NORTHAMPTON Saints boss Chris Boyd hopes sport can continue through the Omicron phase of the pandemic “for the sanity of the public”.
Seven European rugby matches due to be played between French and British teams this weekend were postponed because of France's new travel rules. Yesterday, Bath v La Rochelle and Sale v Clermont in the Champions Cup did not go ahead, nor Worcester v Biarritz in the Challenge Cup.
Scarlets v Bordeaux, Toulouse v Wasps, Stade Francais v Bristol and London Irish v Brive are all off on today.
Tournament organisers hope the games can be played at a later date.
Ospreys' game against Racing 92 on Saturday had already been called off, with the French side awarded a 28-0 bonus-point win. The same happened to Leinster, with Montpellier given a 28-0 win for the fixture due to be played on Friday. And Saracens suffered the same fate for their Challenge Cup game against Pau, scheduled for yesterday.
“We're subject to stricter protocols than the general public. We're testing every single day,” said Kiwi Boyd, whose side lost to Ulster on Friday night. “Normally when you go to Belfast it would be a highlight to sample a bit of hospitality but we're bubbled into the hotel and not allowed out.”
Boyd added: “It is what it is and hopefully, for the sanity of the general public, we can keep entertainment going in the bounds of safety around Covid.”
