MUNSTER AND STADE Français have confirmed that their Champions Cup tie scheduled for Sunday in Paris has been postponed.
All sporting events in the city were cancelled or postponed last weekend after Friday night’s horrific series of terrorist attacks, but Munster had been preparing to fly to Paris on Saturday for a fixture the following day in Stade Jean-Bouin.
With Belgium’s football friendly against Spain in Brussels having been cancelled on Monday night and then the HDI-Arena in Hannover being evacuated before the meeting between Germany and the Netherlands this evening, the sense of unease around sporting events remains strong throughout Europe.
Parisian police, in conjunction with both clubs and EPCR, have decided that postponement of the Pool 4 fixture between Munster and Stade Français is the most suitable course of action.
“In light of recent tragic events, Stade Français does not wish to overburden or complicate the work of the government and security forces by organising a sporting event to bring together 15,000 people in Stade Jean-Bouin,” reads a statement from the French club.
“The club has therefore decided to postpone the meeting between Stade Français and Munster initially scheduled to take place this Sunday, November 22.
“In consultation with the authorities, the EPCR and LNR, a new date will be announced shortly.”
Speaking in Limerick this afternoon before the tie was postponed, Munster head coach Anthony Foley had stated that his side were preparing for the tie as if it was going ahead, while acknowledging the serious nature of the situation in Paris.
“Everybody’s fully aware of what went on, everybody was watching the news and it’s hard to fathom,” said Foley.
“First and foremost it’s hard to put your head in it and then you have a lot of sympathy and respect for the people of Paris in terms of what they were put through.”
