Tuesday in Japan marks one month to go until the country becomes the first Asian nation to host the Rugby World Cup, the sport's quadrennial showpiece that to date has been dominated by the Southern Hemisphere powerhouses. Twenty teams will battle it out for the ...
Winning the Pacific Nations Cup has given Japan every confidence that it is on the right track to achieve its goal of reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time. After big wins over Fiji and Tonga, Japan overpowered a dogged United ...
Risk of injury real concern before final squads named
With less than three weeks to go before the 2019 Rugby World Cup coaches name their final squads, and 41 days before the tournament kicks off in Tokyo, it is a nervous time for players. While warm-up games — and there are plenty this weekend ...
Brave Blossoms trounce Tonga, remain unbeaten in Pacific Nations Cup
Japan claimed its second straight win in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday, beating Tonga 41-7 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium to set up a winner-takes-all clash against the United States. Japan, playing the second of four matches in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup, ...
Brave Blossoms' Michael Leitch named to starting lineup for first time since December
Japan coach Jamie Joseph opted against making wholesale changes Thursday as he named his side to play Tonga in the second round of the Pacific Nations Cup. Michael Leitch will lead a side on Saturday at Hanazono Rugby Stadium that shows just five changes from ...
Japan showing off new tricks ahead of World Cup
The tone for Japan's win over Fiji on Saturday was set as early as the third minute when match captain Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne overruled the wishes of Yu Tamura and told his flyhalf to take the points on offer rather than kick for the ...
Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph announces squad for Pacific Nations Cup opener
Japan coach Jamie Joseph named his team Thursday for the Brave Blossoms' first test of the year and the first of just four games before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in September. Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne, James Moore and Yusuke Kizu are all set to ...
Brave Blossoms boss Jamie Joseph explains Sunwolves player policy
Japan coach Jamie Joseph hit back at criticism over his handling of the Sunwolves saying that from a national team's point of view things went well, though not necessarily the way they were initially intended to go. "I thought it was the perfect plan," he ...
Japan ramps up Rugby World Cup prep
The Brave Blossoms began the second stage of their pre-Rugby World Cup camp on Monday in Miyazaki with head coach Jamie Joseph saying Japan is at the stage where it's respected, but perhaps not feared. However the New Zealander told Kyodo News he is confident ...
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 ...
