This season's Top 14 semi-finals have been cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The management committee of the French National League (LNR) met this morning to discuss the impact of coronavirus on their calendar.

The fruits of their discussions are sure to have major ramifications for this season's Heineken Champions Cup.

It was decided to scrap this season's semi-finals set for Nice on June 19 and 20, as well as the final in July in the same city.

The last games played in the Top 14 were on March 1 before the pandemic ground sport in France to a halt.

The LNR haven't abandoned hopes of finishing the season before the end of the summer, however, but they will wait to hear what guidelines are put forth by the French government before making a final decision.

Today's decision by the LNR casts further doubt on when this season's European competitions can be finished.

Marseille was originally due to host the final on Saturday May 23, but the knockout phases has been suspended indefinitely.

Speaking last month, the EPCR remained "committed to completing the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup season, and it is planned to reschedule the quarter-final and semi-final matches, as well as the Marseille finals, in line with fixtures in the professional league competitions, subject to advice from government and local authorities."

Three French sides - Clermont-Auvergne, Racing 92 and Ulster's opponents Toulouse - remain in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Toulon, Castres and Bordeaux-Begles are all in the Challenge Cup quarter finals.

It now appears highly unlikely that room could be found for a European resumption before late summer at the earliest.