NEWSWORTHY
Upset-minded Japan falls as England's reserves rise to occasion
The history books will show England beat Japan 35-15 on Saturday in front of 81,000 fans at Twickenham Stadium, but for 55 minutes Michael Leitch and the Brave Blossoms had many thinking a sequel to the "Miracle of Brighton" was in the cards. Three years ...
Akihito Yamada returns to Japan lineup for clash with England
Experienced winger Akihito Yamada returns to the Japan team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday as one of eight changes from the side beaten by New Zealand two weeks ago. The 33-year-old Yamada, one of the survivors of the 2015 World Cup upset win ...
All Blacks whip Brave Blossoms
Japan scored five tries against the world champion All Blacks but still suffered a 69-31 defeat on Saturday. Japan went into the match at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium — the venue for the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup — having never beaten New ...
Steve Hansen names second-string squad to face Brave Blossoms
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen on Thursday told his new-look All Blacks to "trust your instincts" after naming his team for Saturday's test against Japan. "The reason you've been selected as an All Black in the first place is because you're a good rugby ...
Japanese rugby history embedded in Hanazono
Harumi Okuno pours another batch of octopus-filled batter into the round hollows of the hot griddle and looks out of the serving hatch toward the rugby stadium at the end of the street. "Even if people here didn't play rugby when they were kids, once ...
Japan staged a late comeback but came just short against the World XV on Friday night, losing 31-28 in a thrilling curtain raiser at the refurbished Hanazono Rugby Stadium. With the hooter having already sounded, the Brave Blossoms were camped inside the World XV 10-meter ...
Brave Blossoms face key tests on road to 2019 World Cup
With preparations going smoothly and everything seemingly well on track off the field for a successful Rugby World Cup 2019, it's now time to see if Japan's preparations on the field are going just as well. The Brave Blossoms play four games in the coming ...
All Blacks warn Australia, Japan they can still elevate their game
If Australia and Japan are to beat the All Blacks in the coming weeks when they meet in Yokohama and Tokyo, respectively, they will have to defeat a side which, by its own admission, can "still get better and smoother in some areas." New Zealand ...
New coach Tony Brown to make national team members prove worth for Sunwolves
New Sunwolves head coach Tony Brown said Friday the Japan national team members in line to play at the 2019 Rugby World Cup will need to prove themselves if they are to play Super Rugby next year. The 43-year-old former All Black, who will combine ...
Japan's win over South Africa set to be turned into movie
Japan's famous win over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, regarded by many as one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time, will to be turned into a movie with an international all-star cast, the film's creator told Kyodo News. Award-winning Australian ...
Brave Blossoms name squad for autumn games
Japan coach Jamie Joseph named a 35-man squad Monday for the Brave Blossoms' autumn games that was more notable for who was not in the list than who was. Veterans Shota Horie and Harumichi Tatekawa, as well as up-and-coming star Takuya Yamasawa all failed to ...
Jamie Joseph to step down as Sunwolves coach before Rugby World Cup
Japan coach Jamie Joseph will stand down as head coach of the Sunwolves in the build-up to Rugby World Cup, forcing the Super Rugby side to put a new person in charge for the fourth time in as many years. Speaking at a news conference ...
