TOKYO — The showpiece opening game of
Japan's newrugby union championship was scrapped Wednesday because of coronavirus cases,
two days before it was due to take place at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium.
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Japan Rugby League One officials said the game between
Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights — set for
Friday — had been cancelled after six Panasonic team members tested positive
for the coronavirus.
Three more were still waiting on results, while the rest of
the squad were designated as close contacts.
That left Panasonic without enough registered players 48
hours before kick-off for the game to go ahead, forcing a cancellation under
league rules.
Japan Rugby League One officials offered "heartfelt
apologies to all fans who were looking forward to the game".
Kubota were awarded five points and Panasonic zero.
It is the latest embarrassing setback for the new league,
which is relaunching in a bid to rekindle the excitement generated by Japan's
hosting of the
2019 World Cup.
Preparations had already been disrupted this week by a drug
scandal involving former Australian rugby league star Blake Ferguson.
The 31-year-old was fired by NEC
Green Rockets Tokatsu on
Sunday after being arrested on drug charges in Tokyo, without playing a game
for the club.
In response, league officials ordered every one of the
league's roughly 1,200 players to be tested for illegal substances, starting
Wednesday.
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