NEWSWORTHY
Tickets for all of host nation Japan's Rugby World Cup 2019 pool games have sold out following the start of sales on a first-come, first-served basis, organizers said Saturday. Sales of tickets for all 48 matches began online at 10 a.m. Japan Standard Time, with ...
With the final countdown to this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan well under way, organizers are focusing their efforts on contingency planning in the notoriously earthquake and typhoon-prone country, tournament director Alan Gilpin told AFP. On the pitch, Gilpin predicted the 2019 edition of ...
Japan hooker Shota Horie focused on rehab following foot surgery
Japan hooker Shota Horie said Thursday he underwent surgery on his right foot in November to treat a stress fracture. Horie, who plays for the Top League's Panasonic Wild Knights, is expected to return to the field by this autumn's Rugby World Cup, having been ...
Brave Blossoms to face Fiji, Tonga in 2019 Pacific Nations Cup
Japan's preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup became a lot clearer Tuesday with the announcement that the Brave Blossoms will play in a revamped Pacific Nations Cup in July and August. Jamie Joseph's side will play two home games — against Fiji in Kamaishi, ...
Kolisi looking forward to facing Japan again
Despite unhappy memories of their previous meeting, South Africa captain Siya Kolisi welcomed the announcement Monday that the Springboks will play Japan on Sept. 6 at Kumagaya Rugby Ground as a warm-up game for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. But having spent the past few ...
Brave Blossoms must beat higher-ranked nations to gain respect
Playing against my England team at Twickenham last month was incredible for Japan. The Brave Blossoms also played New Zealand at home last month and Australia last year. Compare that to when I was Japan head coach. We played Georgia in Tbilisi and Romania in ...
Japan making the top eight at 2019 Rugby World Cup will be no easy task
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said earlier this week that his team's "Rugby World Cup final would be making the top eight." But for a side hoping to get to the quarterfinals next year in Japan, a 3-4 record for 2018 is, at first glance, hardly ...
Jamie Joseph sees signs of improvement for national team
With the Rugby World Cup set for next year, head coach Jamie Joseph believes there is still a lot of room for the Japan national team to improve. To reach that target, he insisted that the Brave Blossoms need to keep playing Tier 1 ...
Captain Michael Leitch saves day as Japan rallies past Russia
Japan captain Michael Leitch saved his side's blushes Saturday as his second try of the game sealed a 32-27 win over Russia in an international friendly at Kingsholm Stadium. The 30-year-old flanker reacted the quickest to the bounce of the ball following a clever kick ...
Japan will be looking to end a three-game losing streak Saturday when they take on Russia at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium in a dress rehearsal of the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Following games against a World XV and two sides that have ...
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 ...
