FOOTBALL and rugby fixtures have been suspended in the wake of growing emergency measures to manage the coronavirus outbreak.

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced a suspension of all forms of rugby in Wales for the remainder of the month due to coronavirus.

A ban will be enforced until and including Monday, March 30.

"The WRU has taken this decision in the interests of players, supporters, volunteers, referees, stakeholders and Welsh communities in general," the WRU announced in a statement.

The WRU said the decision had been made having considered "expert medical advice."

The measures came after WRU chairman Gareth Davies defended the decision to postpone Wales' Six Nations match against Scotland in Cardiff just 24 hours before kick-off.

The WRU had said earlier on Friday that the game at the Principality Stadium would go ahead but then called it off because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Football Association of Wales decided that all football in the Principality be put off for three weeks and hopefully will resume on Saturday, April 4.

But it means semi-finals and finals of the J Emrys Morgan Cup and Costcutter League Easter Monday Cup remain in serious doubt.

With a backlog of fixtures already a possibility because of the recent wet weather causing a string of postponements, local clubs are awaiting further information from the FAW in regard to the length of the season and whether the various competition will be completed.