Final Top League set to kick off as rugby clubs eye new era
Beginning next year, the top 25 teams in the nation — 16 from the Top League and nine Top Challenge League sides — will play in a new three-tier competition.
Former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read enjoys Michael Hooper bromance in Japan
Ex-All Blacks captain Kieran Read hailed his blossoming bromance with Australia skipper Michael Hooper on Monday, as the former arch rivals prepare to join forces in Japan's Top League. Read and Hooper will team up for the first time as Toyota Verblitz take on Toshiba ...
Rising wheelchair rugby star Katsuya Hashimoto looks to show the world what he's made of
At 17 years old, Katsuya Hashimoto is the youngest wheelchair rugby player on the Japanese national team. With less than 300 days until the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, he often pictures himself on the court at the 2020 venue, ready for his ...
Japan marks largest drop in foreign visitors in over seven years in October
The number of foreign visitors to Japan marked the largest percentage drop in more than seven years in October with a 5.5 percent year-on-year fall, as a devastating typhoon and a continued plunge in South Korean tourists more than offset positive effects from the ...
It's time for the Brave Blossoms to be on a level financial playing field
After six boisterous weeks, the 2019 Rugby World Cup is over. By all accounts, the tournament has been a roaring success, with Nikkei Business estimating that it has injected more than ¥430 billion into the economy. Sadly, it seems, the Japanese national side saw very ...
Beauden Barrett backs Ian Foster in New Zealand coaching search
New Zealand fullback Beauden Barrett has voiced his support for Ian Foster's bid to take over from Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach, saying he would like to see "continuity" in the role, local media have reported. Hansen ended his 16-year association with the team ...
World champion Springboks hope victory will inspire nation
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed hope that his team's victory in the Rugby World Cup final against England on Saturday can inspire his nation, but dismissed the notion that the Springboks were under pressure at the tournament. "In South Africa, pressure is not ...
South Africa 32, England 12: Springboks take home RWC trophy for third time
South Africa lifted the Rugby World Cup for the third time after a clinical 32-12 victory over England in Saturday's final. The Springboks grinded England down with their awesome forward power combined with metronomic kicking from standoff Handre Pollard, and headed into the final 20 ...
New Zealand captain Kieran Read looks forward to starting new chapter in Top League
All Blacks captain Kieran Read closed his test career at the Rugby World Cup on Friday, but said he is looking forward to opening a new chapter of his career in Japan, after spending more than six weeks in the country. Read played his final ...
As it happened: 2019 Rugby World Cup final — England vs South Africa
Live coverage of the big one — the final match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in which England faces South Africa for the first time since 2007.
New Zealand hammers Wales in bronze-medal match
New Zealand claimed third place at the Rugby World Cup with a 40-17 win over Wales on Friday night. The All Blacks were looking to win the tournament for the third time running and fourth overall this year in Japan, only to run into an ...
Revisiting five of the best England vs. South Africa test matches
Brief descriptions of five key matches between South Africa and England ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup final at International Stadium Yokohama: The countries have played 42 tests, with South Africa winning 25 and England 15. There have been two draws. 2007 — South Africa 15, ...
