French officials follow PRO14's lead with its Top 14 season

French officials have followed the lead of the Guinness PRO14 by announcing an indefinite suspension of its Top 14 and PRO D2 seasons. 

The Top 14 was due to resume next weekend following a break for the closing rounds of the Guinness Six Nations, with Toulouse vs Lyon set to have started the programme on March 21. 

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That plan has now fallen by the wayside, as has the schedule in the PRO D2 which had games listed for this weekend at Montauban and Carcassonne. 

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby explained: “The LNR announces the temporary suspension of its TOP 14 and PRO D2 championships.

“The steering committee met by emergency conference call following the intervention of the president of France on the health crisis in the country linked to Covid-19 and the measures to be taken to curb the epidemic.

“Professional rugby intends to assume full responsibility in this exceptional situation. The LNR steering committee has therefore decided to temporarily suspend the Top 14 and PRO D2 championships.

“This decision has immediate effect and applies to the two late matches of PRO D2 which were scheduled for Montauban and Carcassonne.

“The LNR also requests that collective training organised by professional clubs be suspended.”

The league’s general assembly had initially been due to meet in Toulouse on Monday to discuss the situation, but that meeting has now been cancelled following the already agree suspension of the fixtures. 

“Health is the top priority,” said Paul Goze, president of the LNR. “We therefore suspend our Top 14 and PRO D2 championships in the exceptional context that our country is going through. The main thing is to unite in this period of national solidarity.”

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