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 ...
Proposed new league presents issues for Japan
A World Rugby news release late Wednesday night from Dublin may have appeased some parties concerned by plans for a new worldwide league, but many questions remain as to how Japan will be affected. The sport's governing body was attacked from all sides last week ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
