Rounds 3 & 4 of Champions Cup

Following the French government’s advice that the Top14 teams do not participate in the Champions/Challenge Cup fixtures this weekend, it has been officially decided that cross-border matches will be suspended.


The official word is that no games against foreign opposition will be played during the month of January. However, European Professional Club Rugby chief executive, Vincent Gaillard, appears to be confident that the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will still be completed.

“In short, we’re expecting a definitive directive from the French government which we have not received so far, as to whether or not the French clubs will be able to participate in rounds three and four of this season’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup,” Gaillard said in an interview with BBC radio.

“We are going to start working on different scenarios as soon as this decision comes in. What we do know today is we have four weekends currently scheduled over the months of April and May, but we have six weekends required to finish the season.

“So as soon as the decision comes in, we’ll get together with our stakeholders and notably the three leagues, the Pro14, Premiership Rugby and the LNR in France, to find the best way forward.”


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