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Three URC fixtures called off for New Year's weekend
By Online Editors
Following significant disruptions to recent rounds of the United Rugby Championship, three further fixtures have been called off ahead of the first weekend of the new year.
A number of positive Covid-19 cases have been reported by Cardiff, Dragons, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors, leading to the postponement of three Round 9 matches:
- Dragons v Cardiff Rugby
- Ulster v Leinster
- Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
The games are set to be re-scheduled for the future, however the number of available weeks are diminishing quickly, with a slew of prior matches already likely to be played during the Six Nations.
“The games were due to take place on Saturday and Sunday (January 1 and 2), however, a number of positive Covid-19 cases in Cardiff, Dragons, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors squads have been reported,” a URC statement read.
“The URC Medical Advisory Group has liaised with the medical teams at Cardiff, Dragons, Glasgow Warriors, Ulster and their respective health authorities and deemed that these fixtures cannot go ahead as scheduled.
“The United Rugby Championship will now consider available dates to reschedule these games.”
The last URC fixture to go ahead was played on Christmas Eve, with Benetton securing a 39-14 win over Italian rivals Zebre. The remaining seven matches of Round 8 were all postponed.
With a number of the Round 2 clashes of the Champions and Challenge Cups called off the weekend prior, the likes of Leinster, Scarlets and Dragons haven't played any fixtures since December 11.
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Latest Comments
Well deserved for a young talented, bright and humble player.
Go to commentsCane shouldn’t have been one last year, based purely on performances. Lakai is as close to a like for like of swap of Savea you’re ever likely to find, based on his short career so far at least. He has many of the same qualities - very strong ball carrier, great at the breakdown, and an absolute work horse on defence. I feel like he and Sititi could lead the way in the loose at the next WC.
I think we have become obsessed with replacing Kaino with someone exactly like him. Kaino was a perfect foil for the other loose forwards we had at the time. Based on the talent we have around at the moment those players could be made up in the aggregate by three players who are all exception all rounders - Lakai, Sititi, and Savea. Missing some height for sure but Sititi’s defensive work in the line out last year was phenomenal. He gets off the ground so quickly and was able to steal a couple of balls off the top of the springbok line out.
If our young locks coming through can actually stay fit long enough to get selected, it seems inevitable that Va’ai could end up in a hybrid 6/lock role.
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