phantom

Story just updated on BBC sport: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54598315 Wasps' participation in Saturday's Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham is in doubt after three more players tested positive for Covid-19. Four players and three staff members tested positive last week, meaning the club now has seven players self-isolating who would be unavailable. A decision on whether or not Wasps can play will be made on Wednesday after another round of testing on Tuesday. Bristol Bears will replace Wasps should they be unable to fulfil the fixture. The Bears finished third in the league and lost to Wasps in the semi-finals earlier this month. In addition to the three extra players who have returned positive results, a further member of staff has also tested positive. "After consultation with the medical leads at Premiership Rugby, the RFU and Public Health England, the club will continue not to train at this stage," a Wasps statement said. "The club's Covid-19 contact tracing, measures and protocols, which remain rigorous, will continue to be adhered to. "Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears have been made aware of the situation prior to the public release of this information." Wasps, who finished second in the Premiership table behind Exeter, lost to Rob Baxter's side in their last appearance in the final in 2017. The Coventry-based club should have had an extra week's preparation for the match as the Chiefs were playing in the Champions Cup final on Saturday. But Lee Blackett's men have not trained since the seven positive tests were announced last Wednesday. Should Bristol replace Wasps it will be the first time they have made the end-of-season final and would see the holders of Europe's two cup competitions play for the domestic title. Exeter beat Racing 92 on Saturday for their first-ever Champions Cup crown while Bristol overcame Toulon to win the Challenge Cup final in Provence the previous day. Analysis BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones Just five days out from the final, and the Premiership showpiece remains in limbo, with a total of seven players at Wasps now testing positive for the virus in the last week. The squad will have another round of testing on Tuesday, but even if Wasps are cleared to play, their preparation has been badly hit given they will have a number of players unavailable and have yet to resume training for their biggest match in years. Bristol remain on standby, with this latest news increasing the Bears' chances of being handed an unprecedented reprieve when a decision is made on Wednesday. Bears put tropical social plans on hold Pat Lam and the Bristol squad had a European Challenge Cup final win to celebrate on Friday As Bristol Bears continue to wait in the wings for an announcement on Wasps' participation, their head coach Pat Lam believes everything should be done to ensure Exeter and Wasps contest Saturday's final. "We absolutely believe Wasps and Exeter should be contesting this final," Lam said shortly after hearing about the four further positive tests. "Lee (Blackett) has done a superb job, as has Rob (Baxter). On Saturday, it was superb to see what Exeter have done in winning the European Champions Cup. "We ourselves have been put in a situation where it's not ideal. Everything with Covid in fact is not ideal. "To be in a situation where even now, we're still waiting for sure if we've played our final match in this season of all seasons, I've got a players' room next door all decked out in tropical and Hawaiian gear where we were supposed to having our socially-distanced party to wrap up the season. "We were told we were going to get an answer on Monday morning, so we were hoping to have that party in the afternoon, but we'll keep waiting." Bristol already have plenty to celebrate after their 32-19 European Challenge Cup final win against Toulon on Friday, plus a third-place finish in the Premiership. "The players have been great throughout all this," added Lam. "Myself included, we were all booked for holidays this week and ready to go. "We've put them all on hold for now. "But when we got back from the season restart, there were a lot of things we all signed-up to: Playing midweek games, forfeiting games if teams couldn't fulfil fixtures and the play-off situation too, with teams potentially dropping out and the next highest-finisher stepping in where we are now. "We were all hoping we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation, but here we are. "We've got to get tested ourselves as a group on Tuesday and train and then on Wednesday, we'll see where we go from there."

No offence but the above is nonsense The play off format has been in place for years and Exeter are fully aware of what is required to be crowned Champions. There's nothing under hand here. It's been in the game for years. I'm sure Bristol would enjoy the payback though after finishing top of the Championship but Exeter won promotion after a play off Interesting point. I was in a venue on Saturday 10th with someone who since tested positive. I've been tested and found negative but still have this

Bristol City Women can confirm that Aimee Palmer dislocated her knee in Sunday’s Barclays FAWSL clash with Birmingham City. The midfielder is set for spell on the sidelines having sustained the injury in a heavy challenge midway through the second half at Twerton Park. The club are currently awaiting further test results to determine the full extent of the injury and will fully support Aimee throughout her rehab and recovery. Everyone at Bristol City Women is right behind Aimee in her recovery and we hope to see her back on the pitch as soon as possible. TAKEN FROM: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/injury-update-aimee-palmer/

Compared to Birmingham we are on a par - which in itself makes yesterdays result even more concerning. The side shouldn't be low on confidence following on from a 4-0 victory in their previous game The investment comparison is more to do with the top end of the league sides who are now light years ahead of us in terms of playing personnel

Sadly I would imagine the TV contract may be dictating events here. But this scenario was written into the rules before the re-start so not like it has just been rushed through

Completely different styles of rugby though, as when we beat them, it's about who puts their best performance in

Was originally supposed to be announcement this lunchtime . . .

This is true, but ultimately it is his decision on what investment there is in the side

Birmingham are one of the few teams we're on a competitive par with, that today was awful. You have to ask yourself why we aren't investing in the team. Like the rugby compared to our men's team the money needed is a tiny fraction

Even more so considering everything else related to Bristol Sport is flourishing

I honestly don't know but looking at some of the players recently signed at the top end, either there's no FFP or the salaries aren't huge (maybe like the Bears)

I was thinking this watching the game. We were largely second best against one of the other worst sides in the league. When you look at the quality at the top clubs we're light years away from them. How can we be in the champions league semi final so recently and dropped away so badly. It really needs a cash investment, as mentioned above there's a lot of publicity around the womens game that if Bristol Sport are serious about has to see changes urgently. The only player that looked decent in the first half (Humphrey) was non existent in the second because of the multiple changes made at half time

12 minutes of injury time in this game too.....

Two down to Birmingham at half time. Lots of possession but offering so little up front. City only playing with one up front and she is completely isolated. Carla Humphrey only player offering anything for City at the moment, she was unlucky twice at nil nil with deflections taking her goal bound shots off target. Citys shape has to change otherwise this is a winnable game not finished off

Will always remember being at a touch rugby tournament at Weston RFC and was talking to the Exeter chairman, he was adamant they would build a new ground, get in the Premier and win trophies. All the those there from other clubs thought he was nuts..... I thought he reffed the game brilliantly, always explaining his decisions with clarity

Farce with the clocks again

I missed the first half, I didn't realise it was on Ch4

Ashton Gate looking good currently on channel 4 Oddly looks like Nigel Owens is wearing trainers

He's quite the character. The bears fans sing "He's one of our own......" like we did to Joe Bryan

Was this because of European rules?

Was just thinking, I hope it doesn't cost us

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/69897/Bristol_Bears_vs_Toulon.html If you don't mind French commentary

a bit more from Somerset