ERC chiefs: semi-finals will go ahead as planned

EUROPEAN Rugby chiefs insist the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals will go ahead as scheduled despite the travel chaos caused by the eruption of a volcano in Iceland.

Huge tracts of international airspace in northern Europe have been shut down as a safety precaution due to the tons of ash which has been deposited since the initial eruption on April 14.

Thousands of passengers have been stranded across the continent with Ireland and England hardest hit. Yet despite restrictions, ERC bosses are adamant that there games will go ahead on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

“The ERC is close contact with the clubs, watching to see what happens with transport and flight arrangements.

“We are constantly monitoring the situation. But the games will go ahead as scheduled.”

Munster and Leinster, who head to Spain and France respectively, face huge challenges should the air ban remain in place. Munster areconsidering back up plans of travelling by ferry and train should the need arise while champions Leinster are monitoring the situation on a daily basis according to club officials.

Both Liverpool and Fulham’s Europa League semi-finals first-leg ties will go ahead this week despite the issue, but could still be postponed – but there remain no guarantees whether flights for travelling supporters would run as scheduled.

Should the travel situation continue to be such a problem, the matches could be postponed.

“Regarding the UEFA Europa League semi-final first-leg matches scheduled for Thursday April 22,between Club Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool FC, and Hamburg SV and Fulham FC, it is planned that both games will go ahead as normal,” a statement from UEFA read. “However, with the majority of airspace over Europe still closed and other forms of transport limited or fully booked, UEFA are in close contact with both English clubs on the travel options available to them.’’ Liverpool must then plan for a worst-case scenario by tackling the 2,600-mile round trip overland. Fulham are scheduled to fly to the northern German city by private jet tomorrow morning before taking part in a training session at Hamburg’s ground.

However, a contingency is place which will enable them to make the journey by bus and rail.

Meanwhile the Irish senior boxing team have been forced to cancel their plans to take part in the Feliks Stamm Multi Nations in Warsaw, Poland.

Ireland had named a ten-strong men's and women's team which includes Katie Taylor, Ken Egan and World and European Youth champs Ray Moylette and Jason Quigley for the tournament.

World amateur boxing chiefs AIBA have pushed back the start date for the AIBA World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan by two days to next Sunday (April 25) because of the air-travel restrictions.

Ireland have a seven strong squad in Baku ahead of the Championships which will act as the only qualifiers for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August.