- Newcastle, Bath and Sale due to play in France this week
- 48-hour isolation rule threatens to disrupt travel plans
Fresh doubt has been cast on European fixtures involving English clubs playing in France this week amid fears strict travel rules could wreak more havoc on the Champions and Challenge Cups.
Newcastle are due to play in France on Friday, as are Bath and Sale at the weekend, and while the organisers, European Professional Club Rugby, said last week that all fixtures will go ahead as planned, the key stumbling block is that clubs must isolate for 48 hours upon arrival before their matches, according to current travel rules. On Monday night officials were lobbying the French authorities through the Ligue Nationale de Rugby to relax that rule. But if the 48-hour isolation ruling remains, those fixtures would be cast into considerable doubt with the English clubs harbouring concerns over travelling.
