Ospreys match off over lack of props

MAGNERS LEAGUE:ULSTER'S MAGNERS League match against Ospreys on Friday, March 19th has been postponed because of Welsh side claims they do not have sufficient frontrow cover to fulfil the fixture.

The Magners League have issued a statement, confirming the match is off and they are investigating the problem.

Paul James, Adam Jones and Huw Bennett, all Ospreys frontrow players, are involved against Ireland today and may also play again next Saturday when Wales meet Italy in the Millennium Stadium for their final match in the Six Nations Championship.

“This rule was introduced for health and safety reasons and Celtic Rugby could not sanction a match in these circumstances,” read the statement.

“The reason for the postponement is Ospreys are unable to supply suitably experienced frontrow players in their match squad as is required under the Magners League rules and IRB [International Rugby Board] rules.

“Until Celtic Rugby has had the opportunity to review the matter there will be no further comment.”

Because of squad unavailability, the Ospreys said they did not have frontline players of sufficient quality and were not prepared to use players from their feeder clubs.

It is not the first time the Ospreys have been investigated by rugby authorities this season. European Rugby fined the Welsh team €25,000 for having 16 players on the pitch against Leicester in a Heineken Cup match in January and Lee Byrne was fined €5,000 as the player in that incident to have come on to the pitch illegally.

Ospreys were also investigated over South African scrumhalf Ricky Januarie’s contract but were found to have no case to answer. Ulster and the Ospreys have yet to agree on a new date for the match.

Ulster Rugby declined to comment.