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Last-minute efforts to heat the Stade de France pitch on Saturday were unsuccessful. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

French federation backs calls to play Ireland next season - reports

FFR president Pierre Camou concedes that their request to have Saturday’s abandoned Six Nations match deferred is unlikely to be granted.

THE FRENCH RUGBY FEDERATION (FFR) is supporting a move to defer their Six Nations rematch against Ireland until next season, according to reports in France this morning.

At a press conference today, FFR President Pierre Camou said that France would like to push the game back in order to avoid a clash with the domestic Top 14 season, L’Equipe reports.

But, Camou added, it is unlikely their wish will be granted by the Six Nations Council, which hopes to provide “comprehensive clarification” on a new date for the game after further meetings today.

Saturday’s match at the Stade de France was called off minutes before kick-off when referee Dave Pearson ruled the Parisian pitch unplayable due to freezing conditions.

The weekend of 3/4 March is still thought to be the most likely option, despite a request lodged yesterday by the French Rugby League who want the match postponed until after the Top 14 season ends on 9 June.

Speaking to The Irish Times this morning, IRFU communications manager Karl Richardson said that refixing the game for September “isn’t really an option.”

An update issued by the FFR yesterday indicated that it would “unfortunately” not be possible to refund travel and accommodation expenses for those who travelled to Paris for Saturday’s game.

Tickets for Saturday’s postponed game will be eligible for the refixed date, the FFR confirmed. A ticket refund process is due to be put in place for fans who are unable to attend on the new date, whenever that may be.

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Six Nations: Team of the week

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    Mute Elrat
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    Feb 14th 2012, 12:15 PM

    Just give us a walk over !

    97
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    Mute Alan Mulvey
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    Feb 14th 2012, 12:13 PM

    lol what a joke

    76
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    Mute Barry Healy
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:16 PM

    simple solution, the french failed to provide an adequate facility for the game, we have a perfectly good stadium with a great pitch which im pretty sure has undersoil heating (not that we need it!) and isnt booked for anything otger than 6nations between now and the end of the championship. mobe the game to landsdowne!

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    Mute Ryan Ó Giobúin
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    Feb 14th 2012, 2:22 PM

    It has got underground heating, just for your knowledge!

    17
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    Mute Adam O'Sullivan
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:00 PM

    Why don’t you play your top 14 match in September?

    65
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    Mute Steve Crowley
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:18 PM

    Ireland c’ant play in June as they will be touring New Zealand ,the six nation council really need to get their finger out here the tournament only holds 5 games per nation over 2 months …sort it out ….getting really tired of” bigger”countries telling us what to do ….

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    Mute Darren O'Ciaran
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:05 PM

    Le cheats. At it again.

    42
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    Mute Claire Corcoran
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:32 PM

    Seriously like… build a bridge!

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    Mute John Woods
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    Feb 14th 2012, 2:59 PM

    Taxi for Claire :-P

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    Mute Steven Smyth
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    Feb 14th 2012, 4:50 PM

    Building a bridge all the way over to France will not help the situation! And a tunnel would be no good either before any of you start.

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    Mute Aleo
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    Feb 14th 2012, 12:30 PM

    Are they so afraid of us?!

    33
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    Mute Eimz T
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:53 PM

    If they can’t play, let them concede.

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    Mute Paul Harvey
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:40 PM

    That’s the very reason the French wouldn’t call the game off earlier in the week. It’s a nightmare for them now trying to reschedule the game, good enough for them. It should be taken out of their hands. No one seems worried about our fixtures. Oh that’s right we’re Ireland what happens to us doesn’t matter.

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    Mute Charles Fitzgerald
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    Feb 14th 2012, 6:16 PM

    Irish teams don’t care about the Rabo Direct.They’ll all get to the Heineken cup regardless. The French actually have real club rugby. They’ll threaten to leave Europe again. The English may follow and we’ll have 2 Rabos

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    Mute Oswald Cobblepot
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:47 PM

    Jesus, the French dictating how things should be done and looking down their noses at us, theres a first for everything.

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    Mute Shit you not
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    Feb 14th 2012, 1:58 PM

    We should issue them with a date and if they fail to come well it’s a win for Ireland. Simple!

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    Mute Adrian O'Donnell
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    Feb 14th 2012, 2:23 PM

    Les tossers

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    Mute Jim Healy
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    Feb 14th 2012, 2:15 PM

    The NFL moved everything back a week in the wake of 9/11. I’m sure that was more of a logistical nightmare than having to move around some Top 14 fixtures.

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    Mute Leahy Shane
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    Feb 14th 2012, 3:12 PM

    it would seem logical that if the french cant it together to reschedule within the timeframe of the six nations programme they should concede the game .. qed or rather c’est la vie !!!

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    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
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    Feb 14th 2012, 4:10 PM

    Arrogance and stupidity go hand in hand for the dirty french,Who died and made them Europes bosses,they are so used to pushing around that eunoch from mayo that they think they can pat all of us on our heads and sneer,if they cant facilitate us ,they should concede the match or play in dublin.

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    Mute Claire Corcoran
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    Feb 14th 2012, 3:23 PM

    Lol… Looks like I’m the only female commentator here. Ye guys are so mean ;-)

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    Mute Tomas O Beag
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    Feb 15th 2012, 8:29 AM

    They dictate our government and now the IRFU , the Irish rolling over and getting their bellies rubbed , good paddy !!!!

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