Portugal Rugby Youth Festival postponed to October 17-18

PRYF 11 March 2020

Due to the new coronavirus epidemic, the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival will be postponed to October 17-18, 2020. Move Sports, the event organiser, is making this decision in line with the latest recommendations from the Portuguese Government, through its National Health Service (NHS), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Portuguese Rugby Federation, which cancelled all rugby activity in the country.

The event, which brings together more than three thousand players from over one hundred teams coming from the five continents, was scheduled for April 4-5. This postponement is part of the effort to contain the new coronavirus epidemic. Rugby was one of the first sports modalities to react to the phenomenon: several national and international competitions were suspended.

The evolution of the epidemic in Portugal and what is being done

WHO declared covid-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

On the same date, and according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Portugal is in a situation of multiple introduction and limited local transmission concerning infection by the new coronavirus.

However, according to the NHS, the evolution of the epidemic in certain regions of the country points to a scenario of rapid growth of infections by covid-19.

Thus, and taking into account that the adoption of preventive measures in the initial phase of an epidemic threat is one of the most effective responses to contain it, the NHS advises, among other measures, the postponement or cancellation of outdoors events larger than 5 000 people. In this context, the Portuguese Rugby Federation advised the temporary cancellation of all competitions and for all age groups.

It should be noted that the PRYF gathers, on each day of the tournament, about 20 000 people at the Lisbon University Stadium. Consequently, considering the best interest of PRYF's athletes and spectators and the wider community in general, Move Sports' only option is to join in the efforts being made, all over the country, to contain the epidemic – and thus is obliged to postpone the event.

Move Sports reminds everyone that these are preventive measures to stop the unnecessary spread of contagious diseases. The National Health Service continues to advise the practice of physical exercise, which strengthens the immune system, so important in combating these illnesses. Additionally, personal and social hygiene habits are indispensable in preventing any type of infection.