Concerns have been raised as the rescheduled Six Nations clash between France and Scotland will take place outside the designated international window.
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The Round 3 match, originally postponed after several members of the France squad tested positive for Covid, has been set to be played in Paris on 26 March.
While fans and administrators will be pleased to see the game go ahead (particularly as it is still possible that it could decide the winner of the tournament), there are questions over the availability of players as the match now falls outside of the designated international window.
Some of Scotland’s key players are based in England at Premiership clubs. Captain Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray, for instance, play for Exeter. There has been no confirmation from the Premiership that they will be made available for the contest.
It is understood that Premiership clubs are seeking compensation in order to release Scottish players. It is also thought that the Premiership organising body is unhappy with the proposed kick-off time of 8pm (UK time) as it clashes with a match between Gloucester and Exeter.
If a solution cannot be reached, Scottish fans will feel aggrieved. Not least because it was French head coach Fabien Galthie and French players who broke their bio-bubble and caused the Covid outbreak which eventually led to the postponement of the match in the first instance.
