16 March 2020

Is any sport going ahead? Here's our guide to where

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many sports to cancel or postpone their events to stop the spread of the virus.

The Premier League, Six Nations, Miami Open and Women's Super League are just a few of the casualties over the past few weeks.

However, for all the sports fanatics out there you do still have some sport left to watch. Here's a list of events continuing to take place... and why.

Rugby league

A Hull fan using his scarf as protection at the weekend (PA Images)

England's rugby league continued the season this weekend with many, including the heads of clubs, questioning how and why?

The Rugby Football League's chief, Ralph Rimmer, said aheadof the weekend's  games: "We've spoken with government regularly, probably more than once a day, over the last couple of weeks and have ensured we've circulated all the directives from the government to the different clubs so they can take measures which minimise the possibility of contagion.

"But until anything changes, we'll be going forward."

Some officials within the sport have said if and when the season is suspended, clubs will struggle to carry on due to lack of revenue.

Eamonn McManus, chairman of St Helens, told the BBC: "There's huge financial implications, the very existence of our sport is on the line.

"We're different to soccer, probably different to rugby union, we're at the beginning of our season, this is open-ended both in time and terms of quantum, no-one knows the full extent of it."

Officials are meeting today to discuss the future of the league but as things stand you can get your regular rugby fix from the Super League and Challenge Cup games.

The Women's Super League is also due to start on March 21.

Horse racing

Racing went ahead at Uttoxeter at the weekend, but will now continue behind closed doors (PA Images)

Although much criticised, the Cheltenham Festival went ahead last week, although crowds were down on previous years.

Chiefs within the sport have now said that while races will go ahead, they will take place behind closed doors.

W-league and A-league

Supporters were out in full force at the W-league's semi-finals this weekend (PA Images)

The Australian football leagues are still going ahead, though they will now be behind closed doors.

The W-league had supporters attending their semi-finals last weekend but the Grand Final, taking place on either March 21 or 22, will be played with no fans present. Sydney FC and Melbourne City will face off in the final.

There are six rounds left of the men's A-league which will be played behind closed doors.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) also confirmed that New Zealand-based club Wellington Phoenix will move to Australia to finish the league.

The FFA said it would re-assess its plans for the league if a player contracted the virus.

The women's league helped Women's Super League star Caitlin Foord entertain herself during precautionary self isolation.

She tweeted about her former club Sydney: "PROUD. Massive team effort."

Boxing

Joshua will fight Pulev in June (PA Images)

The European Olympic boxing qualifiers are continuing to take place this week after beginning at the weekend. 

However, they will proceed behind closed doors for the rest of the event.

Hopefuls such as Caroline Dubois, Charley Davison and Lauren Price are competing at the event being held in London.

In addition, all boxing events scheduled are currently going ahead - Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev in June and Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin which is being held in May.

Dereck Chisora v Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce v Daniel Dubois are also all still in the calendar.

Premier 15s

Saracens with plenty to celebrate at Richmond (Twitter: SaracensWomen)

The top tier of women's rugby is due to return on March 21 and the Rugby Football Union has confirmed that it is still planning to go ahead.

The Women's Six Nations was majorly disrupted by coronavirus with the outbreak in Italy and a Scottish player contracting the virus.

UFC

Nunes is waiting on the UFC to decide who she fights next (PA Images)

UFC is still planned to go ahead and an event took place at the weekend with UFC Brasilia, though it was behind closed doors.

The next event was due to be fought in London this weekend but it has now been moved to the US due to travel restrictions imposed by US president Donald Trump.

A date for the re-arranged event has not yet been confirmed.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics will be going ahead (PA Images)

British gymnastics have only cancelled one event in their sporting calendar so far which was the TeamGym Northern Qualifier.

Although officials within the sport are meeting today to discuss their strategy moving forward, for the forseeable future events will go ahead.

Cricket

Pakistan's Super League is going ahead (PA Images)

While other cricket events have been postponed or cancelled, Pakistan's Super League is going ahead.

They will play matches behind closed doors and some games have moved venues.

The play-offs for the tournament have also been condensed. There will  now be just two semi-finals and a final.

Overseas players, predominantly from England, have left the tournament early.

E-sport

E-sport is seeing a surge in popularity (PA Images)

With the majority of traditional sport being called off, e-sport is seeing a rise in popularity.

Sports stars are also turning to their computers for a sporting fix.

Formula One's Max Verstappen took part in a virtual replacement race for the Australian Grand Prix and was beaten by pro-gamers.

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