Super Rugby's governing body will on Friday reveal plans for the future of the competition amid speculation the Tokyo-based Sunwolves will be cut after just three years in the tournament.
"SANZAAR and its stakeholders will not be making any comment on Super Rugby until the statement has been released," it said in a brief statement released on Wednesday.
But already several news organisations, including The Australian and Newscorp, were reporting SANZAAR had already decided to cut the struggling Sunwolves, who have won only seven of their 43 matches since joining the competition in 2016.
The Australian report, citing an unnamed Sunwolves spokesperson, said the team had objected to a request from SANZAAR to pay a Super Rugby participation fee, which is not asked of any of the other franchises.
A Japan Rugby Football Union source said the governing body was awaiting clarification from SANZAAR.
"The JRFU hasn't received communication from SANZAAR about the future of the Sunwolves in Super Rugby," the source, who declined to be named, told Reuters on Wednesday.
The Sunwolves, currently fourth in the five-team Australian conference of Super Rugby after losing four of their five games this season, joined Super Rugby along with South Africa's Southern Kings and Argentina's Jaguares when the competition expanded from 15 to 18 teams.
The Japanese franchise retained their spot when the tournament reverted to 15 teams last year after the expanded format proved unpopular with fans and broadcasters.
