Saints claim four points after London Irish clash is cancelled

Saints had been due to face Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon but the match was cancelled after the Exiles returned a number of positive tests in this week’s round of PCR testing.

Further players were identified as close contacts and therefore had to be placed into isolation.

Following consultation with Public Health England, London Irish were advised to keep their training facility closed and not to play against the black, green and gold, as there could not be any certainty that the outbreak was under control.

Consequently, Saints were given four points, while Irish take two.

A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: “Following London Irish’s inability to fulfil their Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixture against Northampton Saints as a result of Covid-19, Saints have been awarded the win and four league points.

“London Irish shall be deemed to have lost the match but awarded two league points. The match score shall be recorded as 0-0.

“The health and safety of players, staff, management, officials and supporters is our only priority, so the correct decision was taken to call the game off.”

The decision was made by a Premiership Rugby panel comprising chairman Andy Higginson, chief executive Darren Childs, and rugby director Phil Winstanley.

It means Saints have now taken nine points from their past two league matches ahead of the home clash with local rivals Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Chris Boyd's side are now just four points adrift of the Premiership top four with five games gone.