It’s been revealed that Premiership rugby has banned players from hugging and celebrating tries within two metres of each other.
This is one of a number of strict measures introduced for the league’s long-awaited restart when Harlequins host Sale at the Stoop on Friday night.
Despite the scrums, rucking and mauling, players will also be prohibited from shaking hands, high-fiving and kissing due to protocols designed to ensure social distancing is observed wherever possible.
Sharing equipment is also not allowed and the coin tosses will take place outdoors – most likely on the pitch – and at the water break midway through each half, players will be assigned their own named bottles.
PREMIERSHIP PREDICTIONS:
Friday, 7.45pm
Harlequins vs Sale
It’s been five months since we’ve seen any Premiership Rugby action so it’s fair to say form counts for pretty much nothing this weekend.
Quins had been largely underwhelming prior to the postponement of the season sitting in seventh and having lost eight of their 13 games so far, meanwhile Sale were flying high in second having racked up an impressive 40 points from their 13 fixtures to date.
The Greater Manchester outfit have also made a notable addition to their squad in the form of Manu Tuilagi and look well set for a strong end to the season. Champions in waiting?
Prediction: Sale by 15
Saturday, 12.30pm
Worcester Warriors vs Gloucester
Two clubs languishing at the wrong end of the table but safe from relegation, this could arguably be one of the most entertaining games of the restart weekend.
Gloucester sit just a place and four points above the Warriors so this one is hard to predict. An absorbing contest could be in store, and don’t be surprised to see some serious points as two sides with nothing to lose and everything to gain go head to head.
Prediction: Worcester by 3