Toulouse to take 'legal action' over cancelled Champions Cup game

:Toulouse president Didier Lacroix said the club would take legal action after their Champions Cup clash against Cardiff on Saturday was cancelled due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in the French side.

Cardiff were awarded the Pool B tie 28-0 and five match points, with a match risk assessment committee ruling that the game could not safely go ahead, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said on Friday.

"Stade Toulousain had recorded a significant number of positive COVID-19 test results from within its tournament squad, and with the risk of further infection deemed to be too great, regrettably the decision was made to cancel the fixture," EPCR said in a statement.

Lacroix said that Toulouse would have been able to field a "competitive" team.

"We will take legal action against this decision because we're witnessing a total lack of respect," Lacroix told reporters. "We cannot let this injustice pass.

"It's not just 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."

The forfeit could impact Toulouse's chances of reaching the last 16.

The French club are seventh in Pool B on seven points, level with Cardiff in eighth and one point ahead of ninth-placed Wasps, who have a game in hand. The top eight teams in the pool qualify for the last 16.

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) condemned the "scandalous and totally unfounded" decision.

"The decision of the EPCR is taken in violation of its own regulations. It is incomprehensible and seriously prejudices the club and the fairness of the competition," LNR said in a statement.

LNR president Rene Bouscatel added that a board of directors' meeting will be convened "urgently" to discuss the