Canada's players have been helping locals to clean up the damage in the town of Kamaishi following the impact of Typhoon Hagibis.
After their final Rugby World Cup match against Namibia in Pool B was called off on safety grounds, the players and management took to the streets to help with the clean-up operation in Kamaishi following widespread damage.
"In times like this there are a lot more important things than rugby and when we got here we saw people's houses absolutely destroyed, water [rising] up the walls," Canada fly-half Peter Nelson said. "We're just trying to do our very small part and help them in any way we can.
"The people here have made the tournament. It is such a friendly nation – it is only right to try to give back as much as we can."
Rugby World Cup organisers released video footage of Canada's players grabbing shovels and brooms to help sweep debris off the roads and from inside people's homes, as well as clearing away large chunks of soggy mud.
"We felt for the people of Kamaishi," lock Josh Larsen said. "About 15 of us came down, we're happy to help."
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Canadian rugby team players volunteer to clean a road in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Japan, following the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Namibia due to Typhoon Hagibis. The powerful typhoon unleashed torrents of rain and strong winds Saturday that left thousands of homes on Japan's main island flooded, damaged or without power. AP -
Canadian player Peter Nelson, right, volunteers to clean up mud in a house in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Japan, following the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Namibia due to Typhoon Hagibis. AP -
Canadian rugby player Josh Larsen, left, helps a resident to clean a road in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, Japan, following the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Namibia due to Typhoon Hagibis. The powerful typhoon unleashed torrents of rain and strong winds Saturday that left thousands of homes on Japan's main island flooded, damaged or without power. AP -
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of members of the Canadian rugby team, whose match against Namibia was cancelled, helping to clear roads after typhoon Hagibis saw torrential rain and tornado-like winds hit large parts of Japan. PA Photo -
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of members of the Canadian rugby team, whose match against Namibia was cancelled, helping to clear roads after typhoon Hagibis saw torrential rain and tornado-like winds hit large parts of Japan. PA Photo.
