Japan overcomes ferocious Sunwolves challenge as Europe tour looms
The meeting at Ecopa Stadium Shizuoka served as a warmup for the Brave Blossoms ahead of tests in late June and early July against Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph on Monday named captain Michael Leitch, fullback/wing Kotaro Matsushima and No. 8 Kazuki Himeno among 36 players for a two-match European tour in June and July. Having not played a game since their heroics at the 2019 Rugby World Cup ...
Japan to face Eddie Jones' England in second match of World Cup pool stage
Japan will open its 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in France against the second-ranked team from the Americas qualifying tournament before clashing with heavyweight England and former coach Eddie Jones, World Rugby announced Friday. The Brave Blossoms will play their opener on Sept. 10 in ...
Japan seeks top-level competition ahead of 2023 reunion with Eddie Jones
The Brave Blossoms head coach wants to recreate the preparations that led to Japan's quarterfinal run on home soil in 2019.
Brave Blossoms won't play at all in 2020 because of pandemic
Brave Blossoms have not played a match since their World Cup quarterfinal defeat to South Africa on Oct. 20 last year.
Jamie Joseph expecting Japan's summer tests against England, Wales to be called off or postponed
With Japan's summer test matches against Wales and Rugby World Cup runner-up England almost guaranteed to be called off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph is hoping the games can be played at a later date. Talking recently to ...
Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph in middle of conflict between JRFU, World Rugby
An escalating spat between World Rugby and the Japan Rugby Football Union was behind Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph's recent comments about the timing of a new domestic league, a source close to the matter has told Kyodo News. In his first press conference since ...
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 ...
Jamie Joseph and Brave Blossoms among nominees for World Rugby awards
Jamie Joseph and his Japan squad have been nominated for World Rugby awards in an elite field that includes the best teams and coaches in the game. Rassie Erasmus and Eddie Jones, who will go head-to-head when South Africa and England meet in the World ...
JRFU wants Jamie Joseph to remain national team coach after team's RWC success
The Japan Rugby Football Union decided Thursday to ask Jamie Joseph to continue as the national team head coach following a successful Rugby World Cup campaign in which the Brave Blossoms reached the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time. The JRFU will make ...
Japan needs to prove Rugby World Cup's 'Once in a Lifetime' catchphrase wrong
The catchphrase of the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan is "Once in a Lifetime." The big question, a day after the Brave Blossoms were knocked out of the competition by South Africa, is will Japanese rugby be able to prove that wrong and ...
Japan players and coach praise team unity after run to quarterfinals at Rugby World Cup
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said Monday the team's impressive work ethic played a major role in the hosts making a run to the Rugby World Cup's last eight for the first time. Speaking a day after the Brave Blossoms were knocked out of the tournament ...
