French rugby chiefs’ fury as Cardiff awarded walkover against Toulouse

French rugby chiefs have condemned the decision to cancel Saturday’s Champions Cup clash between Toulouse and Cardiff as “scandalous and totally unfounded”.

Rene Bouscatel, the president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby that oversees France’s professional game, said LNR’s directors will meet “as a matter of urgency” when possible legal action will be discussed. The game, due to take place in Toulouse, was cancelled following a number of positive Covid-19 tests in the hosts’ camp. Tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby said that Cardiff had been awarded the fixture by a 28-0 scoreline with five match points.

It leaves Toulouse’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase hanging by a thread. They currently occupy seventh place in Pool B – a position good enough to progress – but they could now miss out if other results go against them this weekend.

It also puts Cardiff in the qualification picture, which is remarkable in itself after they tackled Toulouse and Harlequins before Christmas without numerous players due to quarantining in South Africa – where they had been due to play two United Rugby Championship fixtures – and on their return to the UK.

Toulouse, meanwhile, had named a team for the game and published it ahead of Friday’s cancellation announcement. In a statement, LNR said: “Following the announcement of the EPCR to cancel the Champions Cup match between Stade Toulousain and Cardiff Rugby, the LNR condemns a scandalous and totally unfounded decision.

“Toulouse has put together a group of players to field a team fit to play the match, in full compliance with EPCR health regulations and the French health protocol. The EPCR’s Covid-19 protocol stipulates that the EPCR applies and defers to the protocol