Ireland's men's and women's Six Nations games against Italy in Dublin on 7 and 8 March have been postponed because of coronavirus.

Irish Health Minister Simon Harris said on Tuesday the men's game should be postponed and met with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Wednesday.

Eleven towns in northern Italy are in lockdown after an outbreak.

An IRFU statement said it hoped to give an update on the rescheduling of matches "in the coming days".

Ireland's men were scheduled to face Italy at the Aviva Stadium on 7 March before the women's game the following day at Energia Park.

The under-20s game between the countries on 6 March has also been postponed.

Following Harris' comments on Tuesday evening, the IRFU called for the minister to explain the "specific reasoning"' behind his words.

But an IRFU statement after Wednesday's meeting read: "At the outset we made it clear that the IRFU was supportive of the government's need to protect public health in relation to the coronavirus.

"We were then advised, formally, that the National Public Health Emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interests of Public Health. The IRFU is happy to comply with this instruction.

"We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days."

Ireland's chief medical officer said on Wednesday the decision to call for the postponement of the match in Dublin was "not made lightly".

Ireland's Grand Slam hopes were ended by England on Sunday and they are yet to face Italy and unbeaten France in the tournament.

Italy women's game against Scotland was also postponed on Sunday and is yet to be rescheduled, while England's men's and women's teams are due to play in Italy in the final round of the Six Nations on 14 and 15 March.

Several other sports events have been cancelled because of coronavirus, with skating, table tennis and football's Serie A the latest to be affected.

In 2001, Ireland's three Six Nations fixtures against the home nations were postponed until September and October because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Analysis - 'Six Nations is in a state of limbo'

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones speaking on Radio 5 Live

This all escalated last night when the Irish health minister said he was advising Irish rugby authorities the game could not go ahead.

Once the health minister said that, Irish rugby authorities were not really able to go against that.

Hopefully the games will be rearranged but it is not definitely going to happen so the Six Nations is in a state of limbo at the moment.

Ireland had to play three of their Six Nations games in 2001 in the autumn. I do not know how easy that will be to arrange these days. The calendar is so congested.

Everything is up in the air. Apart from the Ireland against Italy games, you look at England's fixtures in Italy on the final weekend.

At the time of speaking I think it looks very unlikely those games will go ahead as well.