PRO14 organisers have taken the ‘unprecedented’ decision to suspend the tournament indefinitely due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

The 14th round of the PRO14 was set to take place next weekend, starting on Friday, 20 March.

Matches involving Italian sides Benetton Treviso and Zebre have already been postponed but now it was decided to suspend the entire league.

Leinster were leading Conference A with 61 points from 13 and looked set to host playoffs, while Edinburgh were on top of Conference B, albeit by a smaller margin.

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Meanwhile, the Cheetahs were sitting fourth in Conference A and hunting a playoff place, with the Kings bottom of Conference B after winning just once this season.

‘We have made this decision with everyone’s welfare foremost in our minds,’ PRO14 director David Jordan said. ‘With an evolving situation in the five countries that take part in PRO14 it is important to make a clear decision that is in keeping with the advice of the various governments involved.’

Resumption of the 2019-20 season will now become a matter of constant review. The PRO14 is ensuring that it has the latest information and guidance made available by the local and national authorities from their participating unions in the UK, Ireland, Italy and South Africa.

Due to the unprecedented action of the tournament, no end date to the suspension can be provided at this time.

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