Rugby’s world governing body, World Rugby, announced that it had postponed a number of events in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement from the body said the decision was taken in consultation with the respective unions and in line with the relevant government and public health authority advice.
The men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in London and Paris have been postponed, provisionally until September
The women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Langford and the final men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series event have been postponed until later in the year. Additionally, some Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2023 qualifying events were also postponed.
“Looking at a longer-term strategy, we are in continual dialogue with our unions, regions and the players’ association relating to the wider global impact on rugby activities, including financial implications, driven by government and health authority measures to combat the spread of COVID-19,” World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said.
“We are also in close dialogue with the IOC relating to the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games rugby sevens qualification, specifically options to replace the final Repechage tournament, should that be required. We have two women’s and one men’s teams left to qualify and are currently considering all options to ensure a fair and credible conclusion to the qualification process,” Beaumont added.
While World Rugby postponed some events, one event, the World Rugby U20 Championship 2020, was cancelled.
The event was scheduled to be hosted in northern Italy in late June and July. World Rugby said the decision was taken in consultation with the Federazione Italiana Rugby.
Italy is the country worst affected by the coronavirus in Europe and has already surpassed China as the country to register most deaths globally from the virus despite extensive measures to prevent the disease from spreading.
The northern region of Lombardy is the country’s worst affected area clocking up 47 percent of all the country’s infections.
World Rugby added that the Olympic Games Repechage qualification tournament scheduled for June is under review.
“World Rugby continues to be in close consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the implications for the qualification process in the event that the Repechage is unable to be hosted due to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
