Sport NI are taking advice on athletes
regions where events are being postponed or played behind closed doors.
England, meanwhile, welcomed Mako Vunipola back into the squad to prepare for their clash with Wales this Saturday after the loosehead prop returned from Tonga, having missed the recent victory over Scotland due to family reasons.
The Saracens forward was one of 34 players brought into camp by head coach Eddie Jones, along with fit-again Anthony Watson after the Bath back recovered from a calf injury that has kept him out of the opening three rounds.
However, the biggest surprise saw Exeter Chiefs scrumhalf Jack Maunder called up nearly three years since winning his one and only cap on the tour of Argentina, despite Jones’ preference to name just two No.9s in his squads so far.
Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz remain in the side, with the former signing a new contract with Leicester Tigers to end speculation over his future.
SPORT NI have revealed they are liaising with the Sport Ireland Institute and Team Ireland over how to contain the spread of the coronavirus in a sporting context.
With the first case confirmed in Northern Ireland last Thursday, and several events being called off due to the virus — including Ireland’s Six Nations tie against Italy in Dublin and Ulster’s trip to Treviso to face Benetton — the sporting body have been in contact with authorities south of the border over how to best prevent its spread.
Several individuals and teams are set to travel abroad for sporting events in the near future, with the Tokyo Olympics in particular looming large in the summer, but Sport NI have been proactive in receiving advice on what sportspeople from Northern Ireland should do to assist with containing the coronavirus.
“The advice being passed on to all the Irish National sports programmes is being co-ordinated by the Chief Medical Officer of the Sport Ireland Institute/Team Ireland, Dr James O’Donovan,” said a spokesperson for Sport NI.
“These guidelines are being constantly reviewed and updated in line with the rapidly changing situation and consequent advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).”
The key points that are being circulated to sporting bodies both north and south of the border include:
• reviewing any non-essential travel, especially to high-risk areas
• increasing vigilance around hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with individuals who are exhibiting cold-type symptoms
• self-quarantine advice, including calling a person’s GP, if individuals display any symptoms post-return from an affected area