Ulster’s common supervisor Rory Finest says it’s “unlucky” Sunday’s European Problem Cup sport within the Netherlands was referred to as off, however insists “participant well being and security” was the only motive behind its cancellation.
Initially the groups had been as a result of play in Amsterdam however with the climate forecast predicting sub-zero temperatures, European Skilled Membership Rugby (EPCR) selected Friday to modify the sport to Duke Rugby Membership within the extra southern metropolis of s-Hertogenbosch, the place it could be performed behind closed doorways.
With the groups on the venue previous to the 13:00 GMT kick-off, EPCR stated the pitch was “deemed impracticable by the referee and posing a danger to gamers welfare” due to the continued freezing situations.
On Sunday night, EPCR confirmed the sport wouldn’t be rescheduled and Ulster had been awarded a 28-0 win and most factors due to competitors guidelines stating that the host membership are accountable for the sport going forward.
There had been recommendations the sport might doubtlessly be rescheduled for Monday however “with it being a Sunday sport, logistically it was by no means going to be a runner to replay the sport at one other venue or on one other date” in response to Finest.
“On the morning of the sport, the workforce travelled and of their head, they had been targeted and able to play a match,” Finest instructed Ulster Rugby TV.
“When the match officers arrived, inside communications with our workforce supervisor and workforce physician, the choice was taken it was unplayable.
“As a lot as we need to play a match, it’s important to take participant well being and security into this. When a pitch is not playable, it is unlucky however the sport cannot go forward.
“Duke Rugby Membership did every thing they may to have the sport go forward, we had been there able to play together with the Cheetahs, however at the side of our workforce and their workforce, the referee took what we really feel was the proper determination to cancel.”
