ULSTER could be forced to move their Heineken Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle to the RDS this weekend due to concerns over the Kingspan Stadium pitch.
The province are in must-win territory after their heavy defeat to Sale Sharks in the opening round and moving the game from Belfast would be a major blow to their chances against Ronan O'Gara's champions.
It is understood that contingency plans are being put in place in case the pitch, which is currently frozen, does not thaw in time for Saturday's 5.30 kick-off.
One scenario could see the game delayed by 24 hours and played at Ulster's home ground if the pitch can be cleared as happened when Saracens and Clermont played on a Monday in 2017.
However, with temperatures forecast to stay low through the rest of the week but improve on Sunday, Ulster have to consider the possibility of moving the game to Dublin.
It was minus temperatures all day on Sunday in Manchester, the car said -2 when we parked at the stadium, preceded by days of sub zero weather, there was no underground heating, only covers, yet the pitch, according to Rory Best when I asked him, was fine, even soft he said. So unfortunately the game was able to be played.
They will probably get lucky as the temperatures are to jump up Fri and Saturday. I’m sure Petrie is praying for it as the organisation as a whole couldn’t look any more ridiculous at the minute.
Marco wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 7:41 am
It was minus temperatures all day on Sunday in Manchester, the car said -2 when we parked at the stadium, preceded by days of sub zero weather, there was no underground heating, only covers, yet the pitch, according to Rory Best when I asked him, was fine, even soft he said. So unfortunately the game was able to be played.
We've been in this situation before with the "Ravenhill Micro Climate" which is even more embarrassing.
Is it a simple case that nobody put the covers on? If we don't have covers you have to seriously ask why not as...... IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE
#GroundkeeperOut
BRING OUR BOYS HOME #BOBH
THROWN UNDER THE BUS AND EXILED 14/04/18
Kanbei wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 12:20 am
These past few weeks could not have gone better
ULSTER could be forced to move their Heineken Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle to the RDS this weekend due to concerns over the Kingspan Stadium pitch.
The province are in must-win territory after their heavy defeat to Sale Sharks in the opening round and moving the game from Belfast would be a major blow to their chances against Ronan O'Gara's champions.
It is understood that contingency plans are being put in place in case the pitch, which is currently frozen, does not thaw in time for Saturday's 5.30 kick-off.
One scenario could see the game delayed by 24 hours and played at Ulster's home ground if the pitch can be cleared as happened when Saracens and Clermont played on a Monday in 2017.
However, with temperatures forecast to stay low through the rest of the week but improve on Sunday, Ulster have to consider the possibility of moving the game to Dublin.
Just keep HWM supplied with beer and he can defrost the pitch by peeing all over it. Thursday and Friday should do it, then he can protect the pitch with a couple of layers of leaflets saying how many days it's been since something or other.
I'm not arguing -
I'm just explaining why I'm right
