BREAKING: Coronavirus threat scuppers Ireland v Italy rugby internationals

The Ireland v Italy senior men's, women's and Under 20 rugby internationals will not now proceed as planned.

The IRFU this afternoon said it is now happy to accept that the games should not now proceed, in the interest of public health.

It said it would "immediately begin to work with our Six Nationsl partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days."

The statement comes after a meeting with the Minister for Health Simon Harris today.

The Ireland v Italy Six Nations men's game was due to be held in the Aviva on Saturday, March 7; the women's game was due for Energia Park, Dublin, on Sunday, March 8 and the Under 20 international at Energia Park, Cork, on Friday, March 6.

The full IRFU statement is, as follows:

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 Government's 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.

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