NOTTINGHAM Rugby chief executive Simon Beatham says player safety is the overriding concern when it comes to the state of playing surfaces in the RFU Championship.

SAFETY FIRST: St Peter ground at Jersey was deemed unplayable.

The Green and Whites clash at Jersey was postponed at the weekend, less than 90 minutes before kick-off at St Peter, with the match referee deeming the ground unplayable.

Beatham said: "We are desperately disappointed for everyone connected with Nottingham and Jersey rugby clubs that the game could not go ahead as scheduled," Beatham said.

"The last scenario that you want to find yourself in is the one with pressure mounting on you to get the game on for all the wrong reasons, when the only reason that actually matters is the safety of players.

"To make the decision 90 minutes before a game, when corporate guests are already seated and fans are coming through the gates, is not when you want to make a decision like that."

Nearly 150 Nottingham supporters made the trip to watch the Green and Whites in action on the Channel Islands for the first time.

Following the postponement, fans were invited to a reception with players and coaching staff with the club thanking them for their commitment on the road.

Nottingham Rugby has also announced today that all fans that made the trip to the island can claim two free tickets for this Sunday's (February 24) British and Irish Cup clash against Llandovery at Meadow Lane Stadium.

"We have tremendous support wherever we go and I really feel for those fans that followed us to Jersey in anticipation of watching an historic clash," Beatham said.

"There is nothing we can do about the game that didn't go ahead in Jersey, but we can get right behind the boys as they take on Llandovery for a place in the quarter-finals of the cup."