Coronavirus restrictions result in Ulster postponement for PRO14 visit to Italy

Ulster’s PRO14 game with Benetton - due to take play in Treviso on Saturday afternoon - has been postponed as a result of restrictions enforced by national and local authorities dealing with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in northern Italy, writes Ciaran Donaghy.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2020, 23:11 BST
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland. Pic by INPHO.Ulster head coach Dan McFarland. Pic by INPHO.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland. Pic by INPHO.

The restrictions on public gatherings and sporting events put in place by the Italian authorities apply in the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions and have already seen a Women’s Six Nations game and four Serie A football fixtures postponed over the weekend.

Fixtures in Italy’s national rugby championship - Top 12 - and all domestic rugby activities have also been postponed.

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A statement from the PRO14 read: “To ensure the safety of our players and spectators PRO14 Rugby fully supports the preventative measures taken in Italy and will adhere to the directives from the WHO and local authorities.

“The current restrictions are in place until Sunday, March 1, 2020 and PRO14 Rugby will remain in contact with the FIR (Italian Union), Zebre Rugby Club, Benetton Rugby and World Rugby to monitor situation on a daily basis.”

No fresh date has been set - due to the Six Nations, Ulster are free on the weekends of March 7 and 14 but after that they have no free window in the schedule until the first weekend in May. However, if Dan McFarland’s side beat Toulouse in the quarter-final of the Heineken Champions Cup they will be involved in semi-final action over that weekend.

Related topics:ItalyUlsterCoronavirusCovid-19