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SANZAAR issue update on Super Rugby games impacted by Coronavirus
By Online Editors
SANZAAR announced on Thursday morning the Japanese government has requested the cancellation of all sporting events for the next two weeks which will impact games hosted in Japan.
"The international cross-border nature of the Super Rugby tournament has led SANZAAR to review its playing schedule and to implement specific tournament protocols to minimise any risks of the ongoing effects of the Corona [COVID-19] virus," a statement read.
"To date, the virus has been detected in 30 countries and territories around the World. The most concerning to SANZAAR of these are the Sunwolves’ home venues in Japan and Singapore where matches are scheduled to be played.
The Brumbies' Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves scheduled for early next month in Osaka is set to be relocated due to the coronavirus.
SANZAAR is now working to determine if the Hanazono Rugby Stadium match can be relocated and if this isn't possible, the teams are set to split the competition points.
"SANZAAR will issue further details on the position of this match and any potential further disruptions in the near future," the governing body said in a statement.
This follows Ireland's decision to postpone their Six Nations fixture against Italy, which was due to take place in Dublin on March 7.
Due to the outbreak of the virus in northern Italy, the IRFU decided to reschedule with thousands of Italian supporters, many from the regions most affected by the outbreak, expected to make the trip.
The Sunwolves play home games in Japan and Singapore, with the Reds due to play in Tokyo on April 5 with the Waratahs scheduled there on May 8.
The Sunwolves also have back-to-back matches against the Rebels and Waratahs in Australia late next month which could be impacted if there are travel restrictions placed on the Tokyo-based team.
SANZAAR says it's in regular contact with National Union Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) who have been monitoring their teams.
There's presently no identified cases of any players, management or match officials presenting symptoms associated with the virus, including the Sunwolves.
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Latest Comments
Turn it up. Give me your john A game would ya!
Go to commentsI didn't really get the should tone from it, but maybe because I was just reading it as my own thoughts.
What I read it as was examples of how they played well enough in every game to be able to win it.
Yeah I dunno if Ben wouldn't see it that way (someone else would for sure need to point it out to him though), I'm more in the Ben not appreciating that those close losses werent one off scenarios camp. Sure you can look at dubious decisions causing them to have to play with 14 or 13 men at the death as viable reasons but even in the games they won without such difficulties they made a real struggle of it (compared to how good some of their first half play was). This kind of article where you trying to point out the 3 losses really would most likely have been wins only really makes sense/works when your other performances make those 3 games (or endings) stand out.
There might have been a sentence here and there to ensure some good comment numbers but when he's signing off the article by saying things like ..
and..
I don't really see it. Always making sure people are upto date with the SH standing/perspective! NZ went through some tough times with so many different perspectives and reasons why, but then it was.. amusing how.. behind everyone was once they turned a corner. More of these 'unfortunate' results returned against SA and France at the start of the RWC which made it extra tasty to catch other teams out when they did bring it. So that created some 'conscious' perspective that I just kept going and sharing re thoughts on similar predicaments of other teams, I had been really confident that Wallabies displays vs NZ were real, that the Argentines can backup their thing against Aus and SA (and so obviously the rest), and current one is that England are actually consistent and improving with their attack (which everyone should get onboard with), and I'm expecting a more dominant display against Japan (even though they should have more of their experienced internationals for this one) that highlights further growth from July. 👍
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