ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Members of Canada's Rugby World Cup team took part in the Typhoon Hagibis clean-up effort, sweeping storm-hit streets and shovelling debris left behind by the devastating cyclone.

And they carried out the task cheerfully despite their disappointment at having had their last game of the tournament cancelled as a result of the typhoon.

"We decided to offer up anything we could do to help the community," said the Canadian team's media manager Gareth Rees.

"The men literally picked up shovels and swept the dirt out of the streets while others went into homes and cleaned out all the straw mats, bedding and belongings of these poor people who had literally had four or five feet of water in their houses the day before."

Former England international player and commentator Ben Kay said: "This is fantastic, Rugby Canada - I think you guys have always got the rugby spirit better than anyone."

Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan on October 12 with historic rainfall that caused 200 rivers to overflow and left thousands of homes flooded, damaged or without power. More than 70 people were killed and others are still missing.

Tens of thousands of troops and recovery workers were deployed across the country to clean up the area and save stranded residents while also helping to combat flooding.

Canada left the tournament without a win after its final group game - against Namibia - was cancelled. Also cancelled were the England v France and New Zealand v Italy group games following landslides and flooding around the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium.