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France v Ireland Six Nations rugby game postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

The France v Ireland rugby game that had been due to take place in Paris on Saturday has been postponed due to the coronavirus situation in France.

Published: 9 March 2020 12:46 CET

France v Ireland Six Nations rugby game postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

France's final game of the Six Nations tournament has been postponed. Photo: AFP

The match – France's final game of the tournament, which had been scheduled for March 14th at the Stade de France in Paris – will now be played in October.

“Following instructions received from the authorities in France, the decision has been made to postpone the Round 5 Guinness Six Nations match between France and Ireland,” organiser Six Nations Rugby said in a statement.

The decision comes as France brings in a ban on all gatherings of more than 1,000 people as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in France passes the 1,000 mark.

French health minister Olivier Véran announced on Sunday night that all gatherings of more than 1,000 people would be banned, stepping up previous restrictions on gatherings of more than 5,000 people in enclosed spaces.

Organisers of the Paris marathon had already announced that will also be postponed until October.

The ban has some exemptions for competitions, public transport and demonstrations, but on Monday Six Nations organisers confirmed that the France v Ireland game has been postponed.

Two games in Italy had already been postponed.

It is thought that all postponed games will now take place in the autumn.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to Paris because of coronavirus?

The cases in France are largely concentrated in four 'cluster' zones in the east of the country and despite the ban on gatherings most aspects of life in France are continuing as normal.

You can find the latest updates on the situation in France here.

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Why you should take up cycling in France in May

In hopes of getting more people to cycle, the ‘Mai à vélo’ will offer thousands of cycling events and ‘challenges’ across France from May 1st to 31st.

The scheme began in 2020 and has been supported by the French ministries of environment and sports, with the goal of encouraging carbon-free forms of transportation.

In 2023, there were over 4,000 Mai à vélo events, with over 100,000 people participating in the activity challenges.

What types of events will there be?

From workshops to learn how to repair your own bicycle to group rides and bicycle exchanges, there will be plenty of different types of events across the country.

They can be hosted by schools, businesses, local authorities, associations and even just groups of friends.

If you are interested in hosting your own event, you will first need to make an account and register your plans.

To find events near you, check out the interactive ‘Mai à vélo’ map.

Screenshot from the Mai à vélo website

Cycling on the rise

France, and particularly the city of Paris, have invested more into bike lanes over the last few years.

The study by the Institut Paris Region, an urban planning agency, found that more Parisians were opting for bicycles (accounting for 11.2 percent of trips) than cars (4.3 percent of trips).

READ MORE: How France will splash another €250 million on national ‘bike plan’

Walking was still the most common option (53.5 percent), followed by public transport at 30 percent.

Nevertheless – Paris launched its first ‘plan vélo’ in 2015 and its second phase started in 2021, with a budget of €180 million and the goal of making France’s capital ‘100 percent bicycle-friendly by 2026’.

On top of that, during the 2024 Olympic Games, the city will offer over 415 kilometres of bicycle lanes, plus thousands of new parking stations across the city and nearby Games venues. You can download the map of bicycle lanes on the Anticiper les jeux website.

Grants for purchasing a bicycle in France

The French government opted to extend their bonus vélo grant to 2027, in an effort to encourage non-polluting transport options.

Previously, the aid was only available to those buying new bikes, but in 2024 authorities opened it up to second-hand bicycles under certain conditions.

While it is means-tested, the financial aid is open to non-French nationals (though you must be resident in France and have a tax number in order to access the grants).

Depending on your financial situation and the bicycle you want to purchase, you may be eligible for assistance varying between €150 and €2,000.

If eligible, you can use it for plenty of different types of bicycles – from standard and electric bikes to cargo bikes, plus those adapted for people with disabilities.

READ MORE: Explained: The financial aid to buy a bike in France

Where should I cycle in France?

If affordable bicycles and fun events are not enough to entice you, perhaps you will be convinced by the dozens of beautiful bicycle routes criss-crossing the country and the warm, spring weather.

For example – you might consider the ‘Voie des Vignes’ cycle path which goes from Beaune to Santenay to Nolay.

The 22km Voie des Vignes (Way of the Vines) meanders its gentle way along vineyard paths, crossing the Unesco World Heritage-listed Climats of Burgundy.

There is also the Vallée du Loir cycle path, which is a 330 km track (the V47) that starts at the source of the river between Beauce and Perche and ends of the banks of Loire at Angers, passing by a fair share of castles.

READ MORE: 13 of France’s best hiking and cycling routes

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