Ireland's three remaining Six Nations rugby union internationals have been postponed until next season because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, tournament officials said today.
The Six Nations Committee met today to "review the current positions and likely prognosis for the foreseeable future" and unanimouslydecided that Ireland's away games against Wales and Scotland and home match against England could not take place before the end of thisseason.
"There will now be consultation with the Unions and our commercial partners about possible alternative dates before new dates are set," theCommittee said in a statement.
"Future dialogue within the Six Nations committee will take place in the near future."
The committee confirmed England's home game against France next Saturday and Italy's match against Wales the following day would go ahead.
The Irish government had previously said it would not allow any matches to be played in the country until 30 days after the last foot-and-mouthcase has been diagnosed. At the moment, new cases are coming to light every day.
English officials had suggested playing their match against the Irish at a neutral venue, possibly Paris, but their Irish counterparts declined theoffer.
Officials had tried to find dates in May to reschedule the matches but the picture has been further complicated by the presence of the inauguralEnglish premier league play-offs and by the impending British Lions tour of Australia.
Lions selectors have already announced a delay in naming the squad, which is due to fly to Australia on June 1.
Foot-and-mouth disease can be spread on the soles of shoes, making the mass movement of fans a possible threat to farmers and their livestock.
The disease spread to Ireland after widespread outbreaks in mainland Britain and Northern Ireland in March. -Reuters