Samoan side vow to cover up tattoos

SAMOAN rugby players have confirmed they will wear skin suits to cover their traditional tattoos during some training sessions at the Rugby World Cup in order not to offend their Japanese hosts.

New Zealand players have also vowed to cover up their tattoos in public places.

Tattoos are often associated with organised crime in Japan, and people with tattoos are often banned at bath houses and swimming pools.

Before the tournament World Rugby issued advice on tattoos to players – meaning Welsh stars like Ross Moriarty and James Davies may have to cover up their body ink when using public pools and gyms.

“We will make (Japanese) people aware around the facilities that players will use in the country that people with tattoos in a Rugby World Cup context are not part of the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia,” said Alan Gilpin, the Head of the Rugby World Cup.

“That’s where the issue comes from. We have done a lot in the last year or so with the teams to get them to understand that.

“When we raised it with the teams we were probably expecting a frustrated reaction from them but there hasn’t been at all. That is a great tribute to the sport itself and to the rugby players themselves.

“They all also buy into the idea of putting on a rash-vest in the pool or in a gym as they want to respect the Japanese culture. If they are using a public pool they will have to cover up.

“Players will also have to wear different trainers indoors and outdoors. It will all be self-policing. We won’t force any teams to cover up but they will want to because they want to be seen to be respecting the culture.”

Samoa captain Jack Lam said: “We had someone coming in and giving us a heads-up about what we could expect in Japan.

“There’s a lot of similarities in our cultures but when it comes to the tattoos...it’s quite normal in our culture.

“But we are respectful and mindful to what the Japanese way is. We will be making sure that what we are showing will be OK.”