The Toyota Cheetahs' attempts to try and find a way to play their EPCR Challenge Cup game against Ulster in Amsterdam this weekend, despite sub-zero temperatures and a terrible storm, have ended in disappointment, especially as the governing body forced them to forfeit the fixture and hand their opponents a bonus-point win.
While it isn’t clear why the alternative plan, announced on Friday to move the fixture behind closed doors, didn’t follow through, the hope that the Cheetahs had at playing at the Dukes Field outside Amsterdam when the weather improved on Sunday backfired spectacularly when the pitch inspection was done.
The result is that EPCR have decided that, despite the Cheetahs and Rugby Nederland’s best attempts, they are at fault as they have the responsibility to provide a playable pitch, and therefore they forfeit the match.
This means the match goes down as a bonus-point 28-0 win for Ulster without the ball being kicked off in anger, a big disappointment for the Cheetahs as it was their home game.
The match could not be shifted to Monday as was originally mooted, especially as both teams have fixtures this coming weekend and the Cheetahs were due to board a plane Sunday night to fly to Paris for their next fixture against Stade Francais.
EPCR STATEMENT
The EPCR released a statement confirming the cancellation and awarding of points to Ulster.
“EPCR has made the decision to cancel the EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3 Round 3 fixture between Toyota Cheetahs and Ulster Rugby,” the statement read.
“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.”
Both teams had arrived at the field on Sunday and inspected the pitch, but both were unhappy with the state of it, and after an hour were back on the bus and back to the hotel to escape the freezing conditions.
Still, the result will leave a bad taste in the mouth of Cheetahs and South African fans, and is a reminder of the challenges faced when playing in Europe with adverse weather conditions.