Odd decisions, big questions amidst crises in Japanese rugby
With rugby seemingly done for the season, it is time to look back on a crazy few months that have seen Japanese rugby go from the highs of the 2019 Rugby World Cup to a state of confusion in which even a former Brave ...
2019 RWC organizers allocate funds for development of rugby, new museum
The 2019 Rugby World Cup generated a surplus of ¥6.8 billion ($65 million), the organizers' board of directors reported Tuesday. Organizers are asking the Japan Rugby Football Union to spend ¥2 billion of the profits, intended for the development of rugby, toward the construction of ...
2019 Rugby World Cup organizers estimate profit of ¥6 billion: source
The organizers of Rugby World Cup 2019, which was held in Japan last autumn, are forecasting a profit of at least ¥6 billion ($57 million), a source said Friday. The Japan Rugby Football Union and the organizing committee's board of directors will now decide how ...
Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph calls for structural reform
Japan coach Jamie Joseph put the cat among the pigeons Wednesday when he said the Brave Blossoms could not hope to remain a top eight nation if the current domestic structures remain in place. Speaking to the media for the first time since he agreed ...
Jacques Nienaber succeeds RWC winner Rassie Erasmus as South Africa coach
World champion South Africa on Friday named Jacques Nienaber as the new Springboks head coach, replacing Rassie Erasmus who led the squad to victory in the last Rugby World Cup. "Jacques is highly experienced and has worked with the Springboks on three separate occasions now ...
The Brave Blossoms, who reached the quarterfinals of last year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, will play host to Wales on June 27, both nation's rugby unions announced Friday. Wales is eager to continue its engagement with Japan after reaching the semifinals last year and ...
Matching magic moments to karaoke classics in a historic year for Japan rugby
With the bōnenkai (year-end party) season in full swing, it is time to look back at a special year of rugby in Japan while also trying to predict what the future holds. And what better way to do it than in traditional karaoke style with ...
Japanese media pundits deliver their verdicts on 2019's hit products
While consumers may take ownership of certain products for granted, there's something reaffirming about acquiring a product that's been designated a hit, and my experiences over the years tell me Japanese aren't especially different from other nationalities in this regard. The origin of Japan's own ...
Part of Rugby World Cup windfall to be spent on legacy projects
Ticket revenue for the 2019 Rugby World Cup totaled some ¥37.3 billion ($343 million), outstripping estimates by around ¥2.3 billion, the local organizers said Thursday. Around 1.84 million tickets were sold for the Sept. 20 to Nov. 2 World Cup, the first edition of the ...
Japanese rugby's 'One Team' motto declared buzzword of the year
"One Team," Japan's slogan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was picked as buzzword of the year on Monday after the Brave Blossoms thrilled fans with their historic advance to the top eight. The annual awards are announced in early December, when the top buzzword ...
Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe was named the Top 14's player of the season on Monday, the French League announced at a ceremony. Kolbe, 26, lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy with the Springboks earlier this month after having helped his club Toulouse to the ...
