Leicester v Bordeaux (H) - 22nd January 2022 - 15:15

[Scuttle]

Yes a very good team, but disappointed there is still no sign of Hanro/MVS. Hopefully they are not too far away.

Unusually it looks like the Old King has been given a week off as well, hope he's not injured!

I hope MVS is OK. In one of the matches (just pre Christmas I think) he took the ball into contact in the opposition 22 just to the left of the posts, and clearly got a big knock. Play carried on and when he got up off the ground he looked very dazed and stood bent over as if he didn't know where he was, and very unsteady on his feet. He played on but maybe that was a blow that was exacerbated by his more recent knock.

[Tigerbeat]

Some suggestion on the unoffy that Bordeaux are now qualified with Cardiff getting 28-0 win over Toulouse. So may influence how strongly they protest to play the game?!

That is the case as Toulouse will finish on 7 points so Bordeau will be guaranteed a top 8 in the table

If Castre beat Quins with a bonus point they will move to 8 points
If Wasps beat Munster they will move up to 10 or 11 points

For Toulouse to be eliminated, both Castre and Wasps must win, which is highly unlikely in my opinion.

[Big Dai]

Or whether they travel at all......Covid Scare.

[Tiglon]

Very disappointing if it's called off. I'm surprised so many of the French teams are getting lots of cases, you'd think that banning Brits from going there would have all but eradicated covid... obviously not

To be honest, there is a case for allowing games to go ahead regardless. I'm sure many will disagree, but I don't think we're far from people not needing to self isolate when they get covid, and I don't see any problem with giving an exemption to elite sports people now.

[Big Dai]

Sorry , I should declare my sources!

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/spor ... ve-6526686

[Tigers86asw]

The proportion of games called off in Europe compared to the top14 makes very interesting reading

[Nofrontteeth]

Or are the French seeking to protect their internationals from injuries pre 6N?

[MCC1964]

But what is the advantage of leaving it to the last minute of that was the case?

[Soggypitch]

Very disappointing if it's called off. I'm surprised so many of the French teams are getting lots of cases, you'd think that banning Brits from going there would have all but eradicated covid... obviously not

To be honest, there is a case for allowing games to go ahead regardless. I'm sure many will disagree, but I don't think we're far from people not needing to self isolate when they get covid, and I don't see any problem with giving an exemption to elite sports people now.

I agree Tiglon and I also think it is very suspicious that they suddenly have so many cases when they automatically qualify now the Toulouse game is also off...........don't think they fancied it at Welford Rd!

[Scott1]

Seems to me that the French run the European competitions by the looks of it anyway

[OakhamTiger32]

Below is the Mercury's live fixture summary... does not look good...

11.44am: Sud Ouest report that 'several positive cases' have been recorded by Bordeaux in a round of Covid testing and that 'The UBB [Bordeaux Begles] has informed the EPCR which must decide in the next few hours whether or not to cancel the meeting in Leicester
12pm: Leicester Tigers reveal their team for Saturday's game, but there's no sign of Bordeaux's side - which still hasn't been shared on social media or their club website [1.30pm]
12.13pm: Bordeaux's team news finally drops
12.15pm: France-based journalist James Harrington Tweets 'Bordeaux delay departure to England'
12.51pm: Telegraph journalist Charles Richardson spots a a plane due to leave Bordeaux for Birmingham at 2.30pm had been cancelled

Only other UK bound flight out of Bordeaux is Ryanair at 5:55 this evening

May well be chartering an aircraft so could well be another flight we don’t know about

[Tigers86asw]

Tigers will be pushing hard for it to be on- the loss of earnings for them will be huge

[bazzwick]

Rather strange that this hasn’t been formally announced but as a corporate customer, I was told by email at 14.48 that the match is OFF

[Scott1]

Rather strange that this hasn’t been formally announced but as a corporate customer, I was told by email at 14.48 that the match is OFF

How reliable is that mate?

[Tigers86asw]

I think it’s only a matter of time before it’s called off. What’s the betting that all the top 14 matches next week go ahead? Dodgy as anything and has left a bad taste.