Ulster’s Ospreys clash off amid front row furore

THE Ospreys’ Magners League match against Ulster at Ravenhill next Friday has been postponed at the Welsh side’s request after claiming they do not have sufficient front-row cover to fulfil the fixture.

A statement from the Magners League confirmed the game has been called off and it is investigating the problem.

“This rule was introduced for health and safety reasons and Celtic Rugby could not sanction a match in these circumstances,” read the statement.

“The reason for the postponement is that Ospreys are unable to supply suitably experienced front-row players in their match squad as is required under the Magners League rules and IRB (International Rugby Board) rules.

“Celtic Rugby recognises the great inconvenience this will have on Ulster and their supporters as well as Celtic Rugby’s commercial partners. Until Celtic Rugby has had the opportunity to review the matter there will be no further comment.”

The Ospreys said they had never agreed to the March 19 date for the Ulster match, which was originally called off on January 8 because of the weather. The region claim they did not want the March 19 date because they had already given players and management leave from March 12-22 and had given Ulster three alternative dates which had been turned down.

And because of squad unavailability the Ospreys, said they did not have any frontline players of sufficient quality to honour the fixture and were never prepared to use a significant number of players from their feeder clubs — Aberavon, Neath and Swansea.

But Aberavon’s front row are facing frontline players elsewhere. Last night, the club faced an Ulster Ravens squad in a British & Irish Cup fixture due to include Tom Court, Nigel Brady and Andy Kyriacou.

The ruling is being watched with interest by Cork Constitution who were kicked out of the Munster Senior Cup after declining to play in the semi-final recently because they felt unable to field suitably experienced front row forward players. The Munster Branch insisted yesterday that the matter has been dealt with and Young Munster are to go ahead to play UCC in the final.