NEWSWORTHY
Former Japan Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori urges JRFU to make reforms
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Friday called for reform within the Japan Rugby Football Union two days after he announced his shock resignation as the body's honorary chairman. Citing a lack of vision for the future of Japanese rugby after this year's Rugby World ...
Former Japan Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to step down as JRFU honorary chairman
Just five months before Japan hosts Rugby World Cup 2019, former Japan Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday he will step down as honorary chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union. "He told me it's no good unless we have younger people take the lead," ...
Sunwolves' demise may lead to new dawn for Japanese rugby
On the face of it, the axing of the Sunwolves from Super Rugby was simply a case of too much money demanded, or a belief that the tournament was not the right road for Japan to pursue. But delve deeper and it appears that political ...
The Sunwolves' exit from Super Rugby was confirmed Friday with the tournament organizer saying in a press release that the immediate future of the competition "rests with a 14-team, round robin, competition format." The revised format will come into operation and kick off in 2021, ...
The Japan Rugby Football Union said Friday it supports the establishment of a 12-team Nations Championship as proposed by the sport's global governing body. World Rugby met Thursday in Dublin with the heads of the prospective unions to make its pitch for the competition incorporating ...
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 ...
Amanaki Lelei Mafi called up to Japan's Rugby World Cup camp amid assault proceedings
Amanaki Lelei Mafi, who is undergoing criminal proceedings for assault, has been called up to Japan's extended Rugby World Cup training camp, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced Monday. The No. 8, who was charged with intent to injure former Melbourne Rebels teammate Lopeti Timani ...
Japan's top-flight and second-tier rugby teams will compete for the Top League Cup ahead of this year's World Cup, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced Thursday. The Top League Cup, a competition introduced last season, will see 24 teams split into four pools of six. ...
Cloud of uncertainty hovers over Top League
The New Year is traditionally a time for looking back on the past and looking ahead. And while the future may appear bright with the Rugby World Cup kicking off in nine months, there are a lot of people involved in the sport in Japan ...
Intense season awaits Top League
The 2018-19 Top League season kicks off Friday with plenty of changes to the format both on and off the field as the Japan Rugby Football Union looks to do all it can to ensure the Brave Blossoms are at their peak when Japan ...
Kensuke Iwabuchi named Japan's rugby sevens national team coach
Kensuke Iwabuchi, the director of high performance for the national sevens teams, was named new head coach for the men's side, the Japan Rugby Football Union said Monday. The 42-year-old Iwabuchi will take over the job from Damian Karauna, whose contract expires at the end ...
Japan names 40-man training squad for Rugby World Cup
The Japan Rugby Football Union named a 40-man Rugby World Cup training squad Wednesday, the day after the nation marked 500 days to go until the tournament kicks off in Tokyo. Masahiro Kunda, director of the Japan national team, said in a press release the ...
