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Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2023

Jamie Joseph confident Brave Blossoms' style can give England trouble at Rugby World Cup

Joseph, who led Japan to the quarterfinals in 2019, says his team can 'achieve anything.'
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
Jun 5, 2005

Seiji Hirao: Mr. Rugby

At the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong in March, a group of eminent rugby journalists were talking about Japan's bid to host Rugby World Cup 2011.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 9, 2023

Sumo still failing to provide adequate medical care for wrestlers

An incident involving maegashira Tobizaru at the ongoing regional tour shows that sumo lags behind other sports, including rugby, in emergency treatment.
Fiji can credit its historic Pool C win over Australia on Sunday to significant investment by World Rugby as well as the inclusion of a local team in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
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Sep 20, 2023

Fiji shows the way, but it is unlikely many others will follow

More investment and structural changes will be needed before rugby union's minnows can regularly challenge the sport's leading nations.
Australia head coach Eddie Jones speaks at a news conference in Sydney on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 17, 2023

Eddie Jones says he's committed to Australia, stands by youth push

The 63-year-old Australian, whose mother and wife are Japanese, has been linked with the vacant Japan head coaching job.
South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has been accused of verbally abusing England's Tom Curry during a Rugby World Cup semifinal on Saturday.
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Oct 24, 2023

Springboks clam up on abuse allegations after England semifinal

South African Rugby said on Sunday that it had launched its own internal investigation and that it was "reviewing the available evidence."
The Brave Blossoms train at Ernest-Wallon Stadium in Toulouse, France, ahead of their Rugby World Cup game against Samoa on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Sep 27, 2023

Stakes high for Brave Blossoms as crucial Samoa clash looms

The scene is now set for the tussle in Toulouse, a city where rugby is baked into every terracotta tile and coral-colored shopfront.
New Zealand's openside flanker and captain Sam Cane (right) walks on the field with his silver medal after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand in Saint-Denis, France, on Sunday.
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Nov 3, 2023

All Blacks captain Sam Cane to join Suntory

Cane has taken a sabbatical option in his New Zealand Rugby contract.
Jamie Joseph has led Japan's national rugby team since 2015.
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Aug 10, 2023

Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph to return to Highlanders

Joseph said the four-year deal with the Highlanders was a great opportunity to "give back" to the club and the region.
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Sep 3, 2023

'Ferrari' Kotaro Matsushima looking to drive Japan to World Cup glory

Matsushima was one of the stars of the tournament four years ago, scoring five tries as Japan stunned Ireland and Scotland.
Japan needs to win its remaining two Pool D games in order to progress to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Sep 19, 2023

Error-strewn loss to England leaves Japan facing uphill battle

The kick-heavy encounter in Nice left discouraged Brave Blossoms fans knowing their team will need a major turnaround to match its 2019 quarterfinal run.
Australian head coach Eddie Jones' reliance on young players did not work out for the team during the Rugby World Cup
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 9, 2023

High-stakes misses prove costly as Australia crashes out of World Cup

Australia's gambles resulted in an early exit from the Rugby World Cup.
All Blacks forward Ardie Savea wants New Zealand Rugby to reconsider the rule that only allows domestic-based players to be selected for the national team.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 1, 2024

Savea calls for change in All Blacks' eligibility regulations

A number of high-profile New Zealanders have moved away from home, with a handful contracted to Japanese clubs.
New Zealand's Mark Tele'a in action in October 2023
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 15, 2025

All Black wing Tele'a announces Japan switch

Media reports have suggested that the 28-year-old will join Toyota Verblitz.
Louis Rees-Zammit participates in training camp with the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 24.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 15, 2025

Wales' Louis Rees-Zammit returns to rugby after NFL dream ends

English Premiership side Bristol said Thursday that Rees-Zammit was joining with "immediate effect" ahead of the new league season.
Australia head coach Eddie Jones directs his team before their match against Wales at the Rugby World Cup in Lyon, France, on Sunday.
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Sep 25, 2023

Eddie Jones affirms commitment to Australia despite link to Japan job

Jones previously coached Japan for three years from 2012 and led the Brave Blossoms to a stunning upset of South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has resigned after their dismal showing at the World Cup, but says he has no other job offer as yet.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 30, 2023

Jones resigns as Wallabies coach, say Australian media reports

Jones has been linked with the head coach role of Japan, which he has denied.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane poses in his new Suntory Sungoliath uniform at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo, on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 28, 2023

All Blacks captain Cane looks 'to evolve' game during Japan stint

Cane is one of several All Blacks moving to Japan for the new domestic season, which kicks off on Dec. 9.
France's Antoine Dupont runs with the ball during an HSBC World Rugby Sevens match between France and Great Britain in Madrid on June 1.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jun 18, 2024

'Stop homophobia' in rugby, says France star Dupont

"The goal is for all players to feel good about their sexuality and to be accepted by others," the player said.
New Zealand's Dane Coles celebrates after winning a Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, on Aug. 5.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 22, 2023

All Blacks star 'gobsmacked' by former coach assisting Australia

Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen is helping rivals Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup, it was revealed this week.
South Africa's Siya Kolisi takes selfies with fans after a practice session in Corsica on Aug. 29.
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Sep 1, 2023

Springbok icon Siya Kolisi defies odds to return in time for World Cup

Siya Kolisi rose from a hungry and impoverished childhood to become 'an international rugby icon.'
England's Tom Curry waits to be shown a yellow card during the team's Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Argentina in Marseille, France, on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Sep 13, 2023

England's Tom Curry banned for Japan and Chile games

England is already without captain Owen Farrell for the Japan game as he serves the final game of his suspension.
Japan's Kotaro Matsushima attempts to avoid being tackled by Samoa's Ed Fidow during their match at the Rugby World Cup in Toulouse, France, on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Sep 29, 2023

Japan keeps quarterfinal hopes alive with win over Samoa at World Cup

Japan will now face Argentina in Nantes on Oct. 8 with the winner likely moving on to the last eight.
Japan fullback Lomano Lemeki breaks free from Samoa's Ben Lam during their Pool D match at the Rugby World Cup in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 7, 2023

Brave Blossoms braced for climactic showdown against Argentina

The winner of the match will advance to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick runs with the ball during a training session at the Stade du Parc in Rueil-Malmaison, near Paris, on Thursday, ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 27, 2023

World Cup fever builds in New Zealand ahead of 'cracking' final

The All Blacks and the Springboks are both bidding to become the first nation to win the World Cup for a fourth time.
New Zealand's Ardie Savea following the All Blacks' defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in Saint-Denis, France, on Saturday
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 30, 2023

World Cup defeat 'puts fire in belly' of All Black Savea for 2027

Despite defeat in the final, Ardie Savea was named World Rugby player of the year.
South Africa players celebrate winning the Rugby World Cup as their trophy tour passes through Soweto on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 3, 2023

Springboks get roaring welcome in Soweto after winning World Cup

Teenagers dance in their school uniforms, as others, young and old, wave South African flags and yellow signs reading "thank you Bokke (Springboks)."
South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse scores in a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match against France in Saint-Denis, France, on Oct. 15, 2023.
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Oct 8, 2024

Springbok Arendse signs for Japan's Dynaboars

The 28-year-old former Sevens flyer joins the Dynaboars on sabbatical from the Pretoria-based Bulls.
The Bristol Bears' Ilona Maher takes a selfie with fans after her team's match against Gloucester-Hartpury in Bristol, England, on Sunday.
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Jan 6, 2025

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher draws record crowd in debut for Bristol

She came off the bench for the final 20 minutes at Ashton Gate to huge cheers but was unable to make a major impact.
Toshiba's Richie Mo'unga runs with the ball at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on May 24.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jun 2, 2025

Mo'unga shrugs off broken hand to win Japanese title

The fly-half has finished every season in top-level domestic rugby since 2017 with a winner's medal, and he picked up another with Toshiba.

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