Premiership Rugby can confirm that Warriors have been awarded four match points and Gloucester Rugby two following the cancellation of their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Round 22 match which was scheduled to be played at Sixways. The match score shall be recorded as 0–0.
The decision has been made by a Premiership Rugby Panel comprising Premiership Rugby chairman Andy Higginson and Rugby Director Phil Winstanley.
The match was cancelled after Gloucester Rugby returned positive Covid-19 tests this week and had a significant number of players in isolation, after being unable to fulfil their Round 21 match against Bath Rugby. As a result of this and due to the additional new players being isolated, the club’s ability to have sufficient players available to cover the front row was impacted.
As a result and having reviewed the Club’s playing squad, it is clear that, as a direct result of COVID-19, Gloucester Rugby is unable to fulfil its Round 22 match against Worcester Warriors on Saturday 12th June 2021.
Premiership Regulations state that: “In the event that the PRL Panel decide that a Referred Match in the League Season is cancelled, or any governmental authority recommends or requires that a Match in the Premiership League Season is cancelled (in either case, a ” Cancelled League Season Match “), then (without prejudice to any action which may be taken under or relating to any Covid Minimum Operating Standards):
• the result of that Cancelled League Season Match shall be deemed to be 0-0; and
• four league points shall be allocated to the club who was able to play the Cancelled League Season Match and two league points shall be allocated to the other club.”
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: “The health and safety of players, staff, management and officials is our priority, so following consultation with local Public Health England officials and the Professional Rugby Testing Oversight Group the correct decision was taken to call the game off.
“Worcester Warriors have been awarded the win and four league points. Gloucester Rugby shall be deemed to have lost the match but awarded two league points. The match score shall be recorded as 0–0.
“We wish those affected at Gloucester Rugby a safe and speedy recovery.”
Warriors ended the season with the least positive COVID-19 tests – four – in the Gallagher Premiership from a total of 3,930 PCR and 2,805 Lateral Flow Tests carried out since players and staff returned to Sixways last July.