Gloucester have been awarded a bonus-point win after the cancelled match with Worcester.

Warriors appear to have avoided any censure following a Premiership Rugby review after the side were unable to field the required six match-squad front-rowers for the Friday, March 25 clash at Kingsholm.

However, Gloucester have seen their play-off hopes boosted after being awarded all five match points, pushing the Cherry and Whites up to fifth in the table, just two points behind fourth-placed Exeter and with a game in hand on the Chiefs.

The Premiership Rugby statement read: “The match result shall be 20-0 in favour of Gloucester; and that, in respect of the match, Gloucester shall be awarded five league points.”

The decision comes after Sport Resolutions formed an independent panel to decide the result of the match, chaired by Sir Gary Hickinbottom and also comprising Carol Couse and Jonathan Rennie.

On Wednesday, Warriors’ lead rugby consultant Steve Diamond insisted that the team had been hamstrung by Covid, but the panel’s judgement has rejected that claim.

The statement read: “Regulation 4.4 (j)(iii) states: where the unfulfillment of a Premiership league match is due to the unavailability of players due to injury or unavailability (which is not related to Covid-19), the match result shall be 20-0 and five league points shall be awarded to the opposition club who could play the match.

“A reasoned decision will follow as soon as possible, and hopefully within the next week.”

Worcester acknowledged the decision in a short statement, but opted to reserve their position until after the full judgement is released.

It read: “Warriors respect the process and decision made by the independent panel convened by Sports Resolutions.

“We shall await publication of the full reasoned decision before making further comment.”

Gloucester meanwhile welcomed the decision, but revealed they could yet seek compensation over the cancelled fixture.

“Gloucester Rugby is pleased to receive confirmation from the independent panel and Premiership Rugby that we have been awarded a match result of 20-0 and 5 league points as a result of Worcester Warriors cancelling our fixture at Kingsholm on Friday, March 25,” read a Gloucester statement.

“We are grateful to the independent panel who have been thorough in their investigations into this matter.

“Gloucester Rugby will continue to liaise with Premiership Rugby following the release of the full judgement to determine next steps in regard to compensation.

“We look forward to now turning our attention to key fixtures ahead of us as we approach the end of the season competing in three competitions.”