The Japan Rugby Football Union on Monday announced a unique ticket package for the November test match against Australia — 50 tickets that come with a 300-gram steak of kangaroo meat. Priced at ¥6,000 per ticket, the package will go on sale Sept. 2 for ...
Their Super Rugby future may be in doubt, but the Melbourne Rebels are certain they want Tonga-born Japan international Amanaki Mafi back for next season. The Rebels announced Wednesday that Mafi, who has played 16 tests for Japan, would return in the backrow. Mafi, 27, was ...
As rehearsals go for Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan's three-test series in June and the nation's performance, both on and off the field, drew mixed reviews. On the playing front, the win over Romania and two defeats to Ireland left coach Jamie Joseph in no ...
Michael Leitch was named Japan captain Thursday as the Brave Blossoms look to restore some pride this weekend in the second test against Ireland. Head coach Jamie Joseph responded to a disappointing 50-22 defeat in the first test — in which he said the players ...
The Ireland rugby team believes it deserves to be considered among the favorites to lift the 2019 World Cup in Japan and has little time for suggestions that the six-time quarterfinalist is jinxed in the competition. "We're ranked third in the world and we were ...
Lock Luke Thompson, a 36-year-old who retired from international duty after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, has been recalled by Japan head coach Jamie Joseph for the Brave Blossoms' second test against Ireland on Saturday. Wing Akihito Yamada, back from injury, and flanker Shokei Kin ...
Ireland rugby fans attending their country's test match against Japan in Shizuoka on Saturday were confident that supporters around the Asia-Pacific region will help make the 2019 World Cup an international festival. "I'd say every Irish person that lives within flying distance will come," said ...
Ireland handed Japan a harsh lesson with a 50-22 victory in the first of two test matches between the 2019 Rugby World Cup group rivals on Saturday. Japan went into the game at Ecopa Stadium looking to beat Ireland for the first time in eight ...
Japan heads into its first test with Ireland showing five changes and one positional switch from the team that started last week's 33-21 win over Romania. Head coach Jamie Joseph named his 23-man squad Thursday for Saturday's game at Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium following a week ...
Japan has suffered a double injury blow with Kubota Spears center Harumichi Tatekawa and Panasonic Wild Knights wing Akihito Yamada dropping out of the national squad ahead of the two-test series with Ireland. Tatekawa, who is co-captain of the squad along with Panasonic hooker Shota ...
Japan's pace got the better of Romania's brawn on Saturday as the Brave Blossoms downed the Oaks 33-21 at a packed Egao Kenko Stadium. With Michael Leitch and Fumiaki Tanaka showing all their experience and Ryuji Noguchi and Jumpei Ogura highlighting the growing competitiveness of ...
Japan coach Jamie Joseph sprung a few surprises Thursday when he named his side for Saturday's test with Romania, the first of three test matches in successive weekends against European foes. The former New Zealand and Japan international opted to start a number of senior ...
