Challenge Cup points awarded to Ulster after Cheetahs fixture woe with Belfast test next focus for knockout prize
Ulster and Stade Francais will battle it out in Belfast on Saturday to top Pool 3 across the European Challenge Cup for the prize of top-ranked status entering the knockout stages.
Ulster were awarded a 28-0 bonus point victory after their game against the Cheetahs was cancelled on Sunday afternoon.
The game - originally scheduled to take place at Amsterdam’s NRCA – was moved on Friday after it was deemed the pitch would be unplayable as the Dutch capital suffered snow and freezing conditions.
As under the competition rules the host team must nominate an alternative venue, the game was rescheduled for Duke Rugby Club in the city of s-Hertogenbosch about a hour outside Amsterdam on Sunday afternoon with a 1pm start.
Despite an army of volunteers working all Sunday morning to clear the pitch of ice and snow, French referee Kevin Bralley deemed the pitch unsafe 40 minutes before kick-off.
With Ulster facing a 1pm kick-off on Saturday and the temperatures in the Netherlands unlikely to rise significantly to allow the Cheetahs game to be played on Monday, it was then cancelled.
The competition’s governing body, EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby), issued the following statement: “Upon review of all the information available, the match result should be recorded as 0-28 win to Ulster Rugby, and five points will subsequently be awarded to Ulster Rugby.
“Despite the obvious challenges connected with the playing of this fixture, and noting the incredible efforts of the Toyota Cheetahs and Rugby Nederland to ensure the fixture could take place, it is the hosting club’s responsibility to ensure the match can go ahead; and therefore the match result must be recorded as a 0-28 four-try bonus point win for Ulster Rugby, with five match points being awarded as a consequence, pursuant to EPCR regulations.
“EPCR would like to thank Toyota Cheetahs, Rugby Nederland and Ulster Rugby for their support throughout this process.”
Being awarded five match points means Ulster have qualified for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.
Richie Murphy’s side go into Saturday’s fixture sitting second in the pool, three points behind Stade Francais.
The Pool winners will be ranked from 1-3 and have home advantage for the last 16, which is due to take place during the first weekend of April.