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 ...
Japan climbed two spots in the world rankings to ninth, according to World Rugby's announcement on Monday, two days after clinching the Pacific Nations Cup with a 34-20 victory over the United States. With a little over a month to go until the 2019 Rugby ...
Captain Michael Leitch scored two tries as Japan beat the United States 34-20 on Saturday to claim the Pacific Nations Cup for the third time. Winger Kenki Fukuoka also scored a try, had a hand in Leitch's second — one of the best scored in ...
With the Rugby World Cup just six weeks away, Japan will look to put the finishing touches on its preparations for the global showpiece against the United States in the Pacific Nations Cup in Suva, Fiji, on Saturday. With both sides winning their first ...
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 ...
Young prop Yusuke Kizu gunning for RWC spot with Brave Blossoms
Yusuke Kizu may have little experience playing for the Japan national team, but the young prop is building a resume as he bids for a spot in this autumn's Rugby World Cup. The 23-year-old made his Japan debut at the current Pacific Nations Cup, an ...
Japan continues to show mettle with impressive win over Tonga
The mental toughness Japan has been developing over the last few years — first seen in a 2013 win over Wales in Tokyo — once again came to the fore on Saturday as it kept alive its hopes of winning some silverware even before ...
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, ...
Flyhalf A.J. MacGinty kicked a penalty two minutes after the full time siren to give the United States a 13-10 win over Samoa Saturday which left it unbeaten after two rounds of the Pacific Nations Cup. MacGinty contributed all of the United States' points from ...
Fiji storms past Canada to get back on track at Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji's forwards muscled up to keep their Pacific Nations Cup title defense alive and put their Rugby World Cup preparations back on track with a thumping 38-13 victory over Canada on Saturday. Flying Fijians coach John McKee rang the changes after the 34-21 loss to ...
Japan heads into Saturday's clash against Tonga knowing it will be more than a Pacific Nations Cup match, but a chance to test its strength and technique ahead of this autumn's Rugby World Cup. Among the three tests remaining for Japan in the run-up to ...
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 ...
