Super Rugby
Japan assure they have met SANZAR deadline
ESPN Staff
August 30, 2015
Japan has reportedly signed enough players to meet a SANZAR deadline © Getty Images
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Japan has reportedly signed enough players to avoid being stripped of their spot in the 2016 Super Rugby competition. Japan Rugby Football Union has made assurances that they have signed the minimum players needed before the SANZAR deadline on Monday August 31.

JRFU general secretary Noriyuki Sakamoto has told News Corp Japan would meet the deadline, but did not provide a figure of how many players Japan had contracted. "We have enough (to play a game)," JRFU secretary Noriyuki Sakamoto said. "We've met the number they've asked for."

The JRFU's secretary said it is yet to appoint a head coach with Eddie Jones' continued links with the Stormers proving a stumbling block but Sakamoto and the union will now wait for SANZAR's response.

"I can't imagine they will take it off us after all we've done," he said. "It's how negotiations play out. Even if we happen to miss a deadline, we never at any point said we would quit. We don't know what they'll say but if they say what we submit isn't good enough, we'll ask why but we plan on honoring our agreement with SANZAR."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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