Points for Edinburgh as postponed Benetton PRO14 clash won't be rescheduled

Edinburgh have received four match points following confirmation that their postponed PRO14 clash with Benetton Rugby will not be rescheduled.
A general view of BT Murrayfield ahead of a PRO14 fixtureA general view of BT Murrayfield ahead of a PRO14 fixture
A general view of BT Murrayfield ahead of a PRO14 fixture

The tournament’s governing body PRO14 Rugby made the decision to award the match points to the Capital club following a meeting of the organisation’s Sports & Regulatory Committee at which it was agreed that the result of fulfilling the fixture “would not make any material difference to either team’s final standing in Conference B.”

The meeting was originally postponed by the PRO14 Medical Advisory Group after a positive Covid-19 case was reported in the Benetton squad.

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Following consultation with all stakeholders involved, it was decided that playing the postponed fixture would not be necessary. Using protocol decided ahead of the 2020/21 season, PRO14 have recorded the result as a 0-0 draw, with Edinburgh receiving four match points as the team who had not caused the postponement.

This outcome avoids any artificial scoring points being added to the tries / points for and against columns. Edinburgh's final tally for the campaign now sits at 29.

Tournament Director David Jordan said: “We are very grateful to the understanding of the clubs and broadcasters involved that we could find broad agreement not to reschedule this game.

"The result of the fixture would have had no impact on the clubs’ final rankings and, in what has been a very strenous calendar four our teams, coaches, players and match officials, it is positive that we can provide some rest ahead of the Rainbow Cup.”

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Jordan paid tribute to the playing squads and backroom staff of all PRO14 clubs, as well as the organisation’s Medical Advisory Group following the culmination of a season like never before.

“To have played 96 fixtures from a total of 97 at this point in the calendar is a great shared achievement by our clubs, their staff and our Medical Advisory Group,” he added.

"Awarding points to a team and declaring the result of a fixture is never an ideal proposition and to have to only do this once in a situation that will have no material effect on the teams involved is tolerable.”

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