Coronavirus crisis leads to Ulster tie postponement in Heineken Cup

With the Pro14 and Top14 already in lockdown and the English Premiership set to follow suit by announcing the suspension of their league, it was inevitable that the Heineken Cup quarter-finals would not go ahead on their original date.

“The Board of European Professional Club Rugby has decided that this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-final matches will not now be played on the scheduled dates of 3/4/5 April,” confirmed a statement. “Amid growing public health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was taken during a conference call today (Monday) to postpone the eight matches on the weekend in question and to suspend the European club rugby season.

“While respecting all further directives by governments and local authorities, EPCR, in conjunction with the relevant leagues and unions, remains committed to trying to find a solution which will enable it to complete the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments at such a time as that aligns with preventative measures undertaken by an overwhelming majority of sport’s governing bodies and tournament organisers in Europe.

“EPCR’s priority is the health and welfare of players and club staff, and an update regarding the knockout stages of the tournaments will be communicated to all stakeholders as soon as practicable.”

Ulster had received a quarter of the ticket allocation for the 33,150-capacity Stadium de Toulouse.

As it stands, Ulster have now four games that need to be rearranged - three in the Pro14 (against Benetton, the Dragons and Glasgow), plus the Toulouse quarter-final, while Ireland have games against Italy and France to reschedule in the Six Nations.