UPDATE 1-Rugby-Ireland unhappy with new date for France game

* Postponed match rearranged for March 4

* Irish wanted fixture 24 hours earlier (Recasts with Ireland reaction)

PARIS Feb 14 (Reuters) - Ireland are "disappointed" their Six Nations match in France, called off last Saturday because of a frozen pitch, has been rearranged for March 4.

"While understanding the difficulties a postponed game brings ... the IRFU had proposed to the Six Nations the preferred alternate date for the game would be Saturday March 3 with an afternoon kickoff," the Irish Rugby Football Union said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This was based on providing the Ireland team, who will be travelling for a second time to Paris, with a seven-day turnaround between (all) its remaining four fixtures in the tournament as well as providing any supporters wishing to attend the rescheduled game with an appropriate window of travel.

"Both proposed dates were discussed by the Six Nations council but the decision was taken by the majority of the council to proceed with the date of March 4 (at 1500 GMT)."

The IRFU added the French Federation (FFR) has agreed to reimburse Irish fans who are unable to attend the rescheduled game.

The FFR and the Six Nations committee also disagreed over the date, with the FFR preferring a postponement until next season because of fixture congestion in its domestic league next month.

"It (March 4) is a proposal that comes from the Six Nations committee and from the broadcasters," Jacky Laurans, the French representative on the Six Nations committee, told reporters. (Reporting by Mathieu Baratas and Julien Pretot, editing by Tony Jimenez; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)