Wales internationals Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Williams will have to wait at least a month to make their competitive debuts in Japan after the start of the country's Top League competition was delayed.
The decision is due to Covid-19 outbreaks at several clubs, the league and Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said on Thursday.
The competition had been due to start this weekend but 10 positive tests at Kobe Steelers on Thursday has taken the total to 67 league-wide.
Organisers said they were now aiming for a mid-February start.
Last year’s season was cancelled entirely because of the pandemic.
“Japan Rugby Football Union and Top League have had discussions and we want to do everything we can to have this year’s Top League season,” said JRFU chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi.
Organisers also said they have yet to finalise a new start date, as well as whether the format needs to be changed because of time restrictions and safety precautions.
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Top League chief Osamu Ota is hopeful the season will finish by the scheduled end date of May 23 so it won't interfere with the national team’s plans.
“We are aiming to start in mid-February,” said Ota.
“Regarding the Covid-19 situation, it changes on a day-to-day basis."
Kobe are the sixth team to report positive Covid-19 results along with NEC Green Rockets, Toyota Verblitz, Suntory Sungoliath, Canon Eagles and Toshiba Brave Lupus.
They said in a statement on their website that all team members, including those who had tested negative, had been told to stay home since Tuesday, when the positive test results were confirmed.
Matches involving Toyota, Suntory and Canon scheduled for this weekend had already been cancelled but the entire slate of first round games have now been wiped.
Parkes and Williams were both part of Wayne Pivac's first Six Nations squad last year before announcing moves to Japan after the tournament to effectively end their international careers.
Former Scarlets centre Parkes joined Panasonic Wild Knights, while Williams has linked up with NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
