Japan pull out of Shanghai Sevens due to safety concerns

Japan have withdrawn from the Shanghai Sevens this weekend after the Asian Rugby Football Union could not ensure the safety of the players amid heightened political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

The purchase of the Diaoyu Islands by Japan has led to a wave of nationalist protests across mainland cities. This has resulted in the Japan Rugby Football Union withdrawing its national team from the second leg of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series due to kick-off in Shanghai tomorrow.

"Japan have reluctantly decided to withdraw. They said they would come if we could guarantee the safety of their players but we couldn't do that," said Trevor Gregory, vice-president of the Asian Rugby Football Union, yesterday.

"Our overriding concern is the safety and security of the players and with this in mind we told Japan that it was best they didn't turn up. Their presence might have also compromised the safe running of the tournament," said Gregory, who is also the chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.

Asian rugby officials had tried their best to get assurances from Chinese security officials that the Japanese team would be safe but had failed. It is believed Security Bureau officials in Shanghai had said they could not guarantee the safety of the players and that if Japan turned up, the tournament could be cancelled, or played behind closed doors.

"Due to all this uncertainty, we decided the best option would be to advise Japan to stay away. But they were worried that by staying away, their chances of winning the Asian Sevens Series would be lost and we had to assure them they would not be penalised," Gregory said.