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France Ireland match likely to be canned after Macron cracks down further on public gatherings

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Major doubt has been cast on the France Ireland Six Nations match as French President Emmanuel Macron announced a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people in a bid to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

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The news could spell the end of the Six Nations fixture set for Paris on March 14th. Last week the French government placed a ban on gatherings of over 5,000 people indoors, but the latest move doesn’t appear to be limited to indoor events.

Certain events that are “useful to the life of the country” may be exempt, although Health Minister Olivier Véran did not specify an event the size of France and Ireland’s match.

As of Sunday 1,126 people have been infected with the disease in France.

England’s final Six Nations match against Italy on March 14 have already been postponed.

Tournament organisers faced the option of playing the game behind closed doors at the Stadio Olimpico or delaying it until later in the year and have chosen the latter option. Italy’s away game against Ireland in Dublin – due to take place on March 7 – was already called off.

It is hoped the England women and under-20 teams will have their final weekend fixtures moved from their current location in northern Italy.

England prop Mako Vunipola was ruled out of Saturday’s game with Wales as he was understood to be in self-isolation as a precaution having flown back from Tonga via Hong Kong, but his club Saracens said he was available to play for them in the Gallagher Premiership the same weekend.

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Scotland Women’s game with France in Glasgow on March 7 was postponed after a Scottish player tested positive for coronavirus.

additional reporting Press Association

WATCH: Wales coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones speak at a press conference following the team’s Guinness Six Nations match against England.

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BH 49 minutes ago
TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

Nope you're both wrong. Absolutely 100% wrong. You two obviously know nothing about NZ history, or the Treaty which already gives non-Māori "equal" rights. You are ignorant to what the Crown have already done to Māori. I've read it multiple times, attended the magnificent hikoi and witnessed a beautiful moment of Māori and non-Māori coming together in a show of unity against xenophobia and a tiny minority party trying to change a constitutional binding agreement between the Crown and Māori. The Crown have hundreds of years of experience of whitewashing our culture, trying to remove the language and and take away land and water rights that were ours but got stolen from. Māori already do not have equal rights in all of the stats - health, education, crime, etc. The Treaty is a binding constitutional document that upholds Māori rights and little Seymour doesn't like that. Apparently he's not even a Māori anyway as his tribes can't find his family tree connection LOL!!!


Seymour thinks he can change it because he's a tiny little worm with small man syndrome who represents the ugly side of NZ. The ugly side that wants all Māori to behave, don't be "radical" or "woke", and just put on a little dance for a show. But oh no they can't stand up for themselves against oppression with a bill that is a waste of time and money that wants to cause further division in their own indigenous country.


Wake up to yourselves. You can't pick and choose what parts of Māori culture you want and don't want when it suits you. If sport and politics don't mix then why did John Key do the 3 way handshake at the RWC 2011 final ceremony? Why is baldhead Luxon at ABs games promoting himself? The 1980s apartheid tour was a key example of sports and politics mixing together. This is the same kaupapa. You two sound like you support apartheid.

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