Irish boxing squad cuts short Italian training camp after coronavirus outbreak

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The Irish Elite boxing squad has cut short a training camp in Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The panel - which includes team captain Brendan Irvine, Kurt Walker and siblings Aidan and Michaela Walsh - has been based in Assisi.

They were taking part in a two-week camp alongside boxers from Finland, France, India, Moldova, Switzerland, New Zealand, Romania and Russia.

The training base is part of preparations for next month's Olympic qualifiers in London.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has decided to return home on Wednesday as a precaution, amid speculation that quarantine could be imposed on people leaving Italy.

Assisi is positioned in the Perugian region of Italy, situated some 480km from the affected Lombardy area.

The squad was originally scheduled to return home on Friday ahead of the European qualifiers which begin at London’s Copper Box Arena on March 13.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Six Nations rugby clash with Italy next weekend has been cancelled.

The game was called off due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

It follows a meeting between the IRFU and Irish Health minister Simon Harris on Wednesday.