Rugby Jan 15, 2021
New rugby league to feature 12 teams, two conferences in top flight
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Japan Rugby Football Union hopes a larger first division will result in higher-quality matches when the new league kicks off in January 2022.
Rugby Jan 14, 2021
On Tuesday, the JFRU said 24 players and staff at Canon Eagles, 13 from Toyota Verblitz, and seven from Suntory Sungoliath tested positive in preseason screening.
Rugby Jan 8, 2021
Up to 17,000 may attend national university rugby final next week
The Japan Rugby Football Union plans to hold the final of the national university championship as scheduled next week in Tokyo with up to around 17,000 spectators, a source with knowledge of the matter said Thursday. The Japanese capital and three neighboring prefectures are subject ...
Rugby Sep 26, 2020
Building up rugby team placed ahead of Japanese citizens' rights
by Rich Freeman
Three naturalized Japanese citizens found themselves on the wrong side of a decision that essentially restricts their ability to work as professional rugby players in their adopted homeland. The Japan Rugby Football Union on Friday confirmed that the three, including two who are eligible to ...
Rugby Sep 25, 2020
JRFU rules certain Japan passport holders can't be treated as locals
The decision came after three foreign-born Top League players called for the rule to be overturned.
Rugby Jul 19, 2020
JRFU executive pushes for Top League sides' inclusion in new Southern Hemisphere tournament
If Japan's national rugby team is to grow stronger in the long term, the country's top clubs must compete against the best from the Southern Hemisphere, according to Japan Rugby Football Union Director Yuichiro Fujii. Fujii, who is tasked with strengthening the Brave Blossoms ahead ...
Rugby Jun 1, 2020
Sunwolves' time in Super Rugby over as team's bid to join tourney in Australia fails
Japan's Super Rugby team had been attempting to join a competition hosted by Rugby Australia.
Rugby May 22, 2020
JRFU hopes to be key to more unified rugby world
by Rich Freeman
Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi hopes Japan can help steer rugby toward a global calendar and develop the sport in Asia.
Rugby May 12, 2020
The launch of a new domestic rugby competition in Japan, originally scheduled for the fall of next year, may be delayed due to the one-year postponement of the Summer Olympics, a Japan Rugby Football Union executive said Monday. Speaking to reporters online, Mayumi Taniguchi, a ...
Rugby | ADDING THE EXTRAS May 1, 2020
Rule change leaves trio of naturalized Top League players in limbo
by Rich Freeman
The group, which includes two players who have represented Japan in sevens, is petitioning the Japan Rugby Football Union to recognize their status as local players.
Rugby Apr 3, 2020
All-Japan Championship canceled for first time over coronavirus
The Japan Rugby Football Union announced Thursday the cancellation of this year's All-Japan Championship in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The season-ending championship, usually involving the top four sides from the Top League competition, was scheduled to take place over two weekends beginning on ...
Rugby | ADDING THE EXTRAS Mar 28, 2020
Odd decisions, big questions amidst crises in Japanese rugby
by Rich Freeman
With rugby seemingly done for the season, it is time to look back on a crazy few months that have seen Japanese rugby go from the highs of the 2019 Rugby World Cup to a state of confusion in which even a former Brave ...