Rugby Sevens test event cancelled due to coronavirus concerns
TOKYO: The Japanese Rugby Football Union announced on Wednesday that next month’s Asia Sevens Invitational, which doubles as a test event for rugby sevens at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
The tournament, due to be held April 25-26, is the latest Tokyo 2020 test event to be cancelled as questions remain over the Japanese capital’s ability to host the Games, which start on July 24.
This month’s wheelchair rugby test event was also cancelled, whilst the trial run for new Olympic discipline sports climbing, to begin on Friday, will be held without athletes.
Instead, organisers said Tokyo 2020 staff would climb the walls to “test operational readiness”.
Test events are dress rehearsals ahead of the actual contests in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Tokyo 2020 has received notification from Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) that the Asia Sevens Invitational 2020 tournament, scheduled to take place between 25 and 26 April, has been cancelled due to concerns relating to novel coronavirus,” read a statement from Games organisers.
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