Champions Cup bosses say that they have "no choice" but to temporarily suspend the competition and the Challenge Cup.
The move follows a directive from the French authorities that the participation of Top 14 clubs in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup as scheduled over the next two weekends constitutes too great a public health risk.
It is expected that the tournaments will resume in April and May, with adjusted formats, but it leaves EPCR chiefs trying to work out how to finish out the tournaments with two pool rounds remaining and only four weekends at their disposal.
Meanwhile, the PRO14 are now expected to play a number of fixtures in the window that has been freed up, with the postponed Munster v Leinster clash from December 26 top of the list.
EPCR and French National Rugby League (LNR) bosses met last week with representatives of the French ministries of the Interior, Health and Sport, as well as of the French president’s office.
"Notable" updates to Covid-19 protocols were presented by EPCR to the French government in a bid to prevent a postponement.
Those updates include the addition of PCR tests no earlier than three days before matches in the tournaments, which conforms to French guidelines, and "meticulous" contract tracing measures.
But the recent detection of a new Covid variant in Britain prompted the French authorities to direct their clubs to postpone participation in European competition for the remainder of this month, either at home or in the UK and Ireland.
"On the basis of this directive, EPCR had no choice but to temporarily suspend the pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup and the preliminary stage of the Challenge Cup," read a EPCR statement.
"While respecting all further directives by governments and local authorities, and prioritising the health and welfare of players and club staff, EPCR, in conjunction with its shareholder leagues and unions, remains committed to trying to find a solution which will enable it to resume and complete the tournaments as soon as practicable."
