Postponed European clashes won’t have a midweek date

European Championship and Challenge Cup ties postponed over the past fortnight are unlikely to be played in midweek following discussions between clubs involved in all three participating leagues, the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro12 and French Top 14, and a favoured date would now appear to be the weekend of January 2/3.

The main competition was thrown into chaos following the postponement of five games due to the atrocities in Paris, and there is little room to re- arrange the fixtures.

However, it is believed clubs are now close to an agreement to make sure all the postponed games will be played prior to rounds five/six of the European competition.

Two Irish teams, Munster and Ulster, have been caught up in the chaos, and they are due to meet in a Pro12 fixture in the Kingspan Stadium on January 2. However, that would appear to be the favoured date to play off the outstanding games, given it would afford the clubs a further week of domestic activity prior to rounds five and six in Europe which take place on the successive weekends of January 16 and 23.

Rounds three and four are to take place next month but European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) have stood back from trying to re-organise the games prior to that, a spokesman yesterday explaining: “To assist clubs from the three leagues with their short-term planning, all parties are in agreement the postponed matches will not be scheduled for the weekends of November 27/28/29 or December 4/5/6.

“However, as previously clarified, EPCR and the leagues remain adamant all postponed fixtures in the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be played,” said Communications manager Mark Jones yesterday.

“Obviously, it will all have to come down to the clubs, but one of the objectives is to try to play all the games on the one weekend. It won’t be over the next two weekends, there is no change to that because of the need for certainty in the various leagues. After that, you’re into rounds three and four.” “The only key principal we can share at this time is that the matches will be played. they will be played and the objective is to have them played before round six.

“If you play them after round six then there is a danger you (could) damage the integrity of the tournament.”

Champions League games to be re-arranged Pool 1: Oyonnax v Ulster Rugby;

Pool 2: Bordeaux Begles v Clermont;

Pool 3: Racing ‘92 v Glasgow;

Pool 4: Stade Francais v Munster;

Pool 5: Toulon v Bath

Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 2: Pau v Castres