The Six Nations Championship was plunged into fresh uncertainty on Thursday after next week's match between Italy and England became the second fixture in this season's edition to be postponed due to the deadly coronavirus.
Saturday's scheduled match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin had already been postponed on public health grounds prior to Thursday's announcement that the March 14 fixture in Rome was going the same way, potentially delaying the conclusion of the Championship until the next European season.
The decision was all but inevitable following an Italian government decree on Wednesday that said all sports events in the country would not be open to the public until April 3 in an attempt to halt the spread of COVID-19.
On Thursday, the death toll from the virus in Italy rose to 148.
There was still an option of playing the Italy v England match behind closed doors but such a move would be a financial calamity for the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).
Six Nations Statement on Italy V England games, weekend 13/14/15 Marchhttps://t.co/U9pas8oAvr
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 5, 2020
For example, it is estimated the Irish Rugby Football Union could lose an estimated 10 million euros (£8.6 million) in revenue if their match against Italy is not played.
And with the window for earning ranking points ahead of the draw for the 2023 World Cup in France closing in November, there is a further incentive to play any held over matches.
No replacement dates have yet been set, with officials now scrambling to find gaps in rugby union's congested calendar.
Every weekend between now and mid-July features existing club matches across European leagues or already scheduled internationals.
The first weekend without matches in the English Premiership or the Pro14, the former Celtic League, is June 27.
But that is when summer tours begin, with England expected to travel to Japan that day and postponed Six Nations may be held over until as late as September or October.
"Six Nations notes the decree issued by the Italian Government on March 4 with respect to all upcoming sporting events in that country," said a statement.
"The decision has now been taken to postpone the three matches between Italy and England (Men's, Women's, and U20) set to take place over the weekend of 13th/14th/15th March, with the intention to reschedule them at later dates.
"Based on the information that is currently available, all other Six Nations matches are set to go ahead as scheduled."
England play Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, with their Under-20 and women's teams involved in corresponding internationals this weekend as well.
"We understand the decision to postpone all three England matches against Italy taken in the interests of overall public health," said Bill Sweeney, the chief executive of England's governing Rugby Football Union.
"We know this will be disappointing for all the fans who were set to travel next weekend. We are committed to the successful delivery of three matches against Wales this weekend.
"Discussions with the Six Nations are ongoing and we will update you with more information when we can."
