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Sale insisted they were fit to play the game, but it will now take place on October 7.
Last Updated: 10/03/20 5:14 pm
Sale Sharks was due to play Worcester on Sunday
Sale’s Gallagher Premiership match against Worcester and Northampton’s trip to Gloucester have been postponed due to positive coronavirus tests among several Sharks players.
The Sharks’ game with Worcester was the first of Sunday’s games to be postponed after several Sale players were found to have COVID-19.
Premiership Rugby then confirmed shortly thereafter on Saturday that Gloucester vs Northampton at Kingsholm will also not take place, and the Saints fell short of front-line options after several of their players were advised to isolate themselves after an audit of Track and Trace after they lost to Sale in the middle of the week.
The Saints have been forced to lose the game, which will be recorded as a 20-0, five-point victory for Gloucester.
Neither team could reach the play-offs and the relegation of the Saracens was already confirmed.
Sale, currently in fourth place and one of four clubs chasing the last three play-off spots, insisted they could still deliver on Sunday’s game, but has now been postponed until Wednesday.
That still depends on a number of factors being met, including a new round of coronavirus testing in Sale on Tuesday.
A statement from Premiership Rugby read: “Following yesterday’s announcement that there had been a series of positive tests in Sale Sharks, as part of the League’s CR COVID-19 screening program, Premiership Rugby has made the decision in accordance with the Premiership regulation 4.1 (c) to postpone Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors game until Wednesday, October 7.
“This decision was made after consulting with Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Public Health England to ensure that the health and well-being of all players are protected while protecting the integrity of the competition.”
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Darren Childs, CEO of Premiership Rugby, said: “In light of the unprecedented situation Premiership Rugby faces, we have been forced to postpone the match.
“Our priority is the health and well-being of everyone involved, and we are not going to compromise this. But as this match has such a critical impact on the decision of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions, we wanted to do our best to play it.
“The Premiership Rugby team has been working around the clock to find a solution and we would like to thank Public Health England for their cooperation.
“There are still a number of health and safety obstacles to overcome before the match can be organized on Wednesday night. The decision is subject to:
1. An additional round of testing to be completed in the sale on Tuesday October 6, 2020. It is essential that testing is clear to any player participating in the game and that PHE is satisfied with the results.
2. Exit Sharks and Worcester Warriors will not register any new players with the RFU prior to the rescheduled game.
3. An independent audit of the track and trace processes is conducted at Sale over the next several days before the game is played.
“Once these steps have been completed, we will make a new announcement.”
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In response, Sale issued a statement that said: “In relation to recent media speculation about a COVID-19 outbreak in Sale Sharks, the club can now confirm that there has been a number of positive tests this week.
“The well-being of all Premiership Rugby players, staff and officials remains Sale Sharks’ number one priority.
“Although a significant number of positive tests have been recorded, Sale Sharks have strictly followed PRL and RFU protocols throughout the pandemic to contain the spread of the virus.
“Therefore, the club is in a position to fulfill its 22nd match of Round 22 of the Gallagher Premiership with Worcester Warriors, scheduled for this Sunday at 3pm.
“However, after Worcester Warriors raised concerns regarding the safety of the match taking place on Sunday, we sought the advice of Public Health England and Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Premiership Rugby decided to postpone the match until Wednesday 7th October 2020 to allow for more COVID-19 tests to be conducted prior to installation.
“Sale Sharks would like to assure his fans that all the players and the club staff are doing well.”
Regarding Gloucester’s match with Northampton, Premiership Rugby confirmed in a separate statement that the match has been canceled, without a reshuffled date.
Childs, CEO of Premiership Rugby, said: “When we embarked on Rugby Restart in August, we said from the outset that the health and safety of everyone involved with Premiership Rugby was our priority.
“We completed eight of the nine rounds of Gallagher Premiership Rugby without losing a match, so we are sorry to have made this announcement today.
“We fully understand and sympathize with the Northampton Saints position. They are in this position through no fault of their own, but unfortunately they cannot deliver on the game.”
Title favorites Exeter have already made it to next week’s semi-finals, but Sale, along with Wasps, Bath and Bristol are also up for grabs.
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