The widespread adverse weather that has swept across Europe in recent days has played havoc with all sporting events and rugby union has suffered with the rest.

Frozen pitches, heavy snow storms and travel difficulties – for both club squads and their equipment – have all played significant parts in four ERC matches having to be rescheduled.

In the Heineken Cup, Glasgow Warriors’ difficulties in Toulouse, after a journey of almost 17 hours, centered on their equipment being stranded in London while Edinburgh and Castres were unable to play at Murrayfield due to continuing heavy snow falls.

In the Amlin Challenge Cup, Sale Sharks’ pitch was frozen and forced a delay in their match with Brive while a snow covered playing surface and problems with the Bayonne squad reaching the venue resulted in the postponement of the tie between I Cavalieri Estra and Bayonne.

However, 18 of the 22 games in both tournaments were successfully completed despite the conditions and ERC would like to congratulate all clubs and their personnel for their commitment over the past days.

The four matches that have been rescheduled in Round 4 of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup should be completed early this week.

HEINEKEN CUP ROUND 4 – RESCHEDULED MATCHES

MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER

Pool 1 – 14.00 – Edinburgh v Castres Olympique

Murrayfield

TUESDAY, 21 DECEMBER

Pool 6 – 19.00 – Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors

Stade Ernest Wallon

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 4 – RESCHEDULED MATCHES

MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER

Pool 2 – 17.00 – Sale Sharks v Brive

Gala Rugby Football Club, Netherdale

MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER

Pool 1 – 12.00 – I Cavalieri Estra v Bayonne

Campo Montano, Livorno