Connacht out in the cold at frozen Sportsground

Date Published: 02-Dec-2010

Rob Murphy

CONNACHT’S Magners League clash with Italian side Aironi tonight (Friday) has become the latest casualty of the current Arctic conditions.

The Round 10 fixture was due to be played at the Sportsground, but with no sign of the freezing weather conditions in the West easing up, management were forced to call off the game after a pitch inspection yesterday morning (Thursday).

Connacht’s CEO, Gerry Kelly, was naturally downbeat at the game now going ahead. “We are bitterly disappointed to have to call off the match, but the pitch is unplayable at the moment.

“We are also conscious of the dangers travelling fans would face and though the forecast is for slightly milder weather tomorrow, with no guarantees of a thaw we could not run the risk of leaving a decision any later with respect to Aironi’s travel arrangements.

”Head Coach Eric Elwood was equally disappointed: “We were hoping to carry the momentum from our good performance in Edinburgh last weekend for tonight’s match, but we’ll use the extra time to prepare for our back to back Amlin Challenge Cup games against Harlequins now.”

Despite the Magners League tie falling by the wayside, the Connacht Branch and the IRFU are going ahead with a joint press conference at the Carlton Hotel this evening when extended player contracts for Connacht are expected to be revealed.