Sunday’s Challenge Cup fixture between Cheetahs and Ulster has been moved to Dukes Rugby Club in s-Hertogenbosch and will now be played at 13:00 GMT.
The sides were due to meet in Amsterdam with kick-off at 15:15, but with sub-zero temperatures expected in the capital, the game has been relocated to the south of the Netherlands following inspections earlier on Friday.
Governing body European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has also confirmed that the match will also now be played behind closed doors.
“EPCR, Rugby Nederland and Toyota Cheetahs are continuing to monitor weather conditions, should these further impact the fixture,” read a statement from Ulster.
“Ulster Rugby is seeking further clarification from tournament organisers regarding the implications of this decision and next steps, particularly for supporters who have already made travel arrangements.”
Ulster return to European action after victories against Connacht and Munster in the United Rugby Championship.
The northern province hammered Racing 92 in their opening Challenge Cup game before losing to Cardiff.
The Cheetahs have struggled with their form this season and will aim to end their five-game losing streak against Richie Murphy’s outfit.
The park will remain focused on younger families, especially with children under 12 years old, but will also create new experiences that appeal to all ages.
The Group has said that the new attractions will be revealed in due course.
James Mellors, managing director of Mellors Group, said: “Lightwater Valley is a park with real heart, history, personality, and potential, and it’s a place our own family has loved since childhood.
“Our goal is simple: to put the park back ‘on the map’ as a major theme park, by introducing new rides, injecting new energy, and creating something truly special for families for many years to come.”
He added: “We’re very excited about this acquisition and looking forward to planning a wide range of new attractions for 2026; fresh, fun, and full of excitement.
“While Lightwater Valley will continue to be a haven for younger families, we’re also widening the experience so that guests of all ages can enjoy the thrills, charm, and adventure together.
“The team here have done a brilliant job, and we’re looking forward to working closely with them as we begin this new journey.”
The Mellors Group bought the park after it was put up for sale in October for £3million.
The theme park first opened back in 1969 and today is home to more than 35 rides and attractions.
For over a month, schools in Vikindwe, a locality 10 kilometres from Musienene in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been closed due to the activities of the Wazalendo militia group. The primary schools in Vikindwe and Vuketi, along with the Viseya Institute, have been particularly affected by this educational disruption.
According to Kakule Syanghuswa Arsen, the headmaster of Vikindwe Primary School, events began to escalate in February this year when members of the Wazalendo militia assaulted a student from the school. This incident created tension between the militia and the local community. Following this, there were death threats directed at specific individuals in the area, as well as sporadic gunfire during school hours, severely disrupting the teaching and learning process.
Since October, the situation has become so tense that some students have experienced convulsions. The headmaster has now urged the authorities in the education sector to intervene with the provincial governor, hoping to have the Wazalendo militia removed from Vikindwe to restore normalcy.
In a related development, the resumption of classes in Njiapanda, as requested by the sub-provincial education committee, has been relatively cautious. This tentative return to classes comes three weeks after classes were suspended at the request of civil society organisations in Manguredjipa.
On Monday, Dec. 15, only a few students were present in several schools in the area. In Kambau, Mbunia Kisenge, the headmaster of a secondary school, reported that no students were attending school. He attributed this situation to the concerns and fears of parents regarding the security situation within the Bapakombe tribal group, which has been marked by repeated attacks on the population by fighters from the Union of Patriots for the Liberation of Congo (UPLC).
In Njiapanda, some schools located in the centre of town have cautiously resumed operations. However, schools on the outskirts have reported a high rate of student absences, even though several teachers are present in the classrooms. Only the final year students are attending school.
Militia members associated with the Wazalendo are frequently accused of various abuses against civilians in Musienene and Baszagha. The main complaints from the people include looting, rape, arbitrary arrests, illegal tax collection, and the establishment of unauthorised roadblocks.
On Nov. 12, a young student was killed by gunshots during clashes between two factions of the Wazalendo militia at the Musimba market. Although these groups are considered allies of the Congolese army in its fight against Rwandan aggression, particularly in the conflict with the M23/AFC rebels, they are frequently accused of serious human rights abuses. Because they operate without proper oversight and often follow distinct commands, they frequently evade the attention of local authorities.
Schools in Vikindwe, DRC, have been closed for over a month due to disruptions caused by the Wazalendo militia group. Incidents began escalating in February when a student was assaulted, leading to tensions, death threats, and disruptions from gunfire.
The headmaster of Vikindwe Primary School has called for intervention to remove the militia and restore normalcy.
Classes are cautiously resuming in nearby Njiapanda, despite the suspension requested by civil society groups. Attendance remains low due to security fears associated with the Bapakombe tribal group. Additionally, Wazalendo members are accused of human rights abuses such as looting and illegal activities.
These groups, though allies of the Congolese army against external aggression, often evade local authority oversight due to fragmented command structures.
