Africa-Press – Gambia. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is causing all manner of problems for the sporting calendar at the moment and rugby has had problems of its own.
Ospreys v Dragons, Cardiff v Scarlets and Ulster v Connacht are among the fixtures to have fallen in the United Rugby Championship, but the Gallagher Premiership is coping well.
At present, there are no postponements in their Boxing Day programme.
As of Christmas Eve, nine clubs had reported a total of 34 positive Covid cases in their latest set of tests: 28 players and six members of staff. Those numbers are a drop from 47 players and seven staff members across nine clubs testing positive from December 10-16.
So, there will be plenty of action to watch over the festive period. Here are the key details:United Rugby Championship
Benetton and Zebre went at it on Christmas Eve, and the South African derbies for round eight will be taking place in January.
Add in two postponed fixtures for the Welsh rugby derbies and you’re left with what we’ve got below.
Monday, December 27
Glasgow v Edinburgh, 7pm, Premier Sports
Gallagher Premiership
Your eyes immediately get drawn to the west country derby between Bath and Gloucester late on Boxing Day. That will be a tasty encounter.
As will the first one of the day, between league leaders Leicester and Bristol, who are struggling to rekindle their form of last season but still posses threats.
Quins v Northampton on the December 27 will not be for the meek.
Sunday, December 26
Bristol v Leicester, 2pm, BT Sport, BT Sport app or btsport.com
Newcastle v Sale, 3pm
Saracens v Worcester, 3pm
Wasps v London Irish, 3pm
Bath v Gloucester, 4.30pm, BT Sport
Monday, December 27
Harlequins v Northampton, 5pm, BT Sport
French Top 14
There’s a full schedule of Top 14 action over the festive period and the prime time slots on both December 26 and 27 is where it’s at.
Toulouse welcoming Stade will be an entertaining affair and then you’ve got league leaders Bordeaux heading to face Toulon at the Stade Felix Mayol.
That will be one worth looking out for if you’re at a loose end.
Sunday, December 26
Perpignan v Castres 3pm (all times UK time)
Brive v Clermont, 5pm
Toulouse v Stade Francais, 8.05pm
Monday, December 27
Racing 92 v Pau, 6pm
Biarritz v Montpellier, 6pm
La Rochelle v Lyon, 8.05pm
Toulon v Bordeaux, 8.05pm
Allianz Premier 15s
There’s just the one match in the Allianz Premier 15s over Christmas as Harlequins take on Wasps on December 27.
The two teams currently sit fourth and fifth in the table respectively, with Quins just three points ahead of their visitors. Wasps haven’t played since December 11, when they thumped DMP Durham Sharks 70-0.
Quins, meanwhile, beat Saracens 36-17 last time out.
The league’s teams are next in action on Saturday, January 8.
Monday, December 27
Harlequins Women v Wasps FC Ladies, 2.15pm.
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