Ireland's 6 Nations match with Italy on March 7th has been officially postponed due to coronavirus fears.
The teams were due to meet on Saturday week at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Meanwhile, the under 20's and women's games have also been postponed.
#shouldertoshoulder
Ireland's @SixNationsRugby matches v Italy are off.
We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days.https://t.co/80ByyvOd3E— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 26, 2020
Yesterday, the Public Health Emergency Team and Department of Health recommended it should not go ahead.
Twelve people have died in Italy fas a result of the virus which is continuing to spread across Europe, with cases now being confirmed in Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
Following a meeting with the Health Minister Simon Harris The IRFU says it is "perfectly happy to comply" with that instruction.
The IRFU's Phillip Browne says "we made it clear to the minister and his advisors that we're fully supportive of whatever steps they feel are necessary to safeguard public health in light of the coronavirus".
The IRFU says it will begin to look at the possibility of rescheduling the match and hopes to have an update over the coming days.
