By Duncan Bech, PA
Exeter’s defence of their Champions Cup crown has suffered a setback following the cancellation of Sunday’s match against Toulouse because of an outbreak of coronavirus.
The Chiefs have reported a number of positive tests for Covid-19 and are unable to fulfil the round two fixture at the Stade Ernest Wallon.
The knock-on effect is that Glasgow – Exeter’s opponents last weekend – are unable to field a side against Lyon due to the need for some of their players to self-isolate, meaning their game is also cancelled.
📢 - Sunday's @ChampionsCup clash between @StadeToulousain and @ExeterChiefs has been cancelled after a number of positive cases at the club, involving players and staff ⬇️https://t.co/FHOzE07Mnm pic.twitter.com/vfty6a2RJY
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) December 16, 2020
Tournament organisers EPCR will convene a match resolution panel to decide the result of the games once all four clubs have submitted their testing results.
If a 28-0 defeat is awarded against Exeter, it will place them on the back foot in their quest to advance to the knockout phase as the truncated format to this year’s competition consists of only four group games.
The Chiefs thumped Glasgow 42-0 to launch their campaign with a statement win and have only two remaining fixtures – against Toulouse and the Warriors in January – to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
