Fixtures moved to avoid clash with Prince’s funeral
PREMIERSHIP Rugby has announced the kick-offs at all four round-16 matches on Saturday have been moved to avoid a clash with the 3pm funeral of Prince Philip.
Sale v Gloucester and Exeter’s match against Wasps will both start at 12.30 while Newcastle v Bristol will kick off at 5pm, along with Harlequins v Worcester.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has said all nine County Championship matches will pause for an hour and 20 minutes and has asked all recreational cricket clubs to stop play for an hour to pay their respects, alongside observing the one-minute silence at 3pm.
It was announced on Saturday that EFL matches scheduled for 3pm on Saturday will be moved to avoid a clash and it is understood the Premier League is still in talks with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport regarding arrangements.
Wolves’ 3pm home game against Sheffield United in the Premier League has been moved to 8.15pm, following the lunchtime fixture between Newcastle and West Ham.
The Chelsea v Manchester City FA Cup semi-final is due to kick off at 5.30pm at Wembley.
The World Snooker Tour is liaising with the DCMS with regard to the World
Championship, which is scheduled to start on Saturday at the Crucible in Sheffield.
High-profile race meetings at Ayr and Newbury scheduled for Saturday have been switched to the following afternoon. As a result, the Coral Scottish Grand National fixture at the Scottish venue and the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials meeting at the west Berkshire course will now be held on Sunday. No racing is due to take place in Britain between 2.45pm and 4.15pm on Saturday. Meetings at Bangor, Thirsk, Brighton and Nottingham will go ahead but with start times to ensure races do not clash with the ceremony.