WORCESTER Warriors' director of rugby Alan Solomons insists it is "absolutely vital" that the professional rugby season does not cease, amidst calls by some for 'circuit breaker' as coronavirus continues to derail the 2020/21 campaign.

The Gallagher Premiership has suffered another fixture cancellation this weekend, after Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers was called-off due to positive COVID-19 cases among the Saints squad.

A Northampton Saints statement read: "In this week’s round of PCR testing ahead of the East Midlands Derby, the Club returned a number of positive tests, and had further players unavailable for selection following the Contact Tracing process.

"In close consultation with Public Health England, the match has subsequently been called off and Saints’ training also cancelled until the next round of testing – scheduled for Monday 11 January.

"The players involved have already begun a ten-day isolation period in accordance with the guidelines set out by Public Health England."

That is now the fifth fixture to fall victim to Covid in the last three rounds of league action, after Worcester vs Harlequins and London Irish vs Northampton were cancelled last weekend.

Newcastle Falcons vs Leicester Tigers and Bath vs London Irish were also called-off in round four due to the pandemic.

In each instance, the team that has had to forfeit the game because of positive cases has been awarded two points, with the other side in the fixture given four.

This has raised eyebrows across the league as the way points are being awarded means some clubs are gaining points even when losing, which no doubt hampers sides like Gloucester, who haven't had a game called off yet but are bottom of the table even though they have lost the same number of games as Irish.

Warriors director of rugby said it's a situation that is no one's fault but admits the credibility of the Premiership is being damaged.

"We are operating in very difficult times," he said.

"We are all doing our best to keep going because if we don't, commercially, it will be a disaster for the game.

"I think we have to bare with the situation but of course it's not perfect because if it were, every team would play and the points would be allocated as a result of the game.

"That has not been the case in some instances in recent weeks.

"Through no one's fault, this is obviously affecting the integrity of the competition because the games aren't being played but everyone is trying to find an equitable solution.

"I think the main thing for us is to keep the games going, it's absolutely vital."

And it's not just the domestic season that is struggling.

We have already seen a selection of European games called-off because of positive cases and now French clubs are rumoured to be unhappy with the Challenge and Champions Cup going ahead whilst the virus is at a worryingly high rate across the UK.

Warriors are due to face Ospreys next Friday evening after their Premiership clash with Sake Sharks on Friday night.