IRFU issue statement in wake of 'scurrilous' Stephen Jones article

The IRFU have issued a statement after an article in The Sunday Times claimed that team Ireland were opposed to the rearranging of Scotland and Japan's crucial pool encounter.

The game in Yokohama was on the chopping block after Typhoon Hagibis hit mainland Japan, with World Rugby ready to cancel the match.

Three other matches – New Zealand v Italy, England v France and Namibia v Canada – have already been cancelled because of the storm, which is believed to be the biggest Japan has seen in over 60 years.

Following an inspection of Yokohama early on Sunday morning, tournament organisers have announced that the game will go ahead as scheduled after being satisfied that it would be safe enough to do so.

However, a Stephen Jones article in The Sunday Times claimed that Ireland were vehemently opposed to any rearranging of the match should the Yokohama game be canceled.

The IRFU have hit back in the strongest terms.

The statement reads: "The statement by Stephen Jones in today’s edition of The Sunday Times (October 14, 2019) referring to The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) being ‘vehemently opposed’ to any rearrangement of the Scotland V Japan Rugby World Cup fixture is completely false and the inference within the article that the IRFU made representations to World Rugby on the matter is totally without foundation.

"The Irish Rugby Football Union calls on Stephen Jones to immediately withdraw this scurrilous and untrue allegation."

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