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Wellington assistant coach Tamati Ellison, left, speaks to Julian Savea before a NPC game last season. Ellison will be involved with the Crusaders’ coaching group. Following a stint in Japan with Ricoh Black Rams, he returned to New Zealand to link up with the Highlanders for their 2012 and 2013 seasons, before making his way back to Japan and the Black Rams. He finished his Super Rugby playing career in 2016 after three seasons with the Rebels, returning to Japan again. Ellison has a number of national honours to his name, pulling on the black jersey for the Junior All Blacks and Māori All Blacks between 2005 and 2009, and winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal with the New Zealand Sevens team in 2006.
Clockwise from top, the new National Stadium, Meiji Jingu Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in July 2019 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Two Top League rugby matches scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreaks at three of the clubs involved, the Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said on Tuesday.
A total of 44 players and staff tested positive for the virus, including 13 at Toyota Verblitz, seven at Suntory Sungoliath and 24 at Canon Eagles, forcing the cancellation of their opening matches of the 2021 season.
Toyota Verblitz and former New Zealand captain Kieran Read had been due to face compatriot Beauden Barrett’s Suntory Sungoliath while Ricoh Black Rams were to play Canon Eagles.
Beauden Barrett and Kieran read line-up together for the All Blacks in 2017.
Photo: Photosport
The Japanese Rugby Football Union have confirmed 44 players and staff tested have positive for the virus, including 13 at Toyota Verblitz, seven at Suntory Sungoliath and 24 at Canon Eagles, forcing the cancellation of their opening matches of the 2021 season.
Toyota captain Read had been due to face compatriot Barrett in his debut for Suntory, while Ricoh Black Rams were to play Canon Eagles.
The teams have not released the names of those who have tested positive.
Under league policy, the matches will not be played at a later date and will be registered as draws.
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KYODO Jan 12, 2021
Two of the eight games scheduled to open the 2021 Japan Rugby Top League season this weekend have been canceled after three teams confirmed positive coronavirus cases, the Japan Rugby Football Union said Tuesday.
The JRFU said a total of 44 players and staff tested positive for the virus, including 24 from Canon Eagles, 13 from Toyota Verblitz, and seven from Suntory Sungoliath.