Which sports are on and off this weekend following The Queen's death?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 10 September 2022

Sports Mole rounds up which sports are still going ahead this weekend, and which sports have been called off following the death of The Queen.

As the nation continues its official period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, the governing bodies of various sports all across the United Kingdom have been left to make their own decisions on whether to press ahead with the planned schedule this weekend.

Some have opted to postpone fixtures out of a mark of respect to The Queen, while others will show respect in a different way with silences held and black armbands worn while games go ahead.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up what is and is not going ahead in the UK this weekend.

Football

General view of the players during a minutes silence before the match after the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022 © Reuters

The only team sport to enforce a blanket postponement, the Premier League, EFL and FA have ruled that all fixtures - from the top flight down to grassroots level - must be postponed this weekend.

Welsh and Northern Irish football has also followed suit, while senior football in Scotland will not take place either.

Matches to be affected by the postponements include the West London derby between Fulham and Chelsea - due to be Graham Potter's first game in charge of Chelsea - and Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur.

Cricket

The Third Test between England and South Africa was postponed on day two, having been washed out on the opening day, but will resume again on Saturday. No further days will be added, meaning that the series decider must be played out over the course of three days rather than the usual five.

The women's T20 international between England and India is unaffected and will go ahead as planned on Saturday evening.

Boxing

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall exchange words in February 2022. © Reuters

All boxing events in Britain have been postponed across the weekend, most notably the highly-anticipated world title bout between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields.

That fight has been pencilled in to take place next month, on October 15, instead.

Rugby Union

The start of the new Rugby Premiership season has been delayed, with Friday night's fixtures being pushed back. However, they will still take place this weekend with fixtures on Saturday and Sunday permitted to go ahead. The Premiership Rugby Cup clash between Northampton Saints and Saracens was also postponed.

All senior games in Wales have been called off.

Rugby League

The Super League playoff schedule was unaffected, with the opening playoff eliminator between Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos taking place as planned in France on Friday night.

All other matches - including Saturday's playoff eliminator between Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils - will also still go ahead.

Golf

A flag at half mast, after the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022 © Reuters

The BMW PGA Championship - the European Tour's marquee event - was halted after the news broke on Thursday and it was swiftly confirmed that no play would take place on Friday either.

However, the organisers have confirmed that the tournament will resume on Saturday.

Horse racing

The Queen was a renowned lover of horse racing, and as such all meets have been cancelled until Sunday, when it will return.

The St Leger - the oldest Classic in the world - was due to take place on Saturday, but has now been pushed back a day.

Athletics

The Great North Run - due to take place on Sunday - will still go ahead, although organisers have asked runners and spectators to respect the official period of mourning.