Japan has cancelled their Top14 rugby competition due to the coronavirus outbreak, to the relief of their foreign players, including a number of South Africans.
League organisers said the step was necessary as many players would be returning to their home countries and called off the remaining 42 matches of the season.
Springbok centre Damian de Allende at the weekend responded to news that Super Rugby had been suspended with a tweet reading: “Looks like we will still be playing in Japan top league.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaCrisis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaCrisisis having a huge impact on the air service.. no one in the air lounges before flight. Super grateful to be able to fly back to my family and country 🙇🏼♂️🙇🏼♂️🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/Yz69fZVvx0
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby)
Former Wallaby Matt Giteau added: “There are more important things than rugby right now.
“I love living and playing here in Japan but not to the extent of being locked out of Australia away from my family til June. I’m hoping Top League can make a decision, either way before it’s too late."