Following the very late postponement of today’s fixture against Bedford Blues due to cold weather and deteriorating ground conditions we thought it best to share an updated version of the statement communicated yesterday afternoon.

The decision to cancel the match was made by the match referee on the grounds of player safety, which must always remain the overriding priority. This decision was taken despite an earlier inspection that deemed the pitch fit to play, making the timing of the postponement unbelievably disappointing for everyone involved.

Yesterday's match was set to be the largest crowd in the club’s history. We fully recognise the frustration, inconvenience and disappointment caused to our supporters, players, staff, volunteers, sponsors and Bedford Blues, many of whom had already travelled or arrived at the ground. Our sincerest apologies to everyone.

We are incredibly sorry that this decision came so late. We share fully in the frustration felt by all concerned and assure supporters that this was not the outcome anyone at the club wanted.

Details of the rearranged fixture will be announced as soon as possible. Tickets purchased for today’s game will either be refunded or rolled over to the rescheduled match. Please bear with us while we finalise these arrangements — a separate communication will be issued shortly to confirm the next steps. We’re in discussions with the league about how we can minimise this disruption in the future.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support of Chinnor RFC during what was a frustrating day for all.