NEWSWORTHY
Scotland's Stuart Hogg looks ahead to rematch with Brave Blossoms
Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg admits the autumn heat in Japan could hamper his team's chances of claiming a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal spot at the host nation's expense later this year. But he also warns that the Scots are quick learners. "We played Japan in 2016 ...
Rugby Australia boss to Japan: Prepare to host a different kind of fan at World Cup
The CEO of Rugby Australia on Monday warned organizers of this year's World Cup to be prepared to deal with spectators that can be more a little more exuberant than the typical Japanese fan. Speaking with a group of Japanese media outlets at Rugby Australia ...
Rugby World Cup organizers express concern over beer stocks as Japan girds for thirsty foreign fans
The committee warned restaurant operators that running out of beer would cost them lucrative business opportunities and could create bad publicity.
JRFU's bewildering plans for Top League reform spark skepticism, opposition
The news that the Japan Rugby Top League is to undergo reform following this year's World Cup should have been met with heraldic fanfare, given the nation's recent entry into the Reiwa Era. But having spoken to a number of coaches, players and longtime observers ...
Jamie Joseph still has many questions after Wolf Pack's victory over Western Force
With just under 150 days to go until Japan kicks off the 2019 Rugby World Cup against Russia in Tokyo, Jamie Joseph's side is slowly starting to gather momentum. On Saturday at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, the Wolf Pack — the name given to ...
An enormous wooden "lucky cat" has been set up at one of this year's Rugby World Cup host cities to welcome tourists ahead of the event's kickoff in September. The woodcarving of the 10-meter-long cat named "Giant Lounging Lucky Cat Fukunyan" is on display in ...
Former Japan Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori urges JRFU to make reforms
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Friday called for reform within the Japan Rugby Football Union two days after he announced his shock resignation as the body's honorary chairman. Citing a lack of vision for the future of Japanese rugby after this year's Rugby World ...
Japan's Asics and Mizuno look to capitalize on Rugby World Cup and Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Japanese sports equipment firms are looking at the three years through 2021, dubbed the "Golden Sports Years," as opportunities for growth. These are "three unprecedented years," Akito Mizuno, president of Mizuno Corp., said of the period during which major world sporting events will be held ...
General ticket sales for 2019 Rugby World Cup to start again in May
General ticket sales for the 2019 Rugby World Cupwill restart on May 18, with seats at all 48 matches on offer, the local organizing committee said Tuesday. Sales of the tickets on a first-come, first-served basis will begin online at 6 p.m. Japan Standard Time ...
The Japan Mint unveiled a pair of commemorative coins Tuesday to mark the country's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup from September. Former Japan international winger Daisuke Ohata was on hand for the launch of the gold ¥10,000 ($89) and silver ¥1,000 coins ...
Organizing committee chief Akira Shimazu hopes World Cup will be catalyst for growth
With half a year to go until the first-ever Rugby World Cup in Asia, organizing committee chief Akira Shimazu insisted that the hosts are focused on making the tournament in Japan a "ground-breaking" event. "The previous tournament in England in 2015, as you know, was ...
Beppu hot springs may accept tattooed visitors during Japan's Rugby World Cup and beyond
Local hot spring operators see the event as an opportunity to appeal to foreign tourists.
