94
(^) Daily Mail, Thursday, March 5, 2020
(^94) CORONAVIRUS CHAOS
GAVIN HENSON
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
Page 87
behind the decision. Without an
order by the Italian government to
suspend sporting events, the
FIR stood to incur significant lost
revenue as a result of being forced
to play the match behind closed
doors, instead of in front of a
large crowd at the 73,000-capacity
Stadio Olimpico.
Urgent talks were held between
FIR officials and their government
yesterday afternoon, amid the
escalating coronavirus crisis. It
became apparent the England
fixture would be disrupted or
deferred, as part of the crackdown
on mass public gatherings.
Italy’s fourth match of the cam-
paign, against Ireland in Dublin
this Saturday, had already been
postponed. England face Wales at
Twickenham on the same day.
That clash in south-west London
is not under threat and neither is
the Scotland-France game the
next day, but the last weekend of
t h e t o u r n a m e n t c o u l d b e
decimated.
On March 14, Eddie Jones’s team
expected to launch a final push for
the Six Nations title in front of
20,000 of their own fans in Rome.
Now that game has become a
sporting casualty of the global
health emergency.
Later on the same day, Grand
Slam- chasing France are sup -
posed to lock horns with Ireland in
Paris. The French federation have
been in talks with their govern-
ment, too, and while the situation
is not as grave as in Italy, there
may be steps taken to shut down
major events. However, sources
have indicated to Sportsmail that
the game will go ahead.
Six Nations organisers, along
with the English, Italian and Irish
unions, must now find a way to
reschedule the postponed matches
in the crowded rugby calendar.
The most likely slot is October,
but that is not a designated Test
window, so it would require assist-
ance from World Rugby to secure
player release arrangements.
T h e d i s r u p t i o n w i l l e x t e n d
beyond the high-profile senior
men’s match. On March 15, there
are women’s and Under 20 con-
tests scheduled between Italy and
England in Padua and Verona
respectively. Both venues are in
the north of the country, where
the coronavirus outbreak has been
concentrated, so they were already
set to be switched. Now they may
be postponed, too.
Fears about the virus had already
prompted ITV to abandon plans
to send commentators and pun-
dits to Rome. In the event of the
Italy-England game going ahead,
the broadcaster had opted to run
their match-day operation from
BT Sport’s studios in Stratford,
east London. World Cup-winner
Ben Kay was scheduled to provide
insight alongside lead commenta-
tor Nick Mullins, with Sir Clive
Woodward, Jonny Wilkinson and
Lawrence Dallaglio in the stadium
studio.
Sky had already sent out an edict
informing staff all but essential
travel to Italy was suspended as a
result of the virus outbreak. The
BBC had also opted not to send
staff to the Rome match.
While England are continuing
preparations for the visit of Wales
on Saturday, they have not been
able to keep entirely detached
from the coronavirus issue.
Prop Mako Vunipola was selected
in the squad this week, only to be
stood down and told not to report
to England’s HQ in Surrey after it
emerged he had flown back from a
family trip to Tonga via Hong
Kong — where a small-scale out-
break has occurred.
Yesterday morning, Saracens
confirmed the Lions prop was
training with them and would be
considered to face Leicester at
Allianz Park on Saturday.
A club statement read: ‘Billy
Vunipola and Mako Vunipola
returned to Saracens after visiting
family in Tonga, which included a
short stop at Hong Kong Airport.
Travellers returning from Hong
Kong are not subject to manda-
tory quarantine or self-isolation
unless they become symptomatic.
‘Neither Billy nor Mako have
displayed symptoms of the coro-
navirus and on their return to
London were assessed by the
club’s medical staff. The duo have
been around the Saracens envi-
ronment for the past couple of
days, with the latter available for
selection this weekend.’
England coach Steve Borthwick
said: ‘We followed the advice which
was for him not to come into the
environment. If that’s what the
medical team is saying to us then
that’s the advice we will follow.’
ENGLANd
fACING A
WAIT TILL
OCTObER
Rome game off but France may
still go for Grand Slam in Paris
NOW CALL
THE WHOLE
THING Off!
There are some things much
more important than sport,
and when something like the
coronavirus comes along
rugby has to step into line,
take advice from the experts,
and do what is right. Sport has
to be flexible and change its
plans. There is a bigger picture
here and this decision should
have been made quicker. I have
felt from the moment the
Ireland v Italy game was
called off that Italy v england
should not take place. If it’s
dangerous for a sprinkling of
Italian supporters to travel to
Ireland, how much more of a
health risk is it for 15,000
england fans to trek to Italy,
WORLd CUP WINNING COACH
SIR CLIVE WOOdWARd
resistance is
futile: (from left)
henry Slade,
Jonathan Joseph
and Willi heinz in
training yesterday
geTT y iMages
PREmIER LEAGUE ON ALERT
The Premier League have
written to all 20 of their clubs
with the latest guidelines on
dealing with the coronavirus.
Premier League chiefs are in
daily contact with the
government’s health experts.
As it stands, Premier League
fixtures and kick-off times are
unaffected, unlike in Italy,
where games have been
postponed or played behind
closed doors.
While insisting it is ‘business as
usual’ for now, clubs have
been advised to improve ADRIAN KAJUMBA
hygiene at their stadiums and
training grounds to protect
players, staff and supporters.
They have also been advised
to limit both non-essential
visits to their facilities and
face-to-face meetings.
Tottenham staff were greeting
visitors with fist-bumps rather
than handshakes before last
night’s FA Cup tie against
Norwich, and Wolves have
banned players from signing
autographs and taking selfies
for supporters.
From Back Page
Plans thwarted: eddie Jones
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