“A resounding conclusion to Europe can put rugby back on the rails”
THE SENSE of pain and frustration surrounding our sport at the moment would be almost unbearable if we were not to keep in mind the grim casualty statistics of Covid-19 and the many other hardships the virus nightmare has bestowed on families, livelihoods, and mental and physical health.
The sporting inclination is to bemoan the chaos caused to the rugby season and to the European Champions and Challenge Cups, both of which were boiling up to splendid conclusions – but they may yet have them.
Will the fans be there? It seems unlikely that any followers will be allowed in for the quarter-final rounds of both competitions on the weekend of 18-20 September, or for the semi-finals a week later. EPCR will follow the directives of national governments and local authorities for the last-eight ties.
Will the showpiece finals be played behind locked doors with only the teams and back-up and media
