Rugby Top League Match Canceled This Month 16:29 on March 9 Due to Arrest of Illegal Drug Players
The Japan Rugby Association has decided to cancel a total of 24 games scheduled this month to thoroughly conduct compliance education after players belonging to the top league team have been arrested for using illegal drugs .
In the Top League, Joel Everson, a New Zealander from Hino, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on 4th this month for suspected use of cocaine in violation of the Drug Control Law.
In response to this, the Japan Rugby Association decided to suspend 24 games scheduled for mid-late this month to thoroughly conduct compliance education for the top league teams on the 9th.
In the top league last June, two players from another team were seriously arrested and charged with using illegal drugs and decided that they needed to stop the league and work on preventing recurrence. That is.
Oji Ota chairman of the top league said, "It is a big problem that shakes the existence of rugby world and it is an emergency. Last year we have been working on preventing recurrence but it was insufficient." He explained that the top league had postponed 16 games since late last month in response to the spread of the new coronavirus, but that the decision to cancel this time was considered separately from virus measures.