Paris terror puts European rugby fixtures in turmoil

European rugby chiefs are facing a headache over re-arranging fixtures postponed in France after the Paris terrorist atrocities.

Glasgow Warriors game against Racing 92 is affected. Picture: SNS

Five games, including Glasgow’s match at Racing 92, were called off in the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions after Friday’s shocking events.

European Professional Club Rugby, which runs the tournaments, is in talks with leagues including the Guinness Pro12 on how to accommodate the re-arranged matches in an already congested schedule.

Edinburgh are due to travel to France on Thursday to face Agen in their second Challenge Cup pool game. That is one of five games due to take place in France over the weekend.

Bath’s match against holders Toulon in Pool 5 of the Champions Cup was postponed at the weekend and the English club’s chairman Bruce Craig said he thinks finding a new date will not be possible, with no free weekends until April.

Craig said: “In the wider context of what has happened in Paris, this is not a serious matter, of course it isn’t. And I do understand why the decision was taken.

“But, from a rugby point of view and from the point of view of the competition, this is an issue of significant consequence. There is no place to fit it in.”