体坛英语新闻：France-Ireland Six Nations match postponed due to coronavirus

PARIS, March 9 (Xinhua) -- France's home Rugby Six Nations match against Ireland scheduled on Saturday has been postponed due to the COVID-19, the organizers said on Monday.

"Following instructions received from the authorities in France, the decision has been made to postpone the Round 5 Guinness Six Nations match between France and Ireland," the organizers Six Nations Rugby said in a statement.

The decision followed the announcement by the Paris police office that Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last 16 return leg at home against Dortmund on Wednesday will be played behind closed doors due to the same reason.

Also on Monday, France's sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, said that the final matches of an ongoing four-team women's international football tournament involving France, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Canada will also be played behind closed doors on Tuesday.

French Government on Sunday has announced to ban all the gatherings of more than 1,000 people, but said some events which are "useful to national life" would be allowed to continue.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France reached 1,412 on Monday, while a total of 25 people have died from the disease so far, the head of the country's health service Jerome Salomon said.