Champions Cup and Challenge Cup group-stage games cancelled

Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs has confirmed that EPCR has decided to abandon the final two rounds in the group stage of European Challenge and Champions Cup tournaments.

The third and fourth rounds of the tournaments were scheduled on the weekends of 16 and 23 January but was postponed after the French sports ministry advised its clubs to cease cross border competitions following concerns over the new variant of the Covid-19.

Childs said the decision to cancel the rounds was taken after a discussion between EPCR and the three leagues CEO's considering the heavy packed schedule in place for the season due to Covid-19. The announcement on the knockout stage is expected to be made made by EPCR within the fortnight.

"The decision was made very quickly by the executive at EPCR that we would not try to reschedule those games," Childs said.

"We have a tough season. There's no space at the end of the season because of the Lions and we have no spare weekends in our season once we resume.

"To play European rounds when the Lions is taking place would have been very damaging to the European tournament. So it was decided very quickly by all three leagues CEOs that we would complete the tournament in the four remaining weekends.

"Everyone is managing their domestic and international calendars to the best of their ability. The exact structure has not been agreed and we've already started those discussions."