The Saracens chairman, Nigel Wray, has pointed the finger at the “chaotic” Champions Cup organisers for the confusion over when their rearranged fixture with Clermont Auvergne would be played and whether fans would be allowed to attend.

Wray’s comments came in response to Clermont’s furious reaction to the match being rescheduled for 5.30pm on Monday, labelling the situation as “a tale of the absurd”, 24 hours after the game was postponed because of hazardous conditions around the stadium.

The French side complained that they had not been included in negotiations between the tournament organisers, EPCR, and Saracens, over when the match was to be played, accusing them of “messing about” their fans and treating them like “toys” after the game was postponed on Sunday morning because of bad weather.

Clermont won the rescheduled game 46-14, inflicting a record home European defeat on their opponents. Supporters were able to attend the match at Allianz Park, after tournament organisers initially announced that the match would be played behind closed doors “due to health and safety concerns”.

In a statement, the Top 14 side said that they were originally told the rearranged start would be 2pm GMT on Monday and were not informed of a change to 5.30pm until late on Sunday evening.

“The weekend should have been a rugby celebration between the two European finalists; whatever happens on the Allianz Park pitch this afternoon, it will remain yet another episode of the amateurism that sometimes affects our sport,” the statement said.

“Without consulting any members of the staff (and with no official information) throughout the day ... we were eventually informed by phone by a member of the EPCR at about 5pm that the match would take place on Monday December 11 at 2pm.’

“We were told at 11pm that the game which was scheduled for 2pm had been moved to 5.30pm local time, with no way of telling the players who were already back in their rooms.”

Saracens, however, took issue with the fact that EPCR released a statement late on Sunday night, saying that the match would be played behind closed doors. On Monday morning, Saracens issued a response insisting the match would be open to the public.

Wray then said: “I thought [EPCR’s closed-doors statement] was outrageous. It was a unilateral statement, we had been promised there would be consultation, it was not what had been discussed – it was an outrageous statement.

“I understand what Clermont are saying, it’s annoying from everybody’s point of view. It’s important to stress the health and safety officer made his decision, it’s nothing to do with us.”

Wray revealed that he anticipated a loss of approximately £300,000 from the match. “We’re quite big losers because we’ve lost a sell-out crowd and will make a substantial loss,” he said. “But I am a big fan of fans, and it’s not the way it should have been done. My views on organisations like EPCR and the RFU is that they’re all chaotic. I don’t think they work and this is another example of why.”



“The idea that you kick-off at 2pm – that’s great for television, isn’t it, for the gate – when we’re supposed to be promoting the game and getting the best possible environment. I think it’s been chaotic.”

Clermont’s statement also addressed the uncertainty over whether fans could attend. “The match was initially set to be played behind closed doors … disappointing our fans yet again who then decided to return home to France the following morning.”

“The latest information is that the game could take place in front of supporters, hence Saracens’ interest in moving the game to later in the evening, refusing the proposition of the EPCR (2pm kick-off). In the end, for about a dozen centimetres of snow, the organisation of the game has bordered on the ridiculous and the absurd.”

The EPCR president, Vincent Galliard was unimpressed with Clermont’s statement and defended the decision to postpone the game. He said: “The reaction of Clermont – I am angry about. The magnitude of what happened was grossly underestimated – it was very serious and the decision to postpone the match was the right decision.”