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RUGBY

Japan flanker Iroha Nagata attempts to score a try against Spain during the Women's Rugby World Cup in York, England, on Sunday.
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Sep 8, 2025
Japan bows out of Women's Rugby World Cup with comeback victory over Spain
Both sides were bidding for their first win of the tournament after defeats against world champion New Zealand and Ireland had ended their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
The No. 2 field at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium complex in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture. The field is slated to be upgraded into a 5,000-seat stadium but has faced lengthy construction delays.
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Sep 4, 2025
Upgrades for Osaka's Hanazono Rugby Stadium still mired in delays
The planned upgrades, featuring the construction of a new stadium by FC Osaka, is a condition for the third-tier J. League club to use Hanazono as its home ground.
New Zealand's No. 8 Layla Sae (top) and Japan's lock Yuna Sato reach for the ball from a line out during their Women's Rugby World Cup match at Sandy Park in Exeter, England, on Sunday.
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Sep 1, 2025
New Zealand sees off Japan to reach Women's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal
Japan produced one of the shocks of the tournament by opening the scoring against the six-time world champions in just the fourth minute.
Japan's Misaki Matsumura attempts to avoid a tackle by Ireland's Sam Monaghan during their match at the Women's Rugby World Cup in Northampton, England, on Sunday.
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Aug 25, 2025
Ireland tops spirited Japan to open Women's Rugby World Cup campaign
Japan coach Lesley McKenzie was proud of the way her side stuck to its attacking game.
New Zealand's Ardie Savea wins the lineout against Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin on Nov. 23.
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Aug 22, 2025
All Blacks' 'big bodies' look to outmuscle Pumas in Buenos Aires
The bulked-up back row has been seen as a longer-term plan to muscle up to world champions South Africa in the collisions.
Bristol Bears and U.S. star Ilona Maher during the warmup before a match against Gloucester-Hartpury in Gloucester, England on March 2
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Aug 22, 2025
England names strong side for Women's Rugby World Cup opener against U.S.
The Red Roses have lost only once in their past 58 matches — a defeat by New Zealand in the COVID-delayed 2022 World Cup final.
The All Blacks' Ardie Savea faces off with Pumas wing Rodrigo Isgro during their Rugby Championship match on Saturday in Cordoba, Argentina.
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Aug 17, 2025
All Blacks beat Argentina 41-24 to reclaim top world rank
Ahead 31-10 at the interval, New Zealand held off a second-half fightback from the Pumas in Cordoba and ultimately emerged as the victors by scoring six tries to three.
New Zealand celebrates winning the Women's World Cup in Auckland on Nov. 12, 2022.
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Aug 12, 2025
Women's Rugby World Cup players to wear mouthguards that light up on impact
The smart gumshields will send an alert to the match-day doctor warning of possible concussions, while referees will be advised to stop play upon seeing the red flash.
Australia's Charlotte Caslick (left) has been ruled out of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup due to an ankle injury.
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Aug 11, 2025
Australia loses Charlotte Caslick ahead of Women's Rugby World Cup
Caslick, who was named sevens World Player of the Year in 2016, damaged her ankle against New Zealand last month but was included in Jo Yapp's Australia squad last week.
Leroy Carters competed for New Zealand in rugby sevens during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Aug 7, 2025
Leroy Carter's first All Blacks call-up nearly goes awry after dog eats passport
Carter, a utility back named among the injury replacements in Scott Robertson's All Blacks squad
Rugby World Cup Australia Managing Director Chris Stanley (far left), Rugby Australia Chief Executive Phil Waugh (next left), former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper (center left), Chairman of World Rugby Brett Robinson (center right), World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin (next right) and former Australia sevens player Chloe Dalton (far right) pose with the Webb Ellis Cup at the launch of ticketing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday.
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Jul 30, 2025
'Most accessible ever' tickets planned for Australia's 2027 Rugby World Cup
More than a million tickets for every stage will be priced at under A$100.
England flanker Guy Pepper runs with the ball past Argentina fly-half Santiago Carreras during an international rugby test match in San Juan, Argentina, on July 12.
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Jul 22, 2025
England players suffered racist abuse from fans in Argentina, World Rugby says
"While it is clear that an incident took place, we regret that the individuals responsible could not be identified," World Rugby said.
New Zealand's Ardie Savea in action against Ireland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Nov. 8
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Jun 17, 2025
All Black Savea to skip Super Rugby for Japan sabbatical in 2026
Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga said Savea, who was the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year this season, would be welcomed back with open arms in 2027.
Toshiba's Richie Mo'unga runs with the ball at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on May 24.
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Jun 2, 2025
Mo'unga shrugs off broken hand to win Japanese title
The fly-half has finished every season in top-level domestic rugby since 2017 with a winner's medal, and he picked up another with Toshiba.
Japan captain Michael Leitch
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May 13, 2025
Japan rugby tightens eligibility rules on foreign-born players
More than half of the players who started last season's final of the Japan Rugby League One championship were born overseas.
An investigation by World Rugby found that JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi did not breach Asia Rugby's code of conduct.
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Apr 25, 2025
Furious Japan seeks apology after 'no basis' found for chairman's Asia Rugby ban
World Rugby was called in to investigate in February when Asia Rugby banned Iwabuchi from its executive committee for a potential code of conduct breach.
New Zealand's Mark Tele'a in action in October 2023
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Apr 15, 2025
All Black wing Tele'a announces Japan switch
Media reports have suggested that the 28-year-old will join Toyota Verblitz.
Ex-players are seeking compensation from a number of rugby organizations for lost earnings, medical bills and care costs associated with their injuries, in a long-running concussion lawsuit.
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Apr 2, 2025
More than 1,000 ex-rugby players join concussion lawsuit: legal firm
"The claimants are suffering with a range of life-altering neurological conditions," said Rylands Garth.
Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi, seen at a news conference in June 2019, has been suspended from his role as vice president with Asia Rugby pending an investigation into a potential code of conduct breach.
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Feb 25, 2025
Japan seeks answers after Asia Rugby suspends vice president
Asia Rugby said Kensuke Iwabuchi had been suspended "in line with Asia Rugby principles of equality, transparency and accountability."
All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett takes a selfie with children at an event in Yokohama on Nov. 28, 2017.
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Feb 6, 2025
Beauden Barrett wants Japan back in expanded Super Rugby
"I'd love to see the Japanese become part of the competition," Barrett said. "I feel like we need to grow the competition and in that respect, that would be great."

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’