JRFU Response to COVID-19 State of Emergency
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has today announced its response to the declaration of the state of emergency in relation to COVID-19 by the Japanese government on January 7. To date, the JRFU has been hosting tournaments and conducting its activities in strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures mandated by both national and local governments. The JRFU will continue making its utmost effort to support control and containment measures to help end the pandemic as quickly as possible.
Shigetaka Mori, JRFU President commented:
“Everybody involved in Japanese Rugby will continue to work hard to help in the fight to end the spread of COVID-19 as soon as possible. We recognize that the limited number of cases identified to date in domestic rugby were acquired in group living situations, such as school dormitories, and not through the playing or training of rugby itself. We will ensure to continuously achieve safe and secure rugby by thoroughly implementing our prevention measures across all our activities.”
- Tournaments and tickets
– All JRFU matches announced to date will be held as scheduled
– All tickets which have already been purchased remain valid
– Ticket holders wishing to refund tickets can do so via a refund process to be announced on the JRFU website
- For matches with tickets already on sale, stadium capacity has been limited to 50%.
- For matches with tickets that will go on sale in the future, stadium capacity will be limited to 50%, with 5,000 attendees as a maximum.
- Ticket numbers for scheduled matches may be changed according to local government directives or for other reasons.
- For the 57th Japan University Rugby Championship Final and the Japan Rugby Top League 2021 Toshiba Brave Lupus v NTT Communication ShiningArcs to be held in the new National Stadium this January, ticket sales have already reached the planned number (50% of stadium capacity) and are therefore no longer on sale.
- Local rugby activities including training practice matches for schools and clubs
The JRFU will redistribute its policy for continuing the game of rugby while ensuring the safety and security of all teams and clubs in the coming days.
The welfare of our players and the wider rugby community remains our number one priority and we will continue to make every effort to ensure that everybody understands the importance of conducting rugby activities with thorough prevention measures.
- National Teams
PCR tests will be performed for all players and staff in advance of assembly and the JRFU will follow expert medical advice and adhere to strict infection prevention measures around the assembly of all national team squads.