France v Wales on despite outbreak

It's official - the game will be played on Saturday

French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany on Wednesday gave the official go-ahead for Saturday's Six Nations rugby match between France and Wales.

The game will be played at the Stade de France in Paris despite France confirming on Tuesday its first case of foot-and-mouth after the livestock disease had taken a firm grip in Britain.

"There is no objective reason not to play the game," Glavany told reporters at a French training session on Wednesday.

"Every day 60 to 80,000 people cross the border (into France), so there is no reason for us not to allow seven or eight thousand rugby fans to come to France."

Glavanay said rugby fans coming from Wales would see "all measures" taken at the border to prevent the spread of the livestock disease in France.

France team manager Jo Maso had said earlier the match was certain to be played.

"The match is going ahead. There is absolutely no doubt about that," said French coach Jo Maso.

Maso said disinfectant dips could be set up for spectators to walk through if the situation worsened and the ministry felt it necessary.

Meanwhile, the Six Nations committee has re-scheduled Wales' postponed match against Ireland for Sunday, 29 April at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.