Women's Six Nations: Scotland v France postponed as player contracts coronavirus

7 March 2020, 00:25

Scotland v France has been called off after a Scottish player tested positive for coronavirus
Scotland v France has been called off after a Scottish player tested positive for coronavirus. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Scotland's Women's Six Nations fixture with France has been postponed after a Scottish player tested positive for coronavirus.

The two teams were set to go head-to-head at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Saturday.

However, after a player for Scotland tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, the match was called off by Scottish Rugby, the French Rugby Federation and Six Nations officials.

Dr James Robson, Scottish Rugby's chief medical officer, said: "We are pleased that our player is doing well and that all the correct medical procedures have been followed and continue to be followed.

"We are working with the Scottish Government in continuing to observe and follow NHS advice."

It is currently unclear which player has been affected by the infection.

Scotland's women's team returned from northern Italy, a coronavirus hot-spot, on 23 February after their match with The Azzurri was called off.

Seven members of management and players are self-isolating based on medical advice they have received.

The player who has contracted Covid-19 has been admitted to a healthcare facility as part of the protocol but is said to be well.

It comes as the Premier League and the English Football League both abandoned the traditional pre-match handshake until further notice, amid fears over the disease

In Italy, all Serie A football games will be played behind closed doors for the next month, while, in France, Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 game away to Strasbourg on Saturday was postponed following a "prefectural order" issued on Friday by the Grand Est region where Strasbourg are based.

Italy's Men's Six Nations matches against Ireland and England have also both been postponed.