Ulster-Cheetahs Rugby Match Postponed by Severe Weather

A rugby match in the EPCR Challenge Cup between Ulster and the Toyota Cheetahs was postponed at the last minute on Sunday in the Netherlands, after severe winter weather rendered the playing surface unplayable despite an earlier relocation effort.

The Pool 3 Round 3 fixture, originally scheduled for 3:15 p.m. local time at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam, faced disruptions from subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall forecast for the region. On Friday, organizers shifted the game to Dukes Rugby Club in the southern city of s'Hertogenbosch, advancing the kickoff to 2 p.m. local time, or 1 p.m. GMT, to mitigate the cold. The municipality of Amsterdam had declared all its sports pitches unusable until further notice due to the adverse conditions, prompting the collaboration between European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), Rugby Nederland, and the teams to secure the alternative venue.

However, less than an hour before the revised start time, a pitch inspection by referee Kevin Bralley of France determined the surface remained frozen and unsafe. According to an EPCR statement, the pitch was "deemed impracticable" and posed a risk to players' welfare following additional overnight snow...