England vs Barbarians fate to be announced this afternoon as Baa-Baas scramble to make up numbers
The RFU are trying to save England’s match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.
The Baa-Baas are desperately trying to make up numbers ahead of the match following a breach of Covid regulations by 12 players in their squad, while the RFU are trying to ratify the names being presented to them as potential replacements.
A decision on the game’s fate is due at 3pm BST on Friday afternoon.
The RFU are keen for the Twickenham clash to go ahead, but are not willing to compromise safety - or England’s Six Nations clash with Italy next weekend - and have to approve any new names based on whether they have been in a secure-enough environment.
Some England players will play for the Baa-Baas, while other European national squad players could be called up, too.
Leicester’s Nemani Nadolo and Bristol’s John Afoa were offering their services online and it is possible Premiership players could now become available.
Both camps were optimistic that enough players would be found and the game would go ahead.
The RFU are looking into the breach and those involved - including Chris Robshaw - face possibly being hauled in front of a disciplinary panel, charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
