Heineken Cup: Falcons making Headingley nest

Headingley is set to become the second home for Newcastle Falcons, who visit the Leeds club tonight for the first of three matches on the famous turf in five weeks.

Leeds’ undersoil heating has come to the rescue of the Falcons’ twice-postponed Heineken Cup Pool Six game against Leinster while the Tykes will host Rob Andrew’s side in the Powergen Cup quarter-finals on Sunday week and in the Zurich Premiership on February 10.

Giving up the distinct advantage of Kingston Park for their final home tie in the European Cup is, according to director of rugby Andrew, a price worth paying to get the thorny fixture out of the way.

The two clubs were engaged in a war of words after the tie was frozen off for the second time on Sunday and Andrew is thankful that the game has not been put off until next week, when they hope to concentrate on the next stage in their defence of the National Cup.

‘‘I know that playing at Headingley is far from ideal for the club and our supporters but at least the game will be played,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s the best that could be done in the circumstances.’’

Newcastle, who cannot qualify for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, will be playing their final two pool games in the space of four days, with Friday’s trip to Newport looming large on the horizon.

Leinster, who have high hopes of securing a home tie in the last eight, will at least have an extra two days to prepare after their final group match at Toulouse was put back 24 hours to Sunday.

In the circumstances, tonight’s match could be overshadowed by acrimony, with Leinster coach Matt Williams still seething over the Falcons’ verbal assault.

Newcastle claimed Welsh referee Gareth Simmonds was put under ‘‘a great deal of pressure’’ by Leinster officials to call the game off a second time and argued the Dubliners should have stayed in the north-east until the game was played.

Williams said: ‘‘We will respond to the outrageous allegations made by Newcastle after the fixture.’’