Two more fixtures cancelled

Toulouse Olympique’s home fixtures with Halifax Panthers and Batley Bulldogs, scheduled for 14 and 28 August respectively, have been cancelled. 

France remains on the UK Government’s ‘amber list’, which means that anyone returning from France who isn’t fully vaccinated must isolate for at least five days on their return. The next review of the government’s traffic light travel system is expected to be 26 August, with no guarantee of any loosening of restrictions on travel to France. In line with the RFL Board’s previous decision, part time teams are therefore not required to play in France due to the impact on their jobs outside of Rugby League.

The fixtures cannot be rearranged as there are no available slots in the season. Toulouse have yet to play at home in 2021 and the club continues to fulfil away fixtures as scheduled, with their players required to quarantine (other than for training) for seven days on their return to France.

In 2021 the Betfred Championship is being contested on a ‘points percentage’ basis due to the ongoing threat of postponements and cancellations presented by the pandemic. Points percentage is calculated by the number of matches won by a club, divided by the number of matches played, multiplied by 50.

Although clubs are required to have played 70% of their scheduled fixtures to be eligible for the play-offs, the RFL Board has previously ruled that Toulouse Olympique matches postponed as a result of the current quarantine regulations will not count as cancelled for either Toulouse or their opponents. Neither Toulouse nor Halifax or Batley will be penalised for circumstances beyond their control.