EXCLUSIVE: Cardiff could progress to European Champions Cup knockout stages after Toulouse were forced to forfeit Saturday's clash because of a Covid outbreak that would see Welsh side awarded 28-0 win

• Sportsmail can reveal Saturday's Toulouse vs Cardiff match will be called off
• Cases have reached double figures after a Covid outbreak at the French club
• They will be forced to forfeit the Pool B match with Cardiff awarded 28-0 win
• That would be enough to keep Dai Young's team in contention for the last-16 

Cardiff could find themselves in the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Champions Cup, as their final pool fixture this weekend has been cancelled.

Holders Toulouse have suffered a Covid outbreak this week and with cases reaching double figures and Sportsmail understands the French giants have been forced to forfeit their tie against Dai Young's Welsh side. 

While Toulouse were able to name a line-up this morning, sources have indicated that a cancellation is now set to be announced.

If, as expected, Cardiff are awarded a 28-0 win by default, it would leave them in contention to reach the round of 16 in the continent's premier event. That would be a remarkable turn of events, given how turbulent their campaign has been.

After the majority of their squad were forced to quarantine in Cape Town and back in the UK when league fixtures in South Africa were postponed due to an Omicron surge in the country, Cardiff were forced to field a team including semi-pro players, against Toulouse at home and away to Harlequins. 

They performed heroically in a dire situation and then earned two bonus points in a narrow defeat against Quins in the Welsh capital last weekend.

Young and his squad must now await the outcome of Wasps' clash with Munster in Limerick as the English club could pip them to the last qualifying place in Pool B.