SICK NATIONS!

Championship fixtures in doubt over virus fears

THE Six Nations is in danger of being disrupted by the coronavirus — with Ireland’s clash with Italy in Dublin next month in doubt.

Travel restrictions have been put in place in Italy following an outbreak of the deadly virus over the weekend. The women’s Six Nations game between Italy and Scotland, which was scheduled to take place in Milan, was cancelled on Sunday while Ulster’s Pro14 meeting with Benetton at the Stadio Monigo in Treviso next weekend has been postponed.

Ireland are set to face the Azzurri in Aviva Stadium on March 7 with thousands of Italian fans due to travel to the capital for the fourth-round Six Nations clash.

Yesterday, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, raised concerns about the forthcoming fixture.

‘There will be some big decisions that have to be made in the coming days, including mass gatherings,’ he said.

‘Most particularly, I’m thinking of the IrelandItaly rugby game that’s due to take place in the

not-too distant future.’ The IRFU are closely monitoring the situation. As thing stand, however, the game is due to go ahead but Irish rugby chiefs will follow guidance from the government in the coming days. There is precedent for cancelled or rearranged fixtures in the Six Nations due to health risks. In 2001, Ireland’s matches against Scotland, Wales and England were postponed until the following season due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease across the UK. Ireland would play the three games across the following September and October prior to the autumn internationals. Should the Italy game be cancelled or postponed, it would have major implications for Ireland’s chance of challenging for the title ahead of their final-round encounter with Grand Slam-chasing France in Paris. For now, Andy Farrell’s squad will take a breather in the coming days following their 24-12 loss to England in Twickenham on Sunday. Should the game against Italy go ahead, Farrell is poised to ring the changes with fringe players such as Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and John Cooney set for their first starts of the championship.