The key questions surrounding the Premiership’s two-week mid-season break

English clubs are not due to return to action until the end of January.

England’s top-flight clubs have a fortnight off following the postponement of the final two rounds of the Champions and Challenge Cup group stages because of coronavirus fears.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the key questions surrounding the break.

How is the Premiership able to take a break?

A window has been opened up by the postponement, brought about by the French government barring the Top 14 clubs from travelling outside the country. This decision is due to the soaring number of coronavirus cases across the continent, but especially in England where the new variant of Covid-19 has caused so many problems.

What happens to Europe now?

EPCR, organisers of the Champions and Challenge Cups, intend to complete the tournaments knowing the travel ban on France’s clubs currently covers January only, although that could be extended. It plans to do this as soon as feasible, but there is no space for the rearranged fixtures in such a horribly congested schedule, born out of the season’s delayed start to cram in the 2019-20 campaign.

So why are the Premiership clubs taking a break?

Exeter and Bristol played last Saturday but now have two weekends without games (Simon Galloway/PA).

But some coaches suggested playing Premiership fixtures instead?

Bristol boss Pat Lam suggested playing Premiership fixtures instead this fortnight (Simon Galloway/PA).

What will the clubs do during the break?

Exeter are the European and Premiership champions (David Davies/PA).

When will they play again?

In the next round of the Premiership, which takes place on the final weekend of January. International players will not be involved because the Six Nations starts the following Saturday, leaving many players short of game time heading into the Championship.