SUB-ZERO temperatures await tens of thousands of Irish fans in Paris for the Six Nations match against France tonight with the kick off at 8pm Irish time.
France has been gripped by severe cold weather for the past week, with lows of –16 degrees recorded in some parts of the country. But the French rugby federation has said that relatively warmer conditions and artificial heating at the Stade de France means the match would go ahead at 9pm local time.
To coincide with the biennial Irish invasion of Paris, the Irish Fund of France held its Wild Geese charity ball last night at the Pavillon Dauphine, where the guest of honour, on the 25th anniversary of his Tour de France win, was Stephen Roche.
Minster for Sport Leo Varadkar also attended, as did Ireland’s Ambassador to France, Paul Kavanagh, and French business figures with a connection to Ireland.
At the Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides this morning, Mr Varadkar will mark the opening of an exhibition, The Irish and France: Three Centuries of Military Relations.
Covering the period 1689 to 2011, it includes material on Irish regiments that fought in France in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, Irish men and women in both world wars and recent co-operation between the French and Irish armies on the United Nations mission in Chad.
During his visit to Paris, Mr Varadkar also met the French environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
The Irish contingent at the Stade de France this evening will include Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, TDs Olivia Mitchell and David Stanton of Fine Gael, Labour’s Jack Wall and Barry Cowen of Fianna Fáil.
The Oireachtas group has already been in Paris and Bordeaux for a week for meetings with French counterparts, tourism officials and members of the Irish community.
As Irish fans were arriving in Paris yesterday, the French rugby federation issued a statement to confirm that, despite the severe conditions in recent days, tonight’s match was scheduled to go ahead as planned.
There had been worries about this as a number of sports events, including rugby matches, were postponed in France this week, but the federation said it had taken steps to protect the pitch. The grass has been covered in tarpaulin and a heating system has stopped it freezing.
More inspections will take place this morning and the final decision on whether the match can go ahead will fall to the Six Nations committee and the referee later today.