Ireland-Italy Six Nations clash called off amid Coronavirus fears

Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Dublin has been called off amid fears over the spread of the Coronavirus.

Andy Farrell’s side had been due to host Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday March 7 in their penultimate game of the tournament.

However, the outbreak of the virus in northern Italy had led to calls for the game to be postponed.

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) met with the country’s minister for health, Simon Harris, on Tuesday and it was determined the game should not go ahead.

#shouldertoshoulder

Ireland’s @SixNationsRugby matches v Italy are off.

We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days.https://t.co/80ByyvOd3E

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 26, 2020

The matches in the Women’s Six Nations and the Under-20 Six Nations have also been postponed.

An IRFU statement read: “The IRFU had a positive meeting with Minister Harris and his advisors today, where we requested a formal instruction as to the staging of the Ireland v Italy international matches over the weekend of 6/8 March.

“At the outset we made it clear that the IRFU was supportive of the Governments’ need to protect public health in relation to the Coronavirus.

“We were then advised, formally, that The National Public Health Emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interests of Public Health.

“The IRFU is happy to comply with this instruction.

“We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days.”

Last weekend saw four football matches in Serie A postponed, including Inter’s clash with Sampdoria as part of measures to prevent the spread of the virus in Italy.

Inter’s Europa League meeting with Ludogorets will be contested behind closed doors on Thursday.

Additionally, this weekend’s scheduled Pro14 rugby games between Parma-based club Zebre and Ospreys and Benetton Treviso and Ulster will not go ahead.

Ireland suffered their first defeat of the tournament as they were beaten 24-12 by England at Twickenham last Sunday. 

They are four points behind leaders France in the table. Italy have lost each of their three games and appear destined for another wooden spoon.

KEO.co.za News wire is powered by opta