Ireland's Six Nations meeting with France in Paris on March 14 has been thrown into doubt by the French government's decision to ban a number of public gatherings.
Gatherings of over 5,000 people in enclosed spaces have been banned due to the coronavirus - which has infected 73 people in France to date, killing two.
The Paris half-marathon was scheduled for this Sunday but has been cancelled. 44,000 people had been due to take part.
However, French Ligue 1 football matches are going ahead as planned this weekend. Unlike in Italy, the epicentre of the virus in Europe, where top flight football games have been cancelled.
Top 14 domestic French rugby matches are also going ahead this weekend.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said events would be cancelled where there would be 'intermingling with populations from areas affected by the virus'.
Ireland's clash with Italy at the Aviva Stadium with - originally scheduled for next weekend - was called off on Wednesday over coronavirus fears.
Six Nations chiefs are now faced with the headache of rearranging postponed games, with England's trip to Rome on March 14 also looking doubtful at this stage.
An IRFU statement released on Wednesday said: "We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days."
