Japan have reportedly pulled out of a planned eight-team tournament in the United Kingdom because of coronavirus restrictions around Jamie Joseph’s coaching staff.
The tournament, that also included Fiji alongside the Six Nations teams, was planned to replace the traditional end of year fixtures against southern hemisphere teams because of travel complications amidst the global health crisis.
But a report on Japan’s Kyodonews.net said the Brave Blossoms’ preparations were being compromised by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic prompted the JRFU to opt out of the European competition, which is planned to run from November to December,” their report said, basing their information on a rugby source there.
With Japan heavily restricting the entry of foreign passport holders amid the pandemic, members of the Brave Blossoms coaching staff have been kept out of the country, making it difficult to hold a domestic camp in preparation for the tournament.”
Japan haven’t played since they stunned the World Cup they hosted last year by making the quarterfinals. Their wins there included upsets of Six Nations teams Ireland and Scotland. They had a perfect pool record of four wins from four matches with comfortable victories over Russia and Samoa as well.
They lost their last-eight match to eventual champions South Africa.
Losing this high-profile opportunity against Tier 1 nations would be a big blow.
The planned tournament had the teams split into two groups of four. Japan was grouped with Scotland, Italy and France.
