Twenty-six positive cases for Covid-19, four on the front line … Toulon, knocked out by the Omicron variant, does not intend to go to La Rochelle, for the 15th day of the Top 14, Sunday. The Var club has written to the National League to this effect, providing it with all the necessary evidence. “We will not play,” said President Bernard Lemaître in an interview given to the Team on Wednesday. We follow the rules. You need six capable players on the front row. If I was ever told to make do, to play our juniors, I would say no. I accept the consequences, but we won’t do anything. “The LNR may be forced to endorse the postponement of the meeting, especially as an epidemic outbreak has emerged in the Rochelais this week, where a dozen positive cases have been revealed.
The problem is that the situation will become problematic for the Var club. This would then be his third game postponed (the Toulonnais have not played in a league match since their 16-16 draw on December 4 in Pau) and that will mean that he will play during each weekend of the Six Nations Tournament. (two duplicates are already fixed). Currently 11th in the Top 14, the RCT will therefore have to face Bordeaux-Bègles, Montpellier and La Rochelle at a time when its rivals in the maintenance race, they will breathe …
“Nothing is lost for the qualification, I am galvanized, however launched Bernard Lemaître. And I galvanize the troops. Franck Azéma (manager) and Laurent Emmanuelli (sports director) are wound up like pendulums. This dynamic and this energy must penetrate all layers of the club. “A club, which since the start of the season, has especially shown a lot of excitement and fragility, even before the Omicron variant brings it down.