Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
The competition had been due to start this weekend but with 10 positive tests at Kobe Steelers on Thursday taking the total to 67 league-wide, organisers said they were now aiming for a mid-February start.
Last year s season was cancelled entirely because of the pandemic. Japan Rugby Football Union and Top League have had discussions and we want to do everything we can to have this year s Top League season, said JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi.
Organisers said they were yet to finalise a new start date and whether the format needed to be changed because of time restrictions and safety precautions.
Jan 6, 2021
Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett expressed excitement at the challenge that awaits him as a member of the Suntory Sungoliath in Japan’s Top League.
The 29-year-old superstar stand-off/fullback chose the five-time Top League champion as his first club outside of his native New Zealand, and had warm words for his new home during an unveiling event at a Tokyo hotel on Wednesday.
“I want to say I’ve really been enjoying our experience so far. One of the big reasons to come over here was because Japan is the country we really love,” Barrett told a news conference. “It’s great to be a part of the Suntory Sungoliath. I think playing the game of rugby, they really suit me and I am really looking forward to playing in the Top League with my teammates and also being friends with them.