New twist in Premiership top four race with major announcement
Gloucester have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of the Gallagher Premiership play-offs following the decision by an independent Sport Resolutions panel.
Following the cancellation of Worcester Warriors’ match with Gloucester last month due to a lack of front row options, the panel has decided to award Gloucester a 20-0 win and five points in the league table.
That means Gloucester will move up to fifth place, only two points behind Exeter Chiefs but with a game in hand. Their final four games are a mixed bag though, as they face second place Saracens and third place Harlequins, but also tenth place Bristol Bears and bottom place Bath.
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: “The independent Sport Resolutions panel has decided as follows: Under regulation 4.4(j)(iii), the Match result shall be 20-0 in favour of Gloucester; and that, in respect of the Match, Gloucester shall be awarded 5 league points.
“Regulation 4.4(j)(iii) states: Where the unfulfillment of a Premiership League Match is due to the unavailability of players due to injury or unavailability (which is not related to Covid-19), the match result shall be 20-0 and 5 league points shall be awarded to the opposition Club who could play the match.
“A reasoned decision will follow as soon as possible, and hopefully within the next week. That reasoned decision will incorporate this decision; and, for the avoidance of doubt, time for appealing under regulation 14.2 will start to run from the date of that reasoned decision.”
https://twitter.com/gloucesterrugby/status/1517166106431172613?s=20&t=CYiNWvttkYF0OrXP0DSyPQ
