Gloucester-Worcester rugby match cancelled after Warriors' forwards crisis

Gloucester's match at home to Worcester in the English Premiership on Friday was called off just hours before kick-off due to the visitors' lack of front-row forwards.

Worcester said they had 36 players unavailable due to a mixture of injury, illness and coronavirus concerns, leaving them with just a squad of 18.

Of those, only three were prop forwards, meaning Worcester were unable to field the required six front-rows.

An independent panel will now decide the points allocation from the game, with Premiership Rugby confirming the fixture will not be replayed.

"We apologise to Gloucester, supporters of both clubs and BT Sport for the inconvenience this will inevitably cause but exceptional circumstances have conspired against us," a Worcester statement read.

The fixture was finally scuppered when Scotland front-row Murray McCallum, initially named as a replacement, failed a fitness test on Friday, thereby leaving Worcester with a mere three props.

"When the side to face Gloucester was announced on Thursday we named the only four fit props in the club at that stage," the statement added.

"The availability of Murray McCallum, who was named as replacement tighthead, was subject to him passing a fitness test on Friday morning. Unfortunately, Murray failed that fitness test."

? We regret to announce that tonight's match against Gloucester has been cancelled due to insufficient front row numbers in the squad.

Gloucester made clear their unhappiness at the match being abandoned some five hours before the scheduled 21:45 (SA time) kick-off in a statement of their own.

It read: "Gloucester Rugby is extremely disappointed to confirm that tonight's fixture against Worcester Warriors has been cancelled, following a forfeit by the opposition.

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