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Sale vs Worcester cancelled after Sharks return positive coronavirus test results

 (Independent)
(Independent)

Sale Sharks have forfeited their final Premiership match against Worcester Warriors to end any hope of reaching the semi-finals after their latest round of coronavirus testing returned positive results.

The club promised to forfeit the match and take a 20-0 defeat if they registered any further Covid-19 cases after 19 positive test results were returned last week, which initially resulted in the game being postponed until Wednesday night.

The scenario quickly drew into a farce for Premiership Rugby, with Northampton’s final game against Gloucester cancelled after the Saints were unable to field a front row due to their players having to enter self-isolation, having played Sale last Tuesday. Northampton have since had three players test positive for coronavirus, including England players Lewis Ludlam and Piers Francis - the latter being forced to withdraw from Eddie Jones’s training squad on Tuesday.

Yet while Saints were forced to forfeit the match, Sale were able to postpone their fixture as they insisted they could field a full side in Sunday’s match, with the game called off only due to health concerns among Worcester and Public Health England.

The Manchester-based club strongly denied allegations that players were out in the city drinking together following their Premiership Rugby Cup final victory on 21 September, but promised to forfeit the match should Tuesday’s round of coronavirus testing produce any further positives - a scenario that has now played out.

A Premiership Rugby statement read: “Premiership Rugby can today confirm that it has cancelled tonight’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors.”

As a result, the current top four will play out this weekend’s semi-finals, with table-toppers Exeter Chiefs taking on fourth-placed Bath at Sandy Park and second-placed Wasps hosting third-placed Bristol Bears at the Ricoh Arena.