Women’s competitions postponed, men’s going ahead

Women’s sporting competitions continue to be postponed while men’s tournaments go ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s Women’s Six Nations has been postponed but the men’s competition will take place as scheduled, the England Rugby Football Union announced on Thursday. Quoting logistical and safety reasons, Six Nations chief executive Ben Morel said: “This is not a decision that we rushed into, and we are confident that in looking at a new later window, we will be in a far stronger position to deliver ... ensuring the safest possible environment for our players.”

The RFU said the women’s tournament, which was due to begin on February 6, will now be played later this year. The women’s Six Nations is a key event for Northern Hemisphere teams preparing for the World Cup to be held in New Zealand starting in September. Three women’s Six Nations games were cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

However, while the situation continues to be “closely monitored” for the men’s tournament – also scheduled to start on February 6 – plans are in place for the competition to go ahead.

The women’s FA Cup competition in England has also been suspended this week for the duration of the new national lockdown.

The Football Association said on Thursday it had decided to suspend the second and third rounds of the competition since clubs at amateur level were not permitted to train or play.

Sport in England outside of the elite level has been shut down as a result of the lockdown.