Advertisement
Donnybrook's Energia Park will host Saturday's game. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ireland's Six Nations game against Italy switched to Dublin to avoid quarantine restrictions

Third/fourth-place playoff will now take place in Donnybrook on Saturday.

SATURDAY’S WOMEN’S SIX Nations meeting between Italy and Ireland has been moved to Dublin after Italy agreed to give up home advantage in order to allow the game to go ahead.

The sides were set to meet in the Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma this weekend in the third/fourth-place playoff, but Covid-19 quarantine requirements have seen it moved to Donnybrook’s Energia Park (kick-off 12 noon).

Under current Irish policy, Adam Griggs and his squad would have been required to go through mandatory hotel quarantine or an equivalent arrangement on their return from Italy.

However, Italy can be granted an elite athletes’ quarantine exemption from the Irish government to travel to Dublin for the fixture.

“The change has been made as the Ireland team would not have been able to fulfil the current requirement to isolate for 14 days on their return from Italy,” the IRFU confirmed in a short statement.

In respect of world ranking calculations, the match will now be recorded as an Ireland home fixture.

“We wish to really thank the Italian Federation and the Italian Women’s team for accommodating this significant change to their plans by travelling to Ireland instead of playing at home,” Six Nations Rugby CEO Ben Morel.

“Both Italy and Ireland have played some fantastic rugby already in this competition. We’re looking forward to a great match and a brilliant start to Finals Day.”

Italy finished as runners-up in Pool A, bouncing back from their heavy opening defeat against England to secure a comfortable bonus-point win over Scotland.

Subscribe to The42 Rugby Weekly podcast here:

Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel