The UAFC

So what's the chances this goes ahead and when will we hear? Would assume the positive cases from last week are not available and leinster seem to have had plenty of cases as well.

7:35pm KO, Premier Sports 1 / TG4 / URC TV (Not in UK/SA).

Postponement would probably suit both clubs but an increasing build up of postponements will cause URC a rescheduling headache and they may look to apportion blame and allocate wins/points accordingly. I doubt the NI Clownshow - sorry - Executive, will seek to enforce a lower crowd limit or a shutdown 48 hours out from the event - but then……..?!!
If is does go ahead I will attend but will wear a FFP2 mask throughout and will avoid the bar areas!

A statement from the club, even if not definitive, would be helpful at this stage

big mervyn wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 7:42 pm A statement from the club, even if not definitive, would be helpful at this stage

M, I love your optimism!!

one, that there might be one, and two, given previous form, it would in any shape or form, be helpful

Bobbievee wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 7:44 pm

big mervyn wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 7:42 pm A statement from the club, even if not definitive, would be helpful at this stage

M, I love your optimism!!

one, that there might be one, and two, given previous form, it would in any shape or form, be helpful

Quite Bobby.

Still, it would be nice to know if UR are confident of fulfilling the fixture under the current restrictions.

If, Clownshow permitting, the match is on, I'll be there, suitably masked and as distanced as possible (!).

LEINSTER HAVE RESUMED training today as they aim to fulfill Saturday’s scheduled United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster in Belfast.

Leinster took a collective break from training last week as they looked to stop the spread of Covid-19 among their squad.

There are still many Leinster players and staff – including head coach Leo Cullen – isolating after recent positive Covid test results, but a “good chunk” of the squad resumed training today under senior coach Stuart Lancaster.

Cullen is due to complete his isolation period before the clash with Ulster on New Year’s Day [KO 7.35pm, TG4/URC TV] and he is hopeful that the game will go ahead as planned.

https://www.the42.ie/leinster-leo-culle ... 0-Dec2021/

UlsterNo9 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 11:55 pm

LEINSTER HAVE RESUMED training today as they aim to fulfill Saturday’s scheduled United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster in Belfast.

Leinster took a collective break from training last week as they looked to stop the spread of Covid-19 among their squad.

There are still many Leinster players and staff – including head coach Leo Cullen – isolating after recent positive Covid test results, but a “good chunk” of the squad resumed training today under senior coach Stuart Lancaster.

Cullen is due to complete his isolation period before the clash with Ulster on New Year’s Day [KO 7.35pm, TG4/URC TV] and he is hopeful that the game will go ahead as planned.

https://www.the42.ie/leinster-leo-culle ... 0-Dec2021/

Look like Plug is getting his shot in first! Of course he’d be quite happy to have their 3rd or 4th XV play our Academy. This sends a message to the URC that if Ulster get a few more cases and seek a postponement they will be more likely to award the game/points to Leinster rather than have another messy postponement!

Still several possible dates for a rearranged fixture during 6N if Saturday's game can't go ahead.

Weekend of 4-6 Feb
Weekend of 11-13 Feb
Weekend of 11-13 Mar
Weekend of 18-20 Mar

One of the February weekends will be needed to slot in Munster v Leinster. Munster supposed to go to South Africa for rearranged trip on the March weekends. Obviously one of them will be needed for Ulster v Connacht also.

Hans Indaruck wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:28 am

UlsterNo9 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 11:55 pm

LEINSTER HAVE RESUMED training today as they aim to fulfill Saturday’s scheduled United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster in Belfast.

Leinster took a collective break from training last week as they looked to stop the spread of Covid-19 among their squad.

There are still many Leinster players and staff – including head coach Leo Cullen – isolating after recent positive Covid test results, but a “good chunk” of the squad resumed training today under senior coach Stuart Lancaster.

Cullen is due to complete his isolation period before the clash with Ulster on New Year’s Day [KO 7.35pm, TG4/URC TV] and he is hopeful that the game will go ahead as planned.

https://www.the42.ie/leinster-leo-culle ... 0-Dec2021/

Look like Plug is getting his shot in first! Of course he’d be quite happy to have their 3rd or 4th XV play our Academy. This sends a message to the URC that if Ulster get a few more cases and seek a postponement they will be more likely to award the game/points to Leinster rather than have another messy postponement!

Sharing points for cancellations would seem like a fairer system to me and would surely go some way to preserving what integrity the competitions have left . What's the rational? Nobody's fault at the end of the day. I'm sure Leinster would agree.

https://ulster.rugby/content/supporter- ... ure-latest

still in balance

Reads like they think it will be off.

Ulster Rugby would like to update supporters that some uncertainty remains around the Ulster v Leinster match scheduled for this Saturday at Kingspan Stadium.

This update follows the postponement of our United Rugby Championship Round 8 fixture against Connacht Rugby, after a number of the Senior Men’s squad tested positive for COVID-19.

We continue to work closely at this time with the URC, and other relevant stakeholders, and would like to thank supporters for their understanding, and good wishes for those affected, at this challenging time. An update on the status of the match will be issued as soon as possible, with ticket holders to be contacted directly.

A holding statement until more information is known.

Big-al wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 3:24 pm Reads like they think it will be off.

Certainly a different tone than the Leinster " we are ready to play" in any event.

The different nation approach is very confusing. If 2 jabs not particularly effective against omicron, and per Boris this morning, the vast majority of the population has not received the booster, why where there 75,000 plus at Twickenham a few days back?

Even if not as deadly, the rate of infection is sufficiently high and affecting public services such as transport, NHS care , education, policing..............etc

getting 17,000 people gathered together just does not feel right.

I would support postponement irrespective of the infection rate within the squads