The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has supported a proposal not to reschedule Ireland’s postponed match with France until early next season. The Six Nations committee is likely to insist on a March date, putting them at loggerheads with the FFR who would prefer a date in the autumn.
Freezing temperatures forced the original match on Saturday to be called off just a few minutes before kick-off. The controversy surrounding the postponement of the game took a bizarre twist yesterday when French league authorities requested that the rearranged fixture should not be played until after the Top 14 season is over.
Speaking this morning at the announcement of the French squad for their match against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 26th, FFR president Pierre Camou said the federation supported the league's call, but acknowledged the decision rested with the Six Nations committee.
"We're in a very unusual year that has already seen a long series of fixture clashes because of the World Cup. France would like the match to be played next season… though I doubt we will be listened to."
Jacques Laurans, who is the French representative on the Six Nations committee, said the two options under discussion were Saturday, March 3rd at 6pm and Sunday, March 4th at 4.15pm (Irish time). Negotiations are due to resume at 2pm today.
"It (the September date) is a proposal that comes from the Six Nations Committee and from the broadcasters," Laurans said today. "The French federation's proposal is to postpone it until early next season."
The FFR also confirmed that ticket holders for the original match would be reimbursed if they decided not to use their tickets for the new fixture. "I feel for those who paid for transport, food and hotels. We're not going to make them pay the price of their ticket as well," Mr Camou said.
If the re-arranged match takes place on March 3rd or 4th, supporters seeking reimbursement will have until February 24th to return their tickets.
Any move to reschedule the fixture until September would be opposed by the IRFU, with communications manager Karl Richardson explaining yesterday: “September isn’t really an option. For the integrity of the tournament you don’t want to move it outside the current window.”
While a new date for the rescheduled fixture against Ireland has yet to be decided, French coach Philippe Saint-Andre is already focussing on the meeting with Scotland on Saturday week.
Meanwhile, Saint-Andre has named a 23-man panel for the match at Murrayfield – the Edinburgh venue has undersoil heating so the weather, whatever it brings, is unlikely to be an issue – deploying much the same personnel that would have faced Ireland at the Stade de France.
Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, who would have missed Saturday’s clash with a back problem, returns to the panel with Julien Dupuy dropping out of the squad.
