Saracens have been forced to forfeit their Challenge Cup fixture this weekend against Pau due to a number of Covid-19 cases within the squad.
As a result Pau have been awarded a 28-0 bonus-point win in accordance with tournament rules. Saracens lost their opening Challenge Cup fixture to Edinburgh last weekend, with the match forfeit against Pau further damaging their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
After a number of positive cases following the club’s round of PCR testing on Monday, Saracens have closed their training ground and isolated all players, coaches and support staff.
Given the club are unable to field a 23-man squad for the fixture against Pau, Saracens’ Boxing Day fixture in the Gallagher Premiership at home to Worcester Warriors may also be under threat, although Saracens have moved to calm those concerns by insisting the fixture will go ahead as planned.
“This is extremely disappointing for everyone at the club but as always the health and wellbeing of our people is our priority at this time,” read a Saracens statement.
“The squad will return to full training on 24th December following the necessary period of isolation. We would like to reassure our supporters that our Gallagher Premiership fixture versus Worcester Warriors on 26th December will still take place and we very much look forward to seeing you all at StoneX Stadium for a feast of festive rugby.”
Bath have also been forced to postpone training following what the club described as a “very small” number of positive results from the club’s latest round of PCR testing.
Training at Farleigh House is set to resume following the latest round of PCR testing later this week, with Bath’s Champions Cup fixture at home to La Rochelle remaining unaffected.
Wasps are also confident they will be able to send a side to face Toulouse this weekend despite a number of Covid-19 cases at the club.
“As long as nothing drastic happens between now and the game, we will have a team and we will be flying out to Toulouse,” said head coach Lee Blackett on Wednesday, adding that the squad remains stretched with Wasps set to potentially use two of their senior academy players against Toulouse.
Wasps also appear set to be without their captain Brad Shields, who has been issued with a four-game suspension following his red card against Munster on Sunday. Wasps have launched an appeal against the decision.
