NEWSWORTHY
To challenge China's influence in Pacific, Australia turns to rugby league in soft-power offensive
Australia will direct more foreign aid to develop the sport of rugby league in the Pacific, officials say, bolstering a soft power offensive against China's growing influence in the region. The plan, backed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, aims to tap into a shared passion ...
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mulls visiting Twickenham Stadium, home of England rugby team
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering visiting Twickenham Stadium, home of the England rugby team, during his trip to the U.K. in January, it has been learned. The Japanese and U.K. governments are currently making scheduling arrangements for the visit. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is ...
With the Rugby World Cup approaching, New Zealand’s national men’s and women’s rugby teams appear to be using Japan as a backdrop to produce a series on videos that help promote their brand. On April 23, the All Blacks and Black Ferns launched a “diversity ...
Advice on HIV tests, Japanese pensions, rugby and reuniting with kids
Lifelines works through a selection of topics that have come our way recently.
New National Stadium to be tailored for soccer, rugby after 2020 Games: sources
The new National Stadium being built for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be used exclusively for team ball sports like soccer and rugby after the games, sources told Kyodo News on Tuesday. Government officials, the sources said, are finalizing plans to build seats on top ...
Nomura hires former Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones for leadership lessons
Nomura, Japan's top investment bank, has hired England rugby union coach Eddie Jones to impart his wisdom on leadership and teamwork to its clients in Europe. Australian Jones, who has overseen a record-equaling revival for England since taking over as coach after the team's early ...
Rugby star Goromaru immortalized in ceramic figurine by Welsh family
A family ceramic business has ensured Japanese rugby player Ayumu Goromaru is counted among the stars of the game by modeling a 9-inch caricature figure after him — considered an accolade in the rugby world. The World of Groggs, based in Pontypridd, Wales, specializes in ...
Rugby fever draws Japan youth to New Zealand
The rising popularity of rugby in Japan is having spinoff effects for the nation's relationship with New Zealand as students increasingly choose to study in the rugby stronghold. After the Brave Blossoms' historic victory against South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the ...
Japan's magnificent sevens prevail over Kenya, France to reach rugby semifinals
Japan's incredible run at the men's rugby sevens tournament at the Rio Olympics continued Wednesday with two more wins to reach the semifinals. A majestic 31-7 victory over Kenya in their final pool game at Deodoro Stadium was followed by a gutsy 12-7 triumph over ...
First it was a World Cup upset for Japan. Now it’s the Olympics. For the second time in less than a year, Japan stunned a traditional rugby power at a global event — and it’s destined to keep people interested. Inspired by the win over South ...
Young wheelchair rugby player aiming for Olympic gold
A teenage wheelchair rugby player is hoping to inspire the national wheelchair rugby team to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Takumi Wachi, now 19, was a key player when his team, the Hokkaido Big Dippers, won at the Asian Paralympic Games in Incheon, ...
Scotland will be at full strength for its two-test rugby tour of Japan next month because it cannot afford to rest players. Practically all of the 27-man squad named on Monday competed in the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations this season. Coach Vern Cotter said ...
