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England game cancelled after Barbarians players break COVID bubble

Sunday's scheduled meeting of England and the Barbarians has been cancelled.  It’s after twel...



Sunday's scheduled meeting of England and the Barbarians has been cancelled. 

It’s after twelve Baa-baas players left the team bubble for a late dinner in London.

The English RFU say they were left with no alternative but to call the game off as there is "potential risk of COVID transmission from individuals outside the bubble to everyone in the Barbarians team and management."

An investigation is ongoing into those players' actions.

Former England captain Chris Robshaw and a number of Saracens players are understood to be among the dozen players who breached the agreed code of conduct.

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney, said; “We are incredibly disappointed to be calling a halt to this fixture, we know how much fans were looking forward to seeing the teams play.

"However, our priority is to protect the health and safety of the England squad and the other international teams they will go up against this autumn.

"There has been a great deal of effort put into COVID codes of conduct and planning for games, including cooperation with Premiership clubs to release additional players to fulfil the fixture safely, and we are all incredibly frustrated and disappointed that the actions of a number of Barbarians players mean we no longer feel it is safe for the game to go ahead.”

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Barbarians Chris Robshaw England Fergus McFadden