The match, to be staged in Rome's Stadio Olimpico, was thought to be under serious threat after the rapid spreading of the virus. But Six Nations chiefs say they expect the fixture to go ahead.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: England's World Cup winning captain Johnson shoots down the prospect of Sky Sports taking over the Six Nations broadcast rights in an instant.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Mako Vunipola's unavailability for the rest of the Six Nations leaves me shaking my head at what goes on in the England camp sometimes.

England prop Mako Vunipola is set to miss the rest of the Six Nations after going into self-isolation because of coronavirus fears. 

Mako Vunipola has been cleared to train with Saracens despite being stood down by England due to fears surrounding the coronavirus. 

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Coronavirus fears have prompted ITV to abandon plans to send commentators and pundits out to Rome for England's game against Italy on March 14.

In a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the country, there was an announcement that all sporting events in Italy will be suspended for 30 days, unless played behind closed doors. 

Ross Moriarty needs no second invitation to rip into a Six Nations contest and despite England versus Wales becoming a friendlier he is always out to settle scores.

It has been officially confirmed by the Six Nations that Italy's home match against England next Saturday has been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.

England are coming to terms with the premature end to their Six Nations campaign but Ford admitted the postponement of matches is insignificant in context of the coronavirus crisis.

Mako Vunipola has been named in the Saracens starting side to face Leicester Tigers this weekend despite being stood down from England duty over coronavirus fears.

WILL KELLEHER: Bristol have pulled off another transfer coup by signing young Saracens duo Ben Earl and Max Malins on loan for a year from next season.

England flanker Ben Earl has extended his Saracens stay until 2023 but will spend next season on loan at Bristol.

The Six Nations hierarchy have been ordered to provide urgent assurances about plans for its next TV rights deal, amid 'great concern' at Westminster that the tournament will go behind a paywall.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: It has been a disjointed Six Nations full of bad weather and postponed matches. England have spluttered a little but, I'm hoping and expecting to see an all-court performance,

The match between Scotland and France in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday has been postponed as a player has contracted coronavirus. The identity of the player has not been revealed.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: England are likely to face a seven-month wait to finish their Six Nations campaign - with plans taking shape for the postponed match against Italy in Rome.

The couple were seen in the stands during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium this afternoon.

NIK SIMON AT TWICKENHAM: To be continued. England's Six Nations hopes are still alive but, like any good cliff-hanger, no one quite knows what will happen next.

Eddie Jones launched a scathing attack on the decision to send off Manu Tuilagi for a high tackle during England's 33-30 Six Nations victory against Wales at Twickenham. 

Player's union chief executive Damian Hopley has urged rugby authorities to apply 'common sense' to the process of re-scheduling matches postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Fans have flocked in their droves to the few sporting events on show this Saturday as punters head to Uttoxeter racing while football fans go to non-League games amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When rugby-mad Jacob Pickering from Blackburn got his bionic arm three months ago he never imagined that he would be using it to shake hands with the England team at Twickenham.

Whittingham died as a result of the head injuries he suffered after falling down the stairs at a pub in Barry on March 7 having watched Wales' Six Nations clash with England.

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham after he tragically passed away at the age of 35.

Italy flanker Maxime Mbanda has swapped rugby for driving an ambulance 13 hours a day in a bid to help his nation's fight against coronavirus as they try to halt the spread of the virus.

Without the state-of-the-art medical equipment he is used to at Leicester Tigers and the England camp, Jonny May has installed a hyperbaric chamber at his home to help him bounce back from injury.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has warned his organisation will need financial support from the government if the 2021 Six Nations cannot go ahead due to the coronavirus crisis.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: With eight top five finishes in the majors but no victories, it's hardly surprising that Rickie Fowler is considered the best player under the age of 40.

Tyrrell Hatton is hoping to rekindle an old flame in the 148th Open Championship after admitting he has struggled for motivation since his successful Ryder Cup debut.

JONATHAN MCEVOY AT PORTRUSH: Rickie Fowler, a nearly man of the majors, will wave aside the chequered history of Northern Ireland by wearing his trademark orange shirt on Sunday.

Blackpool fan Simon Sadler has completed a 96.2 per cent acquisition of the club following approval of the purchase by the English Football League.

Free agent striker Nicky Ajose is weighing up a number of offers after attracting interest from Blackpool, Exeter City and Lincoln City following his release by Charlton.

Terry McPhillips has resigned from his position as Blackpool manager. McPhillips took over as permanent manager in September 2018 having had a successful spell as caretaker.

Rob Cross held off a stirring fightback from Michael Smith to win the Betfred World Matchplay title at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Sunday night.

Mansfield have suspended midfielders Dion Donohue and Jacob Mellis following an alleged serious breach of club discipline.Neither player was included in the matchday squad in Saturday's win at Carlisle.

ON THE ROAD: The joke wasn't lost on the home fans as they gathered at the Happy Abode. Supping on pre-match lager from plastic pint pots and surrounded by the wrong shade of blue.

Michael Appleton is in talks to become the new manager of Lincoln City. The West Brom U23s coach has held initial discussions and has emerged as favourite to succeed Danny Cowley.

IAN HERBERT AT THE GLOBE ARENA: In Morecambe, they have grown accustomed to making the best of relatively little. West End seems like an ironic commentary.

The former Celtic and Aston Villa striker had been talking to Southend United about becoming part of their management team with Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby until Johnson pulled out.

Tommy Johnson has joined Blackpool's recruitment staff in a move which led to the collapse last week of Southend's bid to appoint Henrik Larsson as manager at Roots Hall.

A shocking video has shown the moment a football fan was punched in the face by an 'aggressive' and 'out of control' steward during Blackpool's EFL Trophy clash with Scunthorpe.

Tottenham host Middlesbrough in a bid to reach the FA Cup fourth round after being held to a 1-1 draw in their initial third round meeting.

Wycombe have paid tribute to supporter Mark Bird, who has died after suffering a heart attack before Tuesday's home game against Blackpool.

Legendary Blackburn Rovers coach Tony Parkes broke down in tears during a revealing interview with his daughter about his struggles with Alzheimers.   

Although the Bantams currently lie eighth in League Two, they are without a win since New Year's Day - a run of seven games and that has been enough to push Bowyer to the exit door.

Blackpool have sacked manager Simon Grayson after a dreadful run of just one win in 12 games. The League One club were fourth in December but are now down in 15th.

The 41-year-old spent six-and-a-half years at Liverpool's academy and oversaw two of the Reds' first-team games this campaign but will now take charge of the League One side.

JACK GAUGHAN AT THE HIGHBURY STADIUM: Neil Critchley started coaching at Crewe's academy in his teens but taking charge of his first Blackpool fixture did not figure in the grand plan.

MATT BARLOW: When football last ground to a halt back in 1939, Cyril Lawrence was a teenager on the verge of a breakthrough into the Blackpool first team.