Ulster seem set to be granted their preferred option of a Friday night European Cup semi-final at Ravenhill on January 8th, judging by a series of complaints by their opponents Stade Francais about unpublicised arrangements for the tie.
The Stade Francais president and benefactor Max Guazzini, who is also a lawyer, last night faxed European Cup tournament director Roger Pickering with criticism of the decision to move the game forward to Friday, January 8th. The French are also concerned about safety procedures at the ground.
Guazzini has expressed his annoyance over the decision by ERC Ltd to grant the home team their customary option of Friday night rugby in Belfast, as apparently it will prevent French television from showing the match live.
French television has been the primary source of revenue for this year's troubled competition following the withdrawal of the English clubs and it had been expected that their powerful voice would successfully demand that the game be played on the afternoon of Saturday, January 9th - which would have affected the attendance at Ravenhill and probably reduced their chances of winning.
Ulster have played all nine of their `home' games this season on Friday nights, and have only been beaten once - by Leinster. Their French opponents are also concerned by ERC's decision to give Ravenhill the green light for the fixture, even though it does not meet the criterion of a minimum 20,000 capacity.
The French, who say they are worried by memories of the Bastia football stadium disaster, are keen to distance themselves from the decision to play the game at Ravenhill. Guazzini also warned that Stade Francais' lawyers would be instructed to verify the ground capacity on the night of the game.
In another development yesterday, the IRFU will not participate further in negotiations regarding the establishment of a British and Irish league. The union have issued a statement in which they claim that any such league would "not be in the best collective interests of (Ireland's) national, provincial and club teams."
A proposed league involving Irish provinces, Scottish districts and clubs from Wales and England, is being discussed by the four `home' unions. The English clubs favoured a proposal whereby there would be two divisions with 10 English clubs and two Welsh in the first division and the four Irish provinces, two Scottish districts and sundry Welsh and English clubs in the second.
The IRFU would not countenance such a system, in which they would be very much the poor relations. They must now hope that the European Cup continues, either with or without English clubs. The latter are currently in discussion with the French counterparts, who are a crucial factor, since if they were to withdraw from the European Cup then the competition would simply disintegrate.
The English clubs have indicated that they would be interested in rejoining the European competition but have intimated that they will only do so if Vernon Pugh and Tom Kiernan resign from ERC Ltd, the organising body, a most unlikely scenario.
