Scarlets have been handed a 28-0 ‘victory’ in their cancelled Heineken Champions Cup match with Toulon.
The outcome was widely expected after Friday’s game was called off less than two hours before kick-off and has been confirmed by the European Professional Club Rugby today.
Scarlets have been awarded five match points. They now have two wins in the tournament.
Following the decision to cancel, a Match Result Resolution Committee was convened today to determine the outcome of the #HeinekenChampionsCup Round 2 match between @scarlets_rugby and @RCTofficiel:https://t.co/DtD77bGizt
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 19, 2020
Toulon had pulled out of the game citing concerns about a Scarlets player testing positive for Covid-19 after playing against Bath last weekend.
Scarlets had withdrawn the player and his close contacts from training before naming their side to face Toulon. The action satisfied European rugby organisers but not Toulon’s management.
EPCR Scarlets had offered to postpone the game until Sunday, allowing the squad to be re-tested for the virus, but Toulon opted to return to France.
An EPCR statement said: “EPCR have been informed by RC Toulon the club will not be fulfilling their Heineken Champions Cup fixture against Scarlets and the match is therefore cancelled.
“Although a medical risk assessment committee was satisfied that the fixture, could go ahead safely, it was initially postponed following concerns by RC Toulon for their players and staff.
“As has been previously communicated, RC Toulon were offered the opportunity to play the match at a later date during the allocated Round 2 weekend. However, that offer has not been accepted.
“Following the decision to cancel, a Match Result Resolution Committee was convened today. Scarlets were deemed to be the winners and were awarded five match points on a scoreline of 28-0.
“EPCR would like to emphasise that blame was not considered as a factor during the deliberations, and the committee’s decisions were made with a view to facilitating the completion of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in unprecedented circumstances.”
All sides in the tournament agreed to forfeit matches if fixtures could not be fulfilled because of coronavirus.
