Six Nations fate to be decided at Paris meeting after coronavirus threat throws tournament into disarray

The fate of the 2020 Six Nations Championship is set to be decided next Monday when officials from the six competing countries meet in Paris.

Fears are growing for the future of the tournament as the threat of coronavirus rapidly spreads across Europe.

The Ireland v Italy clash, scheduled for Dublin on Saturday week, was called off on Wednesday and England's trip to Italy seven days after is the next match under the spotlight.

A World Rugby meeting is due to be held in the French capital on Monday.

Six Nations chief executive Benjamin Morel (Steven Paston/PA Wire)

And the Evening Standard are reporting that will be used as a ­convenient moment to discuss a possible rescheduling of the Ireland v Italy match and whether more games need to be called off.

The UK government are in talks with the Rugby Football Union about whether England's trip to Rome should go ahead because of the coronavirus threat.

But it now seems unlikely any decision will be made before the Paris meeting, unless any of the governments issue a directive not to travel.

Reports have surfaced that Six Nations officials are privately conceding the immediate future of the tournament is hanging in the balance.

It could well mean the Six Nations not being completed for the first time since 1972 when the escalating political troubles in Ireland resulted in Wales and Scotland not travelling to Dublin.