Rugby Europe Suspends Andorra-Cyprus Match Over Airbase Attack Fears
Security concerns near RAF Akrotiri prompt suspension of Andorra's men's rugby game against Cyprus in Limassol, ruled as force majeure after.
Key Points
- Match in Limassol suspended due to assaults on RAF Akrotiri airbase 15km away.
- Andorran Rugby Federation invoked force majeure after two days of meetings.
- Andorra sought advice from Ministry of Foreign Affairs but got no response.
- Game must be rescheduled before 9 May; impact on standings pending.
Rugby Europe has suspended Andorra's men's rugby match against Cyprus due to security concerns following recent attacks on a nearby British airbase.
The fixture, scheduled for Saturday 14 December in Limassol, was called off after the Andorran Rugby Federation (FAR) raised alarms with the governing body. The decision came after two days of meetings on Thursday and Friday involving Rugby Europe, the Cypriot federation, and the FAR.
FAR president Albert Calvó said the suspension was justified under the competition's rules as a case of force majeure. He noted that Limassol's venue lies just 15 kilometres from the RAF Akrotiri airbase, which has faced multiple recent assaults. These incidents prompted the FAR to request the postponement and avoid any risks for the Andorran squad.
Calvó added that the federation sought advice from Andorra's Ministry of Foreign Affairs but received no response. "After two days of meetings between Rugby Europe, Cyprus, and us, it was decided that due to force majeure, the match is suspended," he explained. The outcome means the Andorran team will not travel, sparing them potential insecurity.
The match forms part of the Conference division in the European Championship. Under regulations, it must be rescheduled before 9 May if feasible, though the FAR acknowledged the tight timeline makes this challenging. Rugby Europe will now determine the impact on the group standings.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: