Ex-Toyota Verblitz player Ryota Kabashima admits to cocaine possession
Former Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima was released on bail of ¥2 million ($18,460) on Friday, after admitting to a charge of possessing cocaine. "I am sorry for causing trouble ...
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Fiji gave the first indication of its Rugby World Cup potential when it beat a strong New Zealand Maori team 27-10 Saturday in the opener of a two-match series. The Maori ...
Rugby World Cup fever set to bring masses to Japan
The 2019 Rugby World Cup has been dubbed by organizers as a "once-in-a-lifetime" event. And for many of the more than 400,000 foreigners expected to travel here, it will be ...
Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley said Friday he was leaving the NSW Waratahs to head overseas, reportedly joining Quade Cooper and a retiring Will Genia in accepting a lucrative Top League club contract. Foley, a 68-test veteran who is part of Australia's squad for the 2019 ...
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen attempts to clarify domestic violence comments
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has attempted to clarify his recent comments about domestic violence after criticism of his assertion that such assaults are "not a gender thing." Hansen made the comments while defending his decision to select Crusaders winger Sevu Reece in his Rugby ...
Crusaders conquer Jaguares to capture third straight Super Rugby title, 10th overall
The Christchurch-based Crusaders beat Argentina's Jaguares 19-3 in the Super Rugby final Saturday to win the Southern Hemisphere tournament for the third year in a row and the 10th time overall. Scott Robertson, who won three titles with the Crusaders as a player, has now ...
New JRFU boss Shigetaka Mori faces uphill battle to initiate needed reforms
As a player Shigetaka Mori, the new president of the Japan Rugby Football Union, knew all about success at the domestic level. As a member of the now-defunct Nippon Steel Corp. team in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, he helped the side win seven consecutive national championships ...
Rugby underwent big changes on global scale in 1990s
The Rugby World Cup has become a massive sporting event. It's the third-biggest sporting event in the world now, and at the time of year that it's played, it's the biggest. Teams have become hugely professional. It's probably taken a lot away from test rugby in ...
Brave Blossoms unveil new uniforms
The Japan Rugby Football Union revealed the new jersey for its national team, which could help the Brave Blossoms achieve a feat at the upcoming Rugby World Cup on home soil, on Thursday. [video_embed number="1"] While the basic white and red design remained the same from ...
JRFU asks teams to interview players following recent drug arrests
The Japan Rugby Football Union on Wednesday requested all teams in the country's Top League interview their players following the arrests last month of two Toyota Verblitz members on suspicion of possessing cocaine. At a meeting in Tokyo, the sport's governing body asked representatives from ...
Temporary stands completed at Kamaishi's Rugby World Cup stadium
The construction of two temporary stands at the new rugby stadium in Kamaishi, northeastern Japan, has been completed ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup, the operator of the facility said Wednesday. Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium — the only newly constructed stadium for the tournament, ...
Injured Crusaders Ryan Crotty, Scott Barrett to miss Super Rugby final
The Canterbury Crusaders have suffered a double blow ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby final against Argentina's Jaguares, with Ryan Crotty and Scott Barrett both suffering injuries that will also end their Rugby Championship hopes. The Crusaders said on Monday veteran centre Crotty suffered a broken ...
