This is no way to treat the minnows of Europe

Posted on by in Nick Cain

That Rugby Union has one set of rules for the rich and another for the poor was highlighted starkly this week. Timisoara Saracens are not one of Europe’s big clubs, but they are an important part of the effort to re-establish Romania as a rugby stronghold.

Since the Romanian revolution that deposed the Ceausescu regime in 1989 the game has struggled for profile, and money, and this week’s EPCR disciplinary ruling fining the club €30,000 for failing to produce a playable surface for their European Challenge Cup match against Stade Francais was unnecessarily harsh.

EPCR panel officials should not live in a well-funded bubble in which they ignore what has gone on elsewhere in this sport when it comes to matches being called off. They should be reminded that only five years ago a Six Nations match between France and Ireland was called off just 10 minutes before kick-off due to a frozen pitch at the Stade de France.

It remains one of the biggest stains on the organisational capabilities of those running the Six Nations – and especially those running the French Federation at the time. Tens of thousands of travelling fans were not just disappointed, but also massively inconvenienced and out-of-pocket because of the French Federation’s failure to ensure there was a playable surface for this international showpiece.

Their punishment for the farcical shambles? Nothing. Not even an apology to more than 70,000 fans in the stadium.

As for Timisoara Saracens, who play in front of a few hundred fans in the cavernous 35,000 capacity Dan Paltinisanu stadium, their failure to deal with average nightly temperatures below minus 8C has cost them dearly.

On their club website there is a dignified statement saying that they will not contest the disciplinary panel’s decision, despite their unsuccessful efforts to ensure the match was played.

It adds: “Furthermore, in order not to affect the club’s current budget, but to assist our team’s performance and objectives, the fine will be paid from private resources.”

I have no problem with EPCR fining Timisoara Saracens, but they should keep it proportionate with a first offence for a club which is new to the Challenge Cup having gained access through the qualifying competition.

A €2,000 fine would have been plenty, with a sterner sanction to follow for a second offence.

Hitting a cash-strapped club like Timisoara Saracens harder than anyone else makes no sense at all.

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Tagged Challenge Cup, Nick Cain, Stade Francais, Timisora Saracens