Ireland's Six Nations match against Italy, which was due to be played on March 8, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.

This is not the first time that the virus has caused havoc in the women's tournament with Scotland's game in Rome cancelled last weekend.

Both the men's and women's matches, which were due to take place in Dublin, have been called off.

The Irish Rugby football Union wrote in a statement: "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."

A decision on whether the Italy v England matches go ahead has not yet been made.