Sale Sharks vs Worcester postponed and Gloucester vs Northampton cancelled due to positive coronavirus test results

Sale Sharks’s final Premiership match of the regular season against Worcester Warriors on Sunday has been postponed and will now be played on Wednesday after the Salford-based club returned 16 positive coronavirus tests among its first-team players.

But Northampton’s final-day trip to Gloucester has been forfeited after Saints were unable to field a side with ample front-row cover, with the majority of their squad self-isolating after playing Sale last Tuesday.

The final round of the regular English rugby season was plunged into chaos on Friday when it emerged that substantial positive test results had been produced across the Premiership.

With four clubs still vying for the final three places in the play-offs, Wasps, Bath, Sale and Bristol Bears harboured hopes this Sunday of joining Exeter Chiefs in next weekend’s semi-finals. But Saturday brought the news that more than a dozen Sale players had tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, and although the club insisted they could fulfil Sunday’s fixture, a decision was taken on health grounds to postpone the match until Wednesday 7 October.

But the match between Gloucester and Northampton has been forfeited by Saints as the already-depleted squad does not have the front-row players to field a full squad, and with the Premiership ruling that no new players can be registered for the final round of the season, the club were left with little choice than to forfeit the match and concede a 20-0 defeat.

Northampton chief executive Mark Darbon said: "It is with deep frustration that Northampton Saints can confirm that the club’s scheduled Gallagher Premiership Round 22 fixture against Gloucester Rugby on Sunday 4 October at Kingsholm will not take place.

“As a result of a large number of positive Covid-19 tests at Sale Sharks, a number of our playing squad are required to self-isolate following close contact during our game against Sale on Tuesday evening.

“Specifically, this has acutely impacted our front row  – an area where we were already significantly depleted owing to a series of injuries. Of the 14 front row players in our squad, we are left with just one tighthead prop and one hooker available to be included in the matchday squad.

“As soon as we were aware of the situation, we asked for permission to register loan players beyond the normal deadline in order that we could attempt to complete the fixture. We were advised that this dispensation will not be granted. We therefore have no option to bring in additional players as cover.

“We are extremely disappointed that our season has ended this way; an outbreak of coronavirus at another Premiership Club has left us with no viable option other than to forfeit our game.

“So far, none of our players are symptomatic and, where required, continue to follow all guidance to isolate.”

A Premiership Rugby statement earlier in the day read: “Following the announcement yesterday that there had been a number of positive tests at Sale Sharks, as part of the League's CR Covid-19 screening programme, Premiership Rugby has made the decision under Premiership Regulation 4.1 (c) to postpone the Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors fixture until Wednesday 7 October.

“This decision has been made after consultation with Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Public Health England to ensure that the health and wellbeing of all players is protected whilst protecting the integrity of the competition.

In order for the match to take place at the AJ Bell Stadium on Wednesday, the entire Sale Sharks squad will have to undergo a new round of coronavirus testing on Tuesday in order to be available for the match, with a ban put in place on registering any new players with the Rugby Football Union.

Sale will also be subjected to an independent audit of the track and trace process in the days leading up to the game.

Sale issued a statement on Friday night to say they will continue to prepare for the encounter as they are confident that all health protocols can be maintained despite the positive tests, although Worcester soon responded to urge caution over the matter given the risk posed to their own squad and staff.

Premiership Rugby chose not to respond on Friday night as confusion reigned over the final weekend of the domestic season, but a statement issued just an hour before the teams were due to be announced for the weekend confirmed that the entire six-match programme was under review.

Sale maintain they were in a position to play the match on Sunday as scheduled, but the decision was taken out of their hands as the Premiership announced the fixture postponement just 24 hours before the original kick-off time.

"In light of the unprecedented situation facing Premiership Rugby we have been forced to postpone the match,” said Premiership chief executive Darren Childs.

"Our priority is the health and well-being of everyone involved, and we won't compromise this. But as this match has such a critical bearing on deciding the Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions, we wanted to do everything we could to play it.

"The team at Premiership Rugby has been working around the clock to come up with a solution and we'd like to thank Public Health England for their co-operation.

"There are still a number of health and safety hurdles to overcome before the match can be staged on Wednesday evening.”

Sale said: “In relation to recent media speculation surrounding a Covid-19 outbreak at Sale Sharks, the club can now confirm that there have been a number of positive tests this week.

“The wellbeing of all Premiership Rugby’s players, staff and officials remains Sale Sharks’ number one priority. Although a significant number of positive tests have been recorded, Sale Sharks have stringently followed PRL and RFU protocols throughout the pandemic in order to contain the spread of the virus. The club is therefore in a position to fulfil its Gallagher Premiership Round 22 fixture with Worcester Warriors, scheduled for this Sunday at 3pm.

“However, after Worcester Warriors expressed concerns regarding the Safety of the fixture taking place on Sunday, we sought advice from Public Health England and Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Premiership Rugby have decided to postpone the match until Wednesday 7th October 2020 to allow further Covid-19 testing to take place prior to the fixture.

“Sale Sharks would like to reassure its supporters that all of the club’s players and staff are currently well.”