MUNSTER’S RaboDirect Pro12 League game against Aironi scheduled to take place at the Stadio Zafanella in Viadana next Sunday has been postponed because of freezing conditions in Italy that have seen the temperature plummet to -10 degrees.

Munster had hoped to stay on in Italy, in Parma, for a training camp – they are listed to play Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo the following Saturday – but the camp has been cancelled as more snow is forecast in the coming days.

A spokesperson for the Irish province admitted: “The weather is not expected to improve between now and the weekend so a decision was taken early to call off next Sunday’s game.”

On a more positive note, Ireland and Munster fullback Felix Jones is expected to make his comeback from a foot injury when playing half a match for Shannon in their Ulster Bank League Division 1A fixture against Young Munster at Thomond Park on Friday night.