Japan demands apology after ‘no basis’ found for chairman’s Asia Rugby ban

TOKYO: Furious Japanese rugby chiefs said on Thursday they were demanding an apology from “reckless” Asia Rugby after an independent review found the regional association suspended JRFU chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi with “no basis”.

World Rugby was called in to investigate in February when Asia Rugby banned Iwabuchi from its executive committee for a potential code of conduct breach. The independent review by the sport’s global governing body cleared Iwabuchi of any wrongdoing and called on Asia Rugby to reinstate him to his executive committee position.

“In summary, my finding is that Mr Iwabuchi’s conduct in relation to this matter does not suggest any breach of Asia Rugby’s Articles of Association, Constitution and/or Code of Conduct,” the World Rugby-appointed disciplinary offer said in the conclusion of the body’s investigation.