The Cheetahs’ hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup Round of 16 are officially over.

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed late on Sunday that the Bloemfontein side’s abandoned Pool Three clash against Ulster has been cancelled and awarded to the Irish province.

The Round Three fixture was initially postponed after referee Kevin Bralley ruled the pitch at Dukes Rugby Club in ’s-Hertogenbosch unplayable. After reviewing the circumstances, EPCR opted to record the result as a 28-0 victory for Ulster, with the full five log points handed to the visitors.

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In a statement, tournament organisers reiterated that competition regulations place responsibility on the hosting club to ensure fixtures can be fulfilled. While the Cheetahs are a South African side, their home Challenge Cup matches are staged in the Netherlands.

The match had already been relocated on Friday from the Cheetahs’ Amsterdam base at NRCA Stadium to ’s-Hertogenbosch due to adverse weather conditions in the capital. That move ultimately proved in vain, with Europe experiencing a severe cold snap marked by freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

The decision leaves the Cheetahs rooted to the bottom of Pool Three on zero points, with no mathematical chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

They will now play for pride when they face Racing 92 in France next weekend in their final pool fixture.

Full EPCR statement:
EPCR has made the decision to cancel the EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3 Round 3 fixture between Toyota Cheetahs and Ulster Rugby.

Upon review of all the information available, the match result should be recorded as 0-28 win to Ulster Rugby, and five points will subsequently be awarded to Ulster Rugby.

Despite the obvious challenges connected with the playing of this fixture, and noting the incredible efforts of the Toyota Cheetahs and Rugby Nederland to ensure the fixture could take place, it is the hosting club’s responsibility to ensure the match can go ahead; and therefore the match result must be recorded as a 0-28 four-try bonus point win for Ulster Rugby, with five match points being awarded as a consequence, pursuant to EPCR regulations.

EPCR would like to thank Toyota Cheetahs, Rugby Nederland and Ulster Rugby for their support throughout this process.

Photo: @BelLiveSport/X