SPORTS clubs, leagues, officials, participants and supporters are reeling from the effects of the coronavirus.

The coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, pandemic wiped out several high-profile sporting events on Friday, with the Premier League, Six Nations, Masters golf and England’s men’s cricket Test tour of Sri Lanka all among the casualties.

The Government announced on Thursday that there is no change in advice regarding sporting events, but several sporting organisations have taken it upon themselves to suspend fixtures.

Football

The virus has caused the suspension of all elite football in the UK – the Premier League and the English Football League – but it has not stopped there.

All leagues within the National Leagues System in England have been given the opportunity to make its own decision on whether games will be suspended or continue as normal.

An FA statement read: “Consistent with Government advice, The FA is recommending that grassroots football is able to continue as usual for now, with each league or centre making its own individual decision based on its local situation and the availability of players and officials.

“However, we would fully respect and support any leagues, centres or teams that wish to postpone fixtures in light of the Covid-19 virus.”

The National League – the top two levels of non-league football in England – has decided to continue as normal for now, but the majority of leagues in the pyramid have decided to suspend their competitions.

All matches in the Southern League, of which Truro City is a member, have been postponed until Sunday, March 22, with the South West Peninsula League, which includes Helston Athletic, Falmouth Town, Porthleven and Wendron United, following suit.

The Combination League has done the same, but the St Piran League and Trelawny League have decided to continue as normal for the time being, with matches in both taking place on Saturday.

The Cornwall Senior Cup and Cornwall Junior Cup will both continue, with the Senior Cup semi-final between Millbrook and Saltash United to be played at Godolphin Atlantic’s Godolphin Way on Wednesday night.

Rugby

Aside from Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup final between Sale and Harlequins, which was postponed after a staff member of one of the clubs showed symptoms of the virus and went into self-isolation, the rugby landscape has remained largely the same.

The RFU has said it will follow government advice and continue matches as usual, but added that clubs can postpone if someone close to the club is suspected of having Covid-19 and/or they are self-isolating, provided clubs notify the opposition and the competition organiser.

Penryn’s match at Cullompton, Redruth’s game at Leicester Lions and the Cornish Pirates’ trip to Ampthill were all set to go ahead on Saturday afternoon.

Hockey

England Hockey has stated that ‘community hockey will continue to take place unless we are advised otherwise by the Government’.

England Hockey has also encouraged teams to ‘tap sticks’ rather than shake hands at the start and end of the game.

Falmouth’s first team were due to visit Bristol side Firebrands’ second team on Saturday, while the seconds visited Caradon seconds.

Golf

Local golf clubs remain open as it stands, but several international events have been postponed, including the prestigious Masters event in Augusta, which was due to begin on April 9.

The Augusta National Women’s Amateur event, which local golfer Emily Toy was due to participate in, has also been cancelled.

Cricket

With the local cricket season not due to begin until April 18, no measures have yet been taken with regards to postponement, but a decision is likely to have to be made in the coming weeks.