Sarries no longer playing in Cape Town

[Bertos]

A report just coming through on the BBC:

"Saracens have scrapped plans to play their home Heineken Cup game against Biarritz in Cape Town. The Aviva Premiership champions say the group game, scheduled for 14 January, will now take place in London."

Perhaps their cheque bounced...

[Old Hob]

The Sarries forum has been reporting that the Western province RU has been insisting that the game take place at Newlands not Cape Town. Confusion all round.

Edit: The Sarrie spin machine :

"Now that all discussions between various stakeholders have been concluded, Saracens has decided the Heineken Cup match against Biarritz on Saturday January 14th will be played not in Cape Town, but in London.

The innovative English champion club was eager to host the first Heineken Cup match ever played outside Europe, to stage a special, spectacular rugby event and to project brilliant images of Cape Town and European rugby around the world. However, we have no wish to be a catalyst for conflict between the City of Cape Town and the Western Province Rugby Union.

Saracens looks forward to playing a competitive match in Cape Town as soon as local circumstances allow.

Supporters who have bought tickets in South Africa will be fully refunded by Computicket, and Saracens will engage with UK-based supporters who have already booked air tickets and accommodation, and ensure they are appropriately compensated.

[Cape Tiger]

Perhaps has something to do with part owners of Sarries being the ex management company of the CT stadium which is a white elephant I and my fellow rates payers will be subsidising for many a year.First time I have known the WPRU to show any backbone, resisting being bullied into moving from one of the great rugby stadiums. Not sure how many of us would have watched a game between two teams nobody here supports, on a midsummers day.

[Hans Hullabaloo]

A report just coming through on the BBC:

" The Aviva Premiership champions say the group game, scheduled for 14 January, will now take place in London."

So they still won't play it at home then?

[tigerburnie]

Doesn't the premiership have rules about your "home" ground and do they not apply in the Heineken?or does that only apply to clubs trying to win promotion?
Silly me if they did a couple of "london" teams would be in the Championship wouldn't they? being homeless vagrants.
Question:- does the compensation they are now having to pay, come under the salary cap account,or is that from a different kruger account?