An exceptional measure for a scorching weekend. “Given the continuation of the extreme heat episode” and after consulting its medical committee, the Fédération française de rugby on Tuesday ordered all of the weekend’s amateur fixtures to be put back to Sunday 28 June at 10am.

Finals brought forward to the early morning

The morning kick-off is intended to “guarantee that the matches are played in the best possible conditions” and to limit any prefectural bans, the governing body wrote to club officials. Venues will be confirmed “as soon as possible”. The calendar makes the decision a delicate one: the finals of numerous divisions are played this weekend. If conditions improve, “some matches may be rescheduled for a later kick-off”, the FFR add, promising a fresh update on Friday.

Aid of up to 3,000 euros and cooling breaks

To support clubs, the Federation are releasing aid of up to 3,000 euros, intended in particular for the “booking of a venue offering suitable hosting conditions”. They are also imposing the “introduction of cooling breaks” and “the reinforcement of the medical set-up for players and spectators”.

Help with accommodation is no luxury for some finalists: Tauch Corbières, in the Régionale 3 final, have to travel to Nérac, four hours by coach from Tuchan. Leucate, in the Fédérale 2 final against Pont-Long, will play in Pamiers. The decision, however, affects neither the Top 14 final, on Saturday at 9pm at the Stade de France, nor the women’s top-flight final, on Sunday at 6pm in Biarritz.