The five-nation Super Rugby tournament was suspended after seven rounds in March because of international travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) last month confirmed the end of the 2019-20 season for all league, cup and county rugby due to Covid-19 but the English Premiership was excluded.
Team secures third place at the Rugby World Cup bronze final with a comfortable victory over Wales.
Scotland win 34-0 against Samoa in Kobe that saw Pacific islanders finish a man down.
Prince Akishino has officially declared the tournament open, with World Rugby chief Beaumont saying: "This is the moment we've all been waiting for ... we can all be very proud tonight. You have made history."
The home side, in their final warm-up match before the tournament in Japan, played a bold, expansive game and had too much pace and power for a stubborn yet outclassed Italian side.
The Crusaders' name and branding has been questioned as to its appropriateness given its potential link to the medieval religious wars between Christians and Muslims, especially in the aftermath of the NZ mosque attacks.
The governing body confirmed South African White had approached Raelene Castle for a “conversation” but, despite media reports to the contrary, said the RA chief executive would not be speaking to him by phone on Thursday.
The European Professional Club Rugby announced Marseille as the host city of the 2020 European Rugby Champions Cup finals while Newcastle will host in 2019.
Flyhalf Pollard and hooker Marx were surprise omissions from coach Rassie Erasmus’s starting side last week against Australia, which the Wallabies won 23-18 in Brisbane.
Argentina outscored the South Africans by four tries to three in a fevered performance, aided by a litany of mistakes by their visitors.
Beauden Barrett's four tries is a new All Blacks record in a match against Australia as New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with a test to spare.
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