FLAG-GATE RUMBLES on with the second round of Heineken Champions Cup fixtures drawing closer.
The Leinster Rugby Supporters Club on Saturday said they were prevented from bringing 1,500 flags inside Bath’s ground, the Rec, for distribution ahead of the round three fixture.
Bath Rugby quickly announced that the move was made on health and safety grounds, leading Leinster to issue a statement on Monday to assure their own supporters and other clubs they have “nothing to fear” from the flags, whose manufacturer supplies flags for numerous venues across Ireland and the United Kingdom.
In an open letter issued today, Bath Rugby moved to clarify their basis for banning the stick-and-cloth implements from the Rec.
The missive begins with a contemplation on the life-span of a flag before cutting to the – rather dull – chase.
‘The Green Guide’ is the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds handbook published by the UK’s Sports Grounds Safety Authority. Bath say a new edition was issued on 1 November with an updated paragraph 15.13(g) stipulating that fans carrying flags must produce a fire safety certificate.
“It’s possible that not all clubs in the UK will have recognised that the safety regulations have changed,” says Bath’s operations director Alex Cohen.
“Whilst we understand that flags present a low risk of injury, we cannot and will not ignore the guidance that we are mandated to as part of our safety certificate.”
The Premiership club have provided a fire certificate to Leinster for the flags they intend to bring to the Aviva Stadium this Saturday [kick-off 17.30] and have called on their hosts to join them in collecting flags from fans post-match so that “any money raised from the recycling of the flags and or collections” will be donated to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and Bath’s Royal United Hospital.
“We want to make these flags count this weekend and so the Bath Rugby ‘Elf and Safety’ team will be outside the main gate of the Aviva Stadium collecting flags after the game.”
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Carty had a great game. The Connacht players looked absolutely gutted coming off at the end. It was a massive shift to put in. The RDS in the final 10mins was LOUD, seemed louder than the All Black’s game, in the terrace anyways. Heaving so it was. Frawley took some huge hits, especially that one from Aki (Ouch) but had a good game i thought, don’t think I seen him at full back before. Dave Kearney had a mixed game but I felt he stood up as a bit of a leader in the final quarter. Max Deegan did a good job when he came on.
@SPQH: I think the whole of the RDS felt that hit by Aki on Frawley, fair play to him for just jumping straight back up. He can also play centre so a great guy to have on the team.
Jaysus they deserved the win but what a game.
As a connacht fan, we only have ourselves to blame. Our defence I thought was too passive on the gainline. Its been the same all season, with a lack of agression, you give away allot of linebreaks and you’re always scrambling. Thats three we’ve lost in the last ten with poor defending when we should be closing it out. Glasgow, Ospreys and now Leinster. A 6-5 record should be a 9-2, and defeats will probably cost us a play off spot. Amazingly, for a team.who won the pro12, we lack the certainty of confidence that Leinster, Scarlets and Glasgow have.
But fair play to Leinster, their handling was exceptional in the last ten, and they took it from us, rather than us throwing it away even though our composure was awful. Thought Adam Byrne was awesome all game. Connacht have to learn to play for 80, similar to Ireland after the 2013 to the all blacks.
I thought Adam Byrne had a savage game. He always looks for the offload.
Underrated player.
Gutted 4 Connaught they just seemed to run out of petrol.
@Gerald Long: Diesel in the wesht lad
Subs made the difference.
its a f*****g hard one to take!!
Once Leinster brought out the 2nds to replace the 3rds it was all over.