Biarritz rugby players released from quarantine

Biarritz’s players were allowed out of quarantine following a mumps scare on Friday, giving them two days to prepare for their next Top 14 clash with Perpignan.

The French Rugby League (LNR) had banned the Basques’ players and coaches from meeting up for seven days after fly-half Julien Peyrelongue caught the mumps and back-row Benoit Guyot was also suspected of being infected.

Biarritz were quarantined immediately after returning from their 41-31 Challenge Cup quarter-final success away to Gloucester, for which both Peyrelongue and Guyot were forced to sit out.

Sunday’s clash against the Catalans is crucial for the battle for seventh place, and with it a potential qualification for the European Cup next year.

Both sides are still in contention to win the Challenge Cup — Perpignan having knocked out French champions Toulouse in their quarter-final –which brings with it a place in next season’s European Cup.

Should they fail there, though, and another French side wins either the European Cup (Toulon and Clermont are still in contention) or the Challenge Cup (Stade Francais are also in the semis) then seventh place would also be good enough to qualify for the top European competition next season.