All Blacks will cover up for RWC

The All Blacks will respect Japanese culture by covering up tattoos as requested by Rugby World Cup 2019 directors and World Rugby.

Teams and supporters have been warned they need to cover tattoos in public to avoid causing offence to the Japanese.

Players have been asked by World Rugby to wear rash vests when they use public gyms or swimming pools, as tattoos are associated in Japan with Yakuza, the Japanese mafia.

New Zealand Rugby chief rugby officer Nigel Cass said the All Blacks always respect local customs and cultures when touring.

Several current All Blacks have tattoos; Sonny Bill Williams, TJ Perenara, Codie Taylor and Aaron Smith among them.

Often tattoos are a cultural badge the players have chosen, whether Ma¯ori, Pacific Island or another culture.

However, players will cover up as requested, Cass said.

Teams have also been told they need to respect local culture by wearing different footwear indoors from outdoors.

Tournament director Alan Gilpin said teams had shown no objection when told about the need to cover tattoos.

Former All Black Elliot Dixon, who plays for Japanese club the Ricoh Black Lambs, told Stuff yesterday he had not encountered negative feedback about his Maori ta¯ moko tattoos.