Published Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 | 8:50 a.m.

Updated 7 hours, 25 minutes ago

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Women's Rugby Europe Championship is scheduled to be finished off in October so European qualifying for the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup can start in December.

Rugby Europe announced the dates for the two remaining matches: Spain vs. Russia on the weekend of Oct. 24, and Spain vs. Netherlands on Oct. 31.

The winner among those three will join Scotland, Ireland, and Italy in qualifying for the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand.

European qualifying will be played on the weekends of Dec. 5, 12, and 19. The winner qualifies directly, and the runner-up goes to a repechage. The schedule will be announced after the Women's Europe Championship is finished.

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North Alabama has suspended football practices until at least Friday after team leaders expressed concerns about COVID-19.

The FCS school said the Lions leadership council voiced those concerns to the coaching staff Saturday.

North Alabama said in a statement Monday the school will make every attempt to structure a meaningful football experience for this fall while remaining focused on health and safety.

North Alabama has switched, until at least Friday, to a model in which players can voluntarily continue physical conditioning in groups of 12 or less. Team and position meetings will be held in person with social distancing and masks mandatory.

North Alabama moved to FCS in 2018 after winning three straight Division II national championships from 1993-95.

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UTEP has postponed the start of preseason football practice after four players tested positive for the coronavirus.

School officials say all four players were asymptomatic and placed in a 14-day quarantine. School medical staff also recommended the entire team and coaching staff also go into a five-day quarantine before everyone is tested again on Wednesday.

Results of those tests will be determined when practice will begin, the school said.

I am fully supportive of the recommendations of our sports medicine personnel and team doctors, coach Dana Dimel said. We cant wait to resume preparations for our fall season, but safety comes first.

The Miners play in Conference USA

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