The Six Nations title race is set to reach a delayed climax in October after France's clash with Ireland on Saturday became the third championship match to be postponed because of the coronavirus.

England coach Eddie Jones has been disciplined by his bosses at the RFU following his scathing criticism of referee Ben O'Keeffe.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I've never really reflected on the 1980 Grand Slam - you move on quickly in life and sport - and it has caught me by surprise that the 40th anniversary is upon us.

EXCLUSIVE: The Six Nations television rights auction has been put on hold due to the mass postponements caused by the coronavirus outbreak this week. Broadcasters were expecting feedback.

Surrounded by the trophies accumulated by a football club over more than a century, Doddie Weir temporarily abandons his rugby past and dives, studs up, into fitba' speak.

Maro Itoje has had a one-year loan move to French side Racing 92 blocked by Premiership Rugby clubs after Saracens relegation from the English topflight.

Europe's premier rugby competition is set to be postponed indefinitely at an EPCR board meeting on Monday. The Champions Cup quarter-finals were scheduled for early next month.

As of Sunday night, most clubs were still gathering their players for training on Monday morning, despite the impending news.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: Very few sports have the monetary resilience to withstand this crisis and rugby certainly isn't one of them.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The decision to bring the curtain down on Premiership rugby for five weeks and postponing European competitions only delays an inevitable shutdown.

Gallagher Premiership club Leicester Tigers are no longer up for sale. The Tigers issued a statement on Wednesday confirming an end to the formal sale process.

WILL KELLEHER: The RFU have prematurely ended all rugby in England at all levels - aside from the Premiership - in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

EXCLUSIVE: Saracens might be saved from Premiership relegation in a doomsday scenario where a clutch of clubs go bust due to a lack of income during the coronavirus chaos.

English rugby is in turmoil as players were being advised to consider strike action after Premiership clubs demanded swingeing pay cuts amid fears of impending financial disaster.

NIK SIMON: Millions will be lost through matchday takings and broadcast rights if the league goes into long-term lock down. The epidemic could force some club finances to the brink of collapse.

Grassroots teams have urged the RFU to delve into their deep pockets to save ailing clubs, after the Union cancelled the rugby season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The RFU have cancelled all rugby in England at all levels this season - aside from the Premiership - amid the COVID-19 crisis. Sportsmail gauges views from within the game about the surreal scenario.

Marland Yarde is set to be offered a new contract by Sale after his rehabilitation work with Danny Welbeck paid off. The England winger was out of action for a year with an horrific knee injury.

England international Billy Vunipola insists he is 'definitely staying' at Saracens and hopes to help the crisis-hit club secure an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership.

Billly Vunipola has ended speculation about his future by confirming that he will stay at Saracens next season, despite their demotion to the Championship.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: England prop Joe Marler is considering quitting rugby with immediate effect. The 29-year-old is understood to have become disillusioned with the sport.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: The coronavirus shutdown has forced rugby into an emergency spell of introspection and exposed the need for change. Here is this column's vision for the sport's future…

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY WILL KELLEHER: Life in the lockdown is exacting enough for everyone - but not many have as many balls to juggle as Gareth Steenson.

EXCLUSIVE: English Premiership clubs are queuing up to seek financial help from the Government as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cast long shadows over rugby.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Bill Beaumont has warned rugby's global community that 'everyone will suffer' in the fall-out from the coronavirus shutdown, called for unity and more state help.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Premiership Rugby are considering staging a summer play-off series to determine this season's champions and raise money for beleaguered clubs.

The RFU will determine the final places of the Championship - the second tier of domestic competition - with a 'best playing record formula' after ending the season early due to coronavirus.

CHRIS FOY: There has been a polarised response to the news that Eddie Jones will remain England's head coach until the 2023 World Cup. Many people are delighted. Others are aghast.

Eddie Jones is stuck in Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak where England still intend to tour in July - although it is increasingly likely the trip will be called off this month.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Last month, Guy Thompson had just finished his morning session in Oadby when his world was turned on its head.

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has also said that the Marriott hotel adjoining the stadium could be used to accommodate doctors and nurses, and the north car park for drive through testing.

WORLD OF RUGBY: When the RFU released their annual report, the document contained an opening page which stated: 'Our purpose: to encourage rugby, and its values.' 

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte - who wants to run World Rugby alongside Bill Beaumont and hopes to be elected as vice-chairman next month - has proposed the competition.

Premiership Rugby are desperate to finish the current suspended season before it starts the next, which will put pressure on the 2021 Lions tour.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: These are difficult times for all sports but I believe such moments create a time for organisations to demonstrate they are in touch with the world around them.

England face a packed autumn of Tests at home and abroad after RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney confirmed post-coronavirus plans. 

In a Bristol team which contains Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua and will soon add Kyle Sinckler and Semi Radradra, it takes a lot to be described as one of the Bears' 'signings of the season.'

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: World Rugby has found itself at a revolutionary crossroads after Agustin Pichot launched a late bid to challenge Bill Beaumont in the presidential elections.

Multi-million pound losses are expected among the Home Nations if the autumn internationals cannot go ahead due to coronavirus - which could send rugby into financial meltdown.

Bill Beaumont or Agustin Pichot, the rivals standing next month to lead World Rugby, must be shocked into a drastic overhaul of the game following the coronavirus pandemic. 

Steve Borthwick will become Leicester's new head coach on July 1, as current boss Geordan Murphy moves to become director of rugby. 

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Vunipola is glad Jones will continue to provoke trepidation and inspiration among players because he believes the Australian can lead them to World Cup glory.

The Scottish Rugby Union this week proposed reductions ranging from 10 to 25 per cent over a five-month period for all players earning more than £50,000 in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Professional rugby's financial vulnerability has been cruelly exposed and, frankly, it has always been built on shifting sands.

The English league champions confirmed last night they had taken advantage of the government's furlough scheme - meaning all their players' wages are now part-funded by the state.

EXCLUSIVE BY WILL KELLEHER AND NIK SIMON: The Premiership' s £7million salary cap could be reduced to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Picked as a Six Nations 'apprentice' in January, complete with the customary asterisk to mark his status, Alex Mitchell is Eddie Jones' latest England project.

JACK NOWELL: The England international has remained busy building lego sets, taking on a pro gamer and keeping himself fit and healthy in week five of his lockdown due to coronavirus.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Sir Bill Beaumont says he 'still alive and kicking' as he revealed his manifesto to be re-elected as World Rugby chairman after Sir Clive Woodward backed Agustin Pichot.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Bill Beaumont and challenger Agustin Pichot are in the final week of their election campaign to become chairman of World Rugby.