Nine COVID-19 positives at Racing 92 before European final

(Reuters) - Nine Racing 92 players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their European Champions Cup final against Exeter Chiefs, the French Top14 club said on Thursday.

French side Racing are due to play English team Exeter in Bristol, England on Oct. 17.

"Tests carried out on the entire professional group on Wednesday morning revealed several positive cases," Racing said in a tweet, before later confirming the number of cases.

"We are now awaiting the recommendations of the LNR (Ligue Nationale de Rugby), which we will apply with all the necessary rigour," it added, referring to French rugby's governing body.

Racing said their entire squad and backroom staff have been told to isolate at home and their training centre has been shut down for a minimum of five days to decontaminate the facility.

More tests will be conducted next week before experts can decide on individual and then collective training schedules for the squad.

Twice Champions Cup runners-up Racing reached the final by beating holders Saracens 19-15 in Paris last weekend.

Exeter advanced to their maiden final with a 28-18 win over Toulouse at Sandy Park.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris and Ed Osmond)