France ban all sporting events until September
France prime minister Edouard Philippe has confirmed the country has banned all sporting events – including behind closed doors – until September.
The rugby league season in Europe has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, while the NRL will restart play on May 28.
Philippe says the 2019-20 sporting season is over in France as he announced plans to ease France’s lockdown on May 11.
This has raised concerns over what French clubs Catalans and Toulouse are going to do if the rugby league season is back up and running before September. The clubs have yet to comment.
Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 – France’s elite football competitions – will not resume and it is not yet known whether the Ligue de Football Professional will choose to abandon the season with no promotion or relegation and no champions.
Earlier this month, the French Rugby League Federation have confirmed they will scrap the 2019-20 season, with no club being awarded the title.
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