Blues bring kickoff forward

The Blues will change the kickoff time against the Lions in Auckland later this month to help out the Sunwolves who are relocating games to Australia because of coronavirus measures in Japan. Kickoff for the Blues-Lions game at Eden Park on March 14 will be 4.25pm instead of

7.05pm. This will allow the Sunwolves’ game against the Crusaders to be relocated to Brisbane which will host a double-header with the Reds against the Bulls.

■ Six Nations organisers have confirmed two of the scheduled three matches will go ahead this weekend with only Ireland v Italy ruled out due to the coronavirus crisis. England will play Wales at Twickenham and Scotland will host France at Murrayfield. Ireland’s fourth-round match against Italy in Dublin had already been postponed.

■ A top British official has suggested some events at the Tokyo Olympics could go ahead without spectators unless the outbreak is brought under control. Stephen Park, British Cycling’s performance director, said that while he is confident the Games – which are set to take place from July 24 to August 9 – won’t be cancelled entirely, they could be ‘‘different’’ to past events. ‘‘Look, at the World Cup [Finals] skiing in two weeks time in Cortina, they are doing it on a closed circuit with no fans.’’

■ Residents of Milan will not be allowed to attend the Italian Cup football semifinal between Juventus and AC Milan on in Turin tomorrow as part of anti-virus precautions being taken.