French farce as Ireland match postponed at last minute | Bangkok Post: news

The Six Nations match between France and Ireland was postponed just before kick-off at the Stade de France on Saturday because of concerns over the safety of the pitch, leaving a capacity crowd fuming.

Ireland's coach Declan Kidney (R) talks to France's coach Philippe Saint-Andre (L) prior to the Six Nations rugby union match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. The Six Nations match between France and Ireland was postponed just before kick-off at the Stade de France on Saturday because of concerns over the safety of the pitch, leaving a capacity crowd fuming.

English referee Dave Pearson had passed it fit 90 minutes before the 2000 GMT kick-off, but temperatures of -5 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill of -11C, had made it rock hard by the time the teams were preparing to come out.