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Two Top 14 matches have been postponed after six players and a physiotherapist of the Castres club were diagnosed with H1NI flu.

Castres's match at Montauban on Saturdy and their midweek match against Albi on Wednesday have been "postponed until a later date".

It is the first time any professional sports fixture or event in France has been postponed because of the virus.

There are now 12 reported cases of the H1N1 virus in French rugby.

Three Stade Francais players were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus earlier this week and while their match will go on the three players have been advised to stay at home for five to seven days.

Another unidentified player, with Bayonne, was also diagnosed with the virus this week.

Castres had been due to meet Montauban after having won their first two Top 14 matches of the season against Biarritz and Bourgoin.

But after six players were diagnosed, that toll later increasing to seven players and a physical conditioning coach, all team and staff members with Castres have been ordered not to be in contact with each other for a period of seven days as of Wednesday August 26.

An LNR tele-conference was held Friday morning and another, including all the doctors attached to the league's 14 teams, is set for later in the day according to LNR general manager Arnaud Dagorne.

"For reasons of public health and to try and limit the spread of the virus Castres team and staff members should stay away from each other at least until Wednesday," Dagorne told AFP.

"This measure has been taken to try and protect the players and their families. As a result we have taken the decision to postpone Castres' next two championship matches."

Top 14 - Round 3

Sept 28 - Brive v Clermont

Sept 29 - Stade Francais v Montpellier

Sept 29 - Racing Metro v Bayonne

Sept 29 - Bourgoin v Biarritz

Sept 29 - Perpignan v Toulouse

Sept 29 - Albi v Toulon

AFP