The IRFU has confirmed the news.
As has been speculated, the Ireland verses Italy 6 nations rugby match at the Aviva Stadium on March 7th will not go ahead as scheduled, it has been confirmed.
Irish rugby chief Philip Browne has confirmed that the Irish government has determined the match cannot go ahead because of coronavirus.
They are hoping to reschedule but there are no details yet on when that will be.
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
In an official statement, the IRFU said:
''The IRFU had a positive meeting with Minister Harris and his advisors today, where we requested a formal instruction as to the staging of the Ireland v Italy international matches over the weekend of 6/8 March.
''At the outset we made it clear that the IRFU was supportive of the Governments’ need to protect public health in relation to the Coronavirus.
''We were then advised, formally, that The National Public Health Emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interests of Public Health.
''The IRFU is happy to comply with this instruction.''
