French clubs angry over 6N dates
French club sides have weighed into the debate over when to re-programme the France versus Ireland Six Nations game, demanding that it be held after their season finishes in June, informed sources said.
Saturday’s game at the Stade de France fell victim to the frigid conditions just minutes before referee Dave Pearson was due to whistle for it to start, leaving 80,000 fans to vent their frustrations.
The Six Nations organising committee were initially looking at playing the match in one of the two upcoming “free” weekends during the course of this year’s tournament, which were next weekend or the weekend of March 3 and 4.
But following a Six Nations Council meeting on Monday, the committee confirmed that the match would “not take place this weekend [February 17/18/19]”.
“A further meeting of the Council will take place tomorrow [Tuesday] to hopefully resolve the issues of rescheduling and ticket policy,” it said.
“There are very significant logistical issues arising from this situation, and we would wish to be in a position to give a comprehensive clarification following the meeting.”
The French Rugby League has written to the committee pointing out that 10 out of the 17 Top 14 weekends this season had already clashed with international fixtures, mainly due to the World Cup in New Zealand.
For this reason, the FRL asked that the game be held over until the Top 14 season ends on June 9 when the final is held at the Stade de France.
The Six Nations committee were aware of the request and were pondering their options, the informed sources said.
Toulouse manager Guy Noves evoked the possibility of playing before the mid-year tours but added that they would comply with whatever decision was made despite missing up to eight of their players to Six Nations duty.
“For me from a sporting point of view after having already played half of the championship without players the interests of rugby are the obvious priority.
“I won’t go against it [the FRL decision], that’s not my role.”
Noves added: “Trying to make up what happened now is going to be complicated.
“The only victims were the 80,000 people who came to Stade de France and who have still not have their ticket reimbursed and knowing there will be a lot of expense involved in the next match.”
Article Nine of the International Rugby Board rules stipulates that clubs are obliged to make their players available for international sides.
AFP
