Call it off.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said the Ireland v Italy Six Nations game scheduled for Dublin next month should not go ahead due to the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy.

Speaking on RTÉ One’s Six One News,  Harris said it was the “very clear view” of the National Public Health Emergency Team that the Round 4 meeting should not go ahead in the interests of public safety.

He said that the department will be contacting the IRFU ahead of the game which is currently scheduled for March 7.

In a statement, Department of Health chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said:

“Having assessed recent developments in Europe and globally, Ireland remains in a Containment Phase

“However, based on European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) guidelines, the cancellation of mass gatherings in this phase is justified in exceptional circumstances, and today’s recommendation to cancel the Ireland v Italy rugby match is based on the rapidly evolving nature of the outbreak in northern Italy, and the consequent risk of importation of cases into Ireland were the match to go ahead.”