'We cannot let this injustice pass' - Furious Toulouse threaten legal action
Toulouse president Didier Lacroix has blasted the EPCR after the competition organisers awarded Cardiff a 0 – 28 walkover victory over the French after their Heineken Champions Cup meeting was scrapped.
Not unlike Leinster a few weeks ago, Toulouse say they are able to field a full, competitive team despite positive tests in camp – including France superstar Antoine Dupont.
The EPCR have this afternoon canceled the game never-the-less, leaving the French irate, with Lacroix describing it as an injustice in a long Twitter rant.
The EPCR say that the match risk assessment committee deemed the risk of the game going ahead as ‘too great’.
“Discussions with Stade Toulousain and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby took place before the match risk assessment committee, made up of medical doctors from EPCR’s medical advisory group as well as independent medical specialists, advised EPCR of its concerns as Stade Toulousain had recorded a significant number of positive Covid-19 test results from within its tournament squad,” said the EPCR. “And with the risk of further infection deemed to be too great, regrettably the decision was made to cancel the fixture.”
The Stade Toulousain president was apoplectic, with his comments being broadcast by the official club Twitter account of the European champions this afternoon.
“To understand our frustration today, you have to go back to the second day of the Champions Cup, postponed and then cancelled, against Wasps. We had to receive the English in a full stadium and the sentence compelled us to annihilate.”
“There followed the postponement of the match against Stade Français, the very morning of the match, on December 26. This day would have been a rugby party with our dear public. The lifting of the restrictions allows us to postpone it to 11/02, still at the Stadium.”
“During this period, we did not complain about the postponements during the doubloons and the Six Nations Tournament because we are proud to contribute to the success of the XV of France. Even if that adds a difficulty to the preparation of matches.”
“During each day, we respect the protocols to the letter and never a postponement or a cancellation has been our responsibility. We apply an even stricter protocol through Jérôme Cazalbou and our medical staff.”
“This week, the cases of Covid-19 are falling on us, through players who, out of common sense, have themselves tested, proof of their professionalism. On Thursday, the number of our cases was significant.”
“We have adapted our training week so that our players benefit from separate locker rooms and individual sessions. However, today we are able to present a negative and competitive team.”
“I have the greatest respect for the club of Cardiff Rugby but a 0-28 victory on our ground, through this decision, is unfair. We are not allowed to play this weekend against the Welsh, even while our team is negative.”
“The decision to cancel the match and Stade Toulousain’s defeat against Cardiff was disrespectful. EPCR warned Cardiff before us, without taking into account our arguments: A superior Covid-19 protocol, a negative team.”
“Let’s not blame doctors for a final decision. They advise and the authorities make the decisions. I wonder how our previous encounters in Cardiff and Wasps were more secure than tomorrow’s encounter.”
“I’m not saying that everything is done against Stade Toulousain. The first decision to cancel the 2nd round is detrimental for a lot of clubs. But our defeat on this 4th round is unacceptable.”
“We will challenge this decision in court because we are witnessing a total lack of respect. We are playing a competition in which its organizer must justify himself, on many decisions.”
“I want to defend my players today. For 5 weeks we have not respected them. Their daily lives are flouted and their work is not rewarded. They are not given the opportunity to be rewarded.”
"It is incomprehensible and seriously damages the club and the fairness of the competition…"
– Yet more chaos in the Champions Cup, this time involving defending champions Toulouse#Toulouse #HeinekenChampionsCup #TOUvCAR #LNR
https://t.co/Oz708Q5IrB— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 21, 2022
“I also want to apologise to our audiences. To the #FamilleST, to whom I no longer know what to answer today, in view of this unacceptable decision. We are working to offer the possibility of rescheduling places, refunds… But today we cannot offer them the opportunity to come to Ernest Wallon to support their favorite players, due to an alleged mistake, which we did not make.”
“We always respect the decision of a referee, from the moment the fault is committed, proven, and it goes against the rule. Today, we cannot accept losing because of a violation of the rule.”
The French giants who won the tournament last year say that they are saddened, given their traditional commitment to a competition that some French sides haven’t also respected.
“We are saddened because we have always respected this competition. We consider it in the same way as the Top 14, every year. I’m screaming loudly today but if we get through to the round of 16, we’ll play it 100 per cent.
“I am in the action and I am not in a political consideration. I carry the word of my club in the name of justice, so that the established rules are applied.”
“The matchday 2 draw is an interpretation of the EPCR rule. Today there is no interpretation. The rule is not respected.
“We have six front row players and even more. We have 23 names to line up and even more.”
“We cannot let this injustice pass. Not to mention our own case, many clubs have already been wronged and it is time for this to stop. We are talking about the credibility of this competition.
“Even if the EPCR does not speak of sanction in this decision-making, how can it be called otherwise?
A defeat with an attacking bonus for Cardiff, on our ground, is of course a sanction.”
“Until now, we were asked to suffer the absence of our adversaries. Today, we suffer our own absence, for a non-existent fault.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to comments