Gloucester to seek compensation from Worcester over cancelled fixture

Gloucester will seek compensation from their Gallagher Premiership rivals Worcester following the cancellation of a league game between the clubs in March.

In accordance with Premiership Rugby regulations, Sport Resolutions was asked to form an independent panel – which was chaired by Sir Gary Hickinbottom and also comprised Carol Couse and Jonathan Rennie – to decide how points should be allocated.

Play-off contenders Gloucester were awarded a 20-0 win and five points from the match after Worcester were unable to field the required six match-squad front-row forwards.

In its published “reasoned decision” findings, the panel said: “On the evidence, we do not consider that Worcester took either all possible or even reasonable steps to obtain loan cover.”

Worcester, meanwhile, confirmed that they would not be lodging an appeal against the decision to award Gloucester five match points.

The cancellation, which was announced just hours before the scheduled kick-off at Kingsholm, is understood to have cost Gloucester around £250,000.

“The impact of Worcester’s decision to cancel the match was significant across the club and among both sets of fans, not least due to doing so within only a few hours of the scheduled kick-off,” Gloucester chief executive Lance Bradley told the club’s official website.

“It was frustrating for both sets of fans who had been looking forward to a good game of live rugby, whether at Kingsholm or live on BT Sport, and it was frustrating for our players, coaches and other staff who had been working hard to prepare for the game.

“We refunded all match ticket holders, season ticket holders, box holders and hospitality guests – all of which resulted in significant financial loss for the club.

“There were