Premiership Rugby can confirm that Newcastle Falcons have been awarded four points and Leicester Tigers two points following the cancellation of their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Round Four match on Saturday.
The decision has been made by a Premiership Rugby Panel comprising Premiership Rugby chairman Andy Higginson, chief executive Darren Childs and rugby director Phil Winstanley.
The match, scheduled to be played on December 26, was cancelled after the Tigers returned a small number of positives tests in the week's round of PCR testing. In addition, a large number of the squad were ruled out of the match due to contact tracing following the return from European competition last week, leading to the closure of the Tigers’ training ground to protect against the potential for a significant outbreak at the club.
With players now in isolation and the closure of the training ground, Leicester Tigers were unable to fulfil its fixture obligations
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "Following Leicester Tigers’ inability to fulfil their Gallagher Premiership Rugby Round Four fixture against Newcastle Falcons as a result of Covid-19, the Falcons have been awarded the win and four league points. Leicester Tigers shall be deemed to have lost the match but awarded two league points. The match score shall be recorded as 0–0.
"The health and safety of players, staff, management, officials and supporters is our only priority, so the correct decision was taken to call the game off."
The December 26 fixture between Bath Rugby and London Irish was also cancelled and Premiership Rugby have confirmed that Bath Rugby are awarded four points and London Irish two.
Irish returned a small number of positives tests in their PCR testing. In addition, since testing on December 21, players who had returned negative results experienced symptoms. These players were also isolated. The club closed its training facility until December 28 when it reopened for further testing. Due to the closure of the training facility and the isolation of its squad, they were no longer able to fulfil fixture obligations in Round 4.
Click here to read the clauses about Covid in the Premiership Rugby regulations.
Premiership Rugby Panel Judgements are published here.
