'Bristol Bears’ season will continue as normal until further notice' the Gallagher Premiership club have today confirmed despite widespread suspension of professional sport both in England and abroad to try and restrict the spread of Covid-19.
Despite the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two confirming today the leagues are going into a shut down until 3 April at the earliest, Premiership Rugby has taken a different approach and in line with government advice issued yesterday will continue running as normal until further notice.
Football has been stopped largely in part due to a number of players, management staff and club officials at various clubs contracting the coronavirus.
Tomorrow's Guinness Six Nations game between Wales and Scotland in front of an estimated 74,000 fans at the Principality Stadium and Sunday's Premiership Rugby Final between Sale Sharks and Harlequins at a sold out AJ Bell Stadium are both scheduled to go ahead.
However the Guinness PRO14 league has been suspended, putting into doubt Bristol's Challenge Cup quarter-final with the Dragons on April 5, and the other two Six Nations matches this weekend have been postponed.
In order to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus within the Bears' camp the club have replaced their weekly press conference with telephone interviews but at this time games will go ahead despite the fact Championship side Bristol City Football Club, who they share Ashton Gate stadium with, have had their fixtures postponed.
A statement from the Bristol Bears on Friday outlined the club and Premiership Rugby's positions:
It said: 'Ashton Gate Stadium continues to monitor and respect Government advice on the prevention and spread of COVID-19.
'Following the announcement from football’s governing bodies that the professional game in England has been postponed until April 3rd at the earliest, all Bristol City men, women and Bristol City Academy games have been postponed.
'Premiership Rugby is working in close contact with DCMS, Public Health England and World Health Organisation; following all the experts’ advice. They will continue to work closely with government on a schedule for the remainder of the season, should the guidance on sporting events change.
'Current advice from Premiership Rugby is that Bristol Bears’ season will continue as normal until further notice.
'Ashton Gate remains open for all meetings and events, with our coffee shop, Sports Bar and Bristol Sport Store operating normal hours until further notice.
'Ashton Gate managing director, Mark Kelly said: “We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and will follow Government advice as and when it is released.
'"We have implemented all best practices for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and ask anyone that is displaying symptoms, or has been in contact with anyone displaying symptoms consistent with the virus – a high fever and/or a new continuous cough to self isolate as per NHS guidelines.
'"This is a fluid situation in which we will update clients and guests as soon as we hear more.”
'Should you have any questions regarding your upcoming event at the stadium, please email events@ashtongate.co.uk'
Bristol Bears have averaged the largest home attendances in the Gallagher Premiership this season as they have stormed to third in the table playing an exciting brand of rugby under director of rugby Pat Lam, with more an 16,000 fans on average attending games in 2019/20.
The Bears are due to play Saracens next Friday night in Round 14 of the Premiership.
