Premiership game POSTPONED - and more could follow

Sunday, 26 December 2021 at 02:33

byRugby Rucker

Premiership Rugby haved confirmed that Sale Sharks’ Gallagher Premiership Rugby match against Newcastle Falcons - scheduled for Boxing Day - has been called off.

Sale Sharks returned positive Covid-19 tests overnight and a significant number of their playing squad were ruled out of the match. After consultation, both the Professional Game Board (PGB) Testing Oversight Group and the club agree that the risk is too great for the fixture to take place safely.

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🚨MATCH CANCELLED!🚨 Newcastle Falcons' Gallagher Premiership match against Sale Sharks, scheduled for tomorrow, has been called off due to Covid cases in the Sale camp. Wishing everyone at Sale Sharks a safe and speedy recovery 🙏🏽. newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/Box…

4:15 PM · Dec 25, 2021

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A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "Our priority is the health and safety of everyone involved with Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons and we will give the clubs any support they need. We wish everyone affected a full and speedy recovery.

"Neither Premiership Rugby nor the club will be naming any of the players or staff involved and we'd ask everyone to respect their privacy."

Under the Premiership Rugby regulations, the match between Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks will be cancelled. A Premiership Rugby panel will now be convened to determine the allocation of points and a further announcement will be made in due course.

Dan Carter’s dream team is something special

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BACK-THREE:

15. Ben Smith (New Zealand)
14. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Carter on Lomu: "“He was the toughest player. I played against him once, I was 19-year-old and tried to tackle him, kinda woke up five metres back. He changed the game of rugby."

CENTRES:

13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)

Carter on O'Driscoll: “Two giants of the game that have worn the green jersey were Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. Their work rate and how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch was exemplary.”

HALFBACKS:

10. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

Carter on Wilkinson: "Someone I really looked up to and I tried to have a similar work ethic. The 2005 Lions tour was a bit of a fanboy moment for me."

FRONT-ROW:

1. Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)
3. Olo Brown (New Zealand)

SECOND-ROW:

4. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
5. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

BACK-ROW:

6. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
8. Thierry Dusautoir (France)

Carter on Burger: "“A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”

Carter on Dusautoir: "He had some blinding games in big moments — none more so than in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup games against the All Blacks."

Carter on McCaw: "I learnt a lot from playing alongside my old mate. A real leader and took us to back-to-back World Cups. Thank God I was never on the opposite side!"