Benetton in Rainbow Cup final after game against Ospreys cancelled due to Covid-19

Benetton Treviso have progressed to the final in the ongoing Rainbow Cup campaign after their sixth round clash against Ospreys was cancelled due to Covid-19.

The latest round of testing reported three positive cases in the camp of the Welsh regional side and as a result all the squad members and staff are placed in isolation.

The result means the organisers have handed four points to Benetton, who are the only side to finish the league stage undefeated as they have taken their tally to 22 points. They will now play the winners of the South African league in the final on 19th June.

“The Ospreys are working closely with Public Health Wales following the latest round of Covid-19 testing at the club, which returned three positive results," read a Pro14 statement.

“The decision to cancel the game is a result of the mandate from Public Health Wales that all individuals who were part of the travelling party from the previous fixture are now required to self-isolate in-line with public health protocols.

“With no available weekends remaining, the game will not be rescheduled. As a result, PRO14 rugby will use the protocol decided prior to the 2020/21 season whereby a game that could not be reschedule would result in that fixture deemed a 0-0 draw, but four match points would be awarded to the team who had not been the cause of the postponement.

“In this case, Benetton will receive four match points. This protocol ensures that no artificial scoring points were added to the tries/points for and against columns.

“Adding four points to Benetton’s current total of 18 will provide the Italian team with a final standing of 22 points. It is mathematically impossible for any other team in the table to win more than 20 points, therefore Benetton Rugby will be the ‘Northern’ representative in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final on Saturday, June 19.”