It has been confirmed that the French Top 14 season will be abandoned after a deal was reached between clubs and league organisers.

The competition, laden with South African players at almost every participating club, was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s top football leagues have already been cancelled, with rugby now following suit after talks between league organisers, the LNR, and the club presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs .

Bordeaux-Bègles had been leading the way in the race for the playoffs with 17 games played in the 26-round regular season. However, it was decided to prioritise the start of the 2020-21 campaign in September.

An LNR statement read: ‘After consultation with the presidents of Top 14 and PRO D2 clubs, the board will propose to the LNR Management Committee not to follow up on having playoffs at the end of August to close the 2019-2020 season, to pronounce the end of this 2019-2020 season and to focus on the organisation of the launch of the 2020-2021 editions of the two championships starting in September 2020.’

The management committee will meet to ratify the decision, but there is still no indication whether a champion will be declared and whether the promotion-relegation rules will still apply.

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