Tomorrow's Magners League meeting between Munster and Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park has been called off in the interests of public safety. While officials were confident the Cork venue would be playable after being covered overnight, it was decided at 10am this morning that the surrounding area is unsafe to stage the game.
The postponement means all four fixtures involving Irish provinces this weekend have been called off because of the weather.
A Munster statement released this afternoon, read: "Following a 10am inspection by officials from Munster Rugby and David McHugh from the IRFU referee department, the Munster versus Scarlets Magners League game has been called off.
"The pitch had been covered by a 'warm air blanket' since yesterday morning at which stage officials were confident that the game would go ahead. However, overnight temperatures dropped to -9 [degrees Celsius] and a further deterioration is expected tonight."
Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald added: "While our inspection this morning showed part of the pitch unplayable, the continuing use of the 'warm air blanket' would, in our opinion have left the pitch playable by 5pm tomorrow, if conditions remained as they are now.
"However, given the forecast of snow and lower temperatures overnight, we felt it would be unfair to those travelling or planning to travel to leave a final decision until the morning and have therefore abandoned the idea of playing the game."
Munster's back-up option of using Thomond Park was seffectively ruled out yesterday when the Limerick venue was deemed unplayable.