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Weather causes change of European Venues

THE almost non-stop bad weather of the last couple of months has forced Ballymena to give up their first international. Eaton Park (right) was due to host Ireland's European Championship game against Italy on Monday July 22 but, with time running out, they have agreed they would be unable to prepare a pitch to do the ground justice on its international debut and have stepped down.

Ironically, the decision was taken at this week's European meeting at Eaton Park so the committee could hardly have been in a better position to see the problem. Yesterday, it was confirmed that the Ireland-Italy game will take place at Comber with North Down's scheduled Division Two game that day switched to Muckamore who will now stage two Euro games. They are already hosting Germany v France on the opening day, July 19.

Two other change of venues have also been confirmed. Belfast Harlequins will host the Second Division game between Austria and Germany on Saturday July 20 after Woodvale pulled out some weeks ago, and a fallen tree at Strabane has also forced them to surrender their Second Divison game between France and Israel on Tuesday July 23. That game will now be played at Fox Lodge.