Covid: Weekend's sporting events hit by new cases

A surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has wreaked havoc on the weekend's sporting fixtures.

Nineteen fixtures due to be played across all three divisions of the English Football League on Saturday have been postponed.

Two games in the Women's Super League on Saturday have also been called off.

In rugby union, 47 players from nine different Premiership clubs tested positive for Covid-19, up from just two the previous week.

France's new travel rules have caused the postponement of seven European rugby matches due to be played between French and British teams this weekend.

In tennis, the Battle of the Brits - an exhibition organised by Jamie Murray and featuring Andy Murray set to take place in Aberdeen on 21 and 22 December - has been postponed.

And in the United States, three NFL games have been postponed after Covid outbreaks.

Here's an overview of all the sporting events affected so far this month:

• How can I tell I have Omicron?
• What are the UK's new coronavirus rules?

18 December

• FOOTBALL: Aston Villa's Premier League game against Burnley, due to be played on 18 December, is postponed.

17 December

• AMERICAN FOOTBALL: The NFL postpones Cleveland Browns-Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks-Los Angeles Rams and Washington Football Team-Philadelphia Eagles.
• FOOTBALL: Manchester City's Women's Super League game against Reading and Chelsea's match against West Ham, both due to be played on 19 December, are postponed.
• FOOTBALL: 19 fixtures across the three divisions of the English Football League due to be played on 18 December are postponed.
• RUGBY UNION: Seven European matches due to be played between French and British teams this weekend have been postponed because of France's new travel rules.
• TENNIS: The Battle of the Brits - an exhibition organised by Jamie Murray and featuring Andy Murray scheduled for 21 and 22 December - has been postponed.

16 December

• CRICKET: Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is ruled out of the second Ashes Test against England after being deemed a close contact to a positive case.
• CRICKET: Three-match ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies, due to begin on Saturday, postponed to June 2022.
• FOOTBALL: Leicester's home Premier League match against Tottenham is postponed.
• FOOTBALL: Manchester United's home match with Brighton on Saturday is postponed.
• FOOTBALL: Wales captain Gareth Bale is among a group of Real Madrid players to test positive.
• FOOTBALL: Games postponed across all three divisions of the EFL, which announces tighter protocols and more regular testing.
• FOOTBALL: Four more Premier League games are postponed, meaning half of the weekend's fixtures are off.
• FOOTBALL: Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says the "worry and anxiety" of Covid-19 cases in her squad "played a major part" in their Women's Champions League defeat by Wolfsburg.
• RUGBY: Montpellier awarded 28-0 win for Friday's scheduled Champions Cup game because of Leinster's Covid cases.
• FORMULA 1: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc tests positive for a second time.
• BASKETBALL: The National Basketball Association is to introduce stricter coronavirus protocols over the Christmas and New Year period as teams are left depleted by rising cases in North America.

15 December

• FOOTBALL: Burnley's Premier League match with Watford is called off three hours before kick-off after an outbreak in the Hornets' squad.
• FOOTBALL: Leicester City's home game against Manchester City in the Women's Continental League Cup is postponed.
• FOOTBALL: Saturday's Championship matches between Reading v Luton and Millwall v Preston are postponed.
• RUGBY UNION: Saracens call off Saturday's European Challenge Cup game against Pau, with all players, coaches and support staff going into isolation.

14 December

• ALL SPORT: 'Covid passes' are introduced in England for any event with more than 10,000 people.
• FOOTBALL: Premier League reports 42 positive tests - the most recorded in the league over a seven-day period.
• FOOTBALL: Manchester United postpone Premier League match against Brentford.

13 December

• FOOTBALL: Manchester United shut down their Carrington training ground after a Covid-19 outbreak.
• TENNIS: Britain's Emma Raducanu tests positive and withdraws from the Mubadala World Tennis Championships.

12 December

• FOOTBALL: Sheffield United's Championship game with Queens Park Rangers is postponed because of an outbreak at the west London club.

11 December

• RUGBY UNION: Three Leinster players and a member of staff test positive before the side's Heineken Champions Cup win over Bath.

9 December

• FOOTBALL: Tottenham's Europa Conference League match against Rennes is called off after a number of cases at the club. They also postpone their Premier League match against Brighton.
• FOOTBALL: Premier League clubs are told to return to emergency Covid-19 measures.