Crash Ball
Trevor Watson
BAD news for Munster fans, and indeed fans of Irish rugby all over the country, today as we digest the news that Sky television will not be showing live coverage of the much anticipated Munster v Gloucester game next weekend.
In one of the most bizarre broadcasting issues ever seen in live television history, a new bye-law issued last January for the city of Gloucester by Gloucester City Council requires a temporary planning application for the cameras, cranes and all other necessary equipment required to broadcast a live event.
It transpires that the Federation for Organising and Operating Live Events (FOOLE), missed out on the notification which is apparently completely unique to Gloucestershire.
It now means that there will be NO television coverage, either live or deferred, of Munster’s vital Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with many people’s favourites, Gloucester.
It is potentially one of Munster’s biggest tests yet. Gloucester’s home ground, Kingsholm, is no easy place to travel to and the cherry and whites owe Munster one after the famous ‘Miracle Match’ in Thomond Park which saw Munster upset all the odds and advance to the play-offs at Gloucester’s expense.
Munster have obviously a huge following from all over the country, so it now looks like only a handful of people who were lucky enough to get tickets will get to see the match.
It’s a disaster for Sky Television also, who are left with quite a portion of egg on their faces after such an unprecedented slip-up.
Kerryman, Myles O’Toole, Chairman of the Munster Supporters Club, was obviously devastated at the outcome. Crash Ball tried to contact him but the obvious pandemonium that such an upset brings meant he was too busy to comment.
The news comes on the worst week ever for Munster fans as both Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell BOTH announced that they wished to terminate their contracts early and sign for Connacht next season.
Apparently both were very impressed at the set-up in The Sportsground, Galway, and were equally impressed with McDonagh’s fish and chips on Quay St, and the cold creamy pints of porter in Freeney’s Pub on High St.
Declan Kidney, who admitted to being totally shocked at the announcement, is already on the lookout for replacements for the talismanic twosome but has admitted that they will be hard to replace.
There was a rumour that Kidney had contacted Ballinrobe second row, Paul Keane, with a view to replacing O’Connell but Keane couldn’t think of anyone to recommend at that time.
The two Internationals will be a huge bonus to Michael Bradley’s charges for next season as they continue to strive for promotion to the Heineken Cup. Their loss to Munster has been described as ‘incalculable’.
Elsewhere, this week it was announced that the Lions Tour to South Africa next year is in danger of being cancelled. Apparently due to cutbacks the touring squad will have to fly with Ryanair, which means they will be forced to land in Tanzania and drive to Capetown from there.
A players’ representative has said that this is totally unacceptable and many players will boycott the tour. It could be the end of a long tradition of Lions tours to the southern hemisphere.
