The United States rugby league team, the Tomahawks, canceled its tour to Japan late Friday night.
The tour, which would have included an international game on March 29 against the Samurais, the Japan national team, was called off due to the war in Iraq and due to terrorist threats within America.
"We have been given a severe travel advisory from governmental departments regarding our proposed travel that basically states that we should not travel overseas at this point in time," said David Niu, president of the American National Rugby League. While disappointed that the annual fixture had been called off the Japan Rugby League was hopeful that a new date could be arranged.
"We will definitely look toward hosting the game at a later date," said international operations manager Mark Brady. "This has become an annual fixture and we would like to host it this year so that we can return to the U.S. next year."