THE Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 fixture against Edinburgh has been postponed for the second time because of a frozen pitch.

The clash at Rodney Parade was postponed in the autumn after Dean Ryan’s squad were put into quarantine because of a coronavirus outbreak.

Now the rearranged fixture tomorrow evening has fallen victim to the weather with an early decision made to save the Scottish side the trouble of travelling during the pandemic for a game that is in doubt.

"A large area of the pitch is currently frozen and temperatures will not rise above freezing in time for the pitch to be playable," read a PRO14 statement.

"Taking into account player safety and travel arrangements, PRO14 Rugby, along with both clubs, has taken the decision to postpone the game. PRO14 Rugby will identify a rescheduled date as soon as possible."

Newport County AFC played Southend United on Tuesday evening but the game finished in perilous conditions with studs clanking on the well-used surface as though it was concrete.

Free Press Series: COLD: Sections of the Rodney Parade pitch was frozen during Newport's game against SouthendCOLD: Sections of the Rodney Parade pitch was frozen during Newport's game against Southend

The Shrimpers’ Greg Halford called it a “horrific frozen pitch” on social media and it’s likely that the fixture would have been postponed if it had been like that at 7pm kick-off.

Covers were put on the pitch immediately after the game but the temperature in the city is not forecast to get above 1 degree today and it is expected to be -1 at 7pm tomorrow.

The postponement leaves the PRO14 with a fixture headache – the Dragons and Edinburgh have six games to play but only five weekends before the scheduled end of the campaign.

It is likely that the encounter will be played on the weekend of March 27, when the PRO14 final will be played.

Ryan’s men are scheduled to play Leinster in Newport next Friday while County host Exeter on Tuesday and Forest Green on next Saturday.

The Dragons won't be too unhappy at the postponement given that they are down to the bare bones in the back row.

They are without Aaron Wainwright because of Six Nations duty along with Ross Moriarty (ankle), Ollie Griffiths (ankle), Harri Keddie (concussion), Taine Basham (fractured forearm), Lewis Evans (calf), Lennon Greggains (shoulder) and James Benjamin (leg).