Yamaha Sacks Pro Rugby Players

[Mulboyne]

Reuters: Yamaha to release professional players to cut costs
Japan's Yamaha Jubilo rugby club will release their entire professional playing staff as part of cost-cutting measures by owners Yamaha Motors. Jubilo said on Monday that all 17 professionals, including nine foreign players, would be let go and the team would be made up solely of company employees from next April. The move comes as Yamaha Motors looks to reduce costs amid a severe market downturn that has prompted several Japanese motor companies to take similar measures.

Yamaha's team includes ex-New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne.