The Covid-19 outbreak has forced rugby union into a corner, claiming the playing futures of two Super Rugby franchises. The Sunwolves and Jaguares face permanent exile from the southern hemisphere competition, leaving the remaining Super Rugby scrambling to get back on the field in a restructured format.

The Tokyo-based Sunwolves have had their departure from Super Rugby accelerated by the pandemic. Rugby Australia was examining a proposal to include the Japanese side in a revised Australian-based competition. Restrictions on international travel and a strict 14-day quarantine period meant the Sunwolves wouldn’t be ready for a July 3 kick-off.

 Rugby Australia Interim CEO Rob Clarke expressed his disappointed with the outcome:

 “We all agree that this is not the way we wanted or believed that the 2020 Super Rugby season would play out when it kicked off back in late January, the impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and unforeseen.”