The 2001-2002 rugby season officially got underway on Friday night at the National Stadium with Japan beating a President's XV 22-10.
In what was hardly the greatest advertisement for the game, Shotaro Onishi scored all of Japan's points (a try, five penalties and a conversion) to lead the host team over an invitation team drawing on players from Australia, Fiji, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Sisa Koyamaibole replied with a try for the President's XV with Julian Huxley adding a penalty and conversion.