Brave Blossoms admit nervousness and excitement before RWC opener against Russia
Japan national team players on Thursday confessed to feeling nervous ahead of Friday's opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but are confident the excitement of the occasion will sweep away the butterflies when the host nation faces Russia at Tokyo Stadium. "I'm sure ...
Japan coach Jamie Joseph promised the hosts would "give 150 percent" to hit their target of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after naming his 31-man squad on Thursday. The Brave Blossoms will be at full strength when they face Russia in the tournament's opener ...
Brave Blossoms unveil new uniforms
The Japan Rugby Football Union revealed the new jersey for its national team, which could help the Brave Blossoms achieve a feat at the upcoming Rugby World Cup on home soil, on Thursday. While the basic white and red design remained the same from the ...
Japan hooker Shota Horie focused on rehab following foot surgery
Japan hooker Shota Horie said Thursday he underwent surgery on his right foot in November to treat a stress fracture. Horie, who plays for the Top League's Panasonic Wild Knights, is expected to return to the field by this autumn's Rugby World Cup, having been ...
Sunwolves optimistic despite tough season
The Sunwolves entered their third season in Super Rugby with a lofty goal of finishing in the top five in the standings. However, the team had a league-worst 3-13 record in the 2018 campaign. Nonetheless, the players insisted that it was a meaningful season that would ...
Tighthead prop Koo Ji-won set to earn first cap for Japan against Tonga
Japan heads into Saturday's game with Tonga at Stade Ernest Wallon with a side that shows five changes and two positional switches from the team that started the 63-30 defeat to the Wallabies on Nov. 4. Tighthead prop Koo Ji-won is set to make his ...
Toshiba Brave Lupus forward Michael Leitch will lead Japan in its upcoming four matches, head coach Jamie Joseph announced Thursday in naming his 34-man squad for the game against a World XV and tests against Australia, Tonga and France. Leitch had made himself unavailable for ...
Leitch appointed Brave Blossoms captain again; Joseph shakes up lineup
Michael Leitch was named Japan captain Thursday as the Brave Blossoms look to restore some pride this weekend in the second test against Ireland. Head coach Jamie Joseph responded to a disappointing 50-22 defeat in the first test — in which he said the players ...
Japan's pace got the better of Romania's brawn on Saturday as the Brave Blossoms downed the Oaks 33-21 at a packed Egao Kenko Stadium. With Michael Leitch and Fumiaki Tanaka showing all their experience and Ryuji Noguchi and Jumpei Ogura highlighting the growing competitiveness of ...
Joseph opts to keep key veterans on bench
Japan coach Jamie Joseph sprung a few surprises Thursday when he named his side for Saturday's test with Romania, the first of three test matches in successive weekends against European foes. The former New Zealand and Japan international opted to start a number of senior ...
Sunwolves veterans return to bolster lineup before match against Sharks
There were some familiar faces on show Thursday as the Sunwolves trained on the grounds of UWCSEA international school ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby game against South Africa's Sharks at Singapore National Stadium. Veteran internationals Harumichi Tatekawa, Shota Horie and Hitoshi Ono have all been ...
Sunwolves stay positive despite steep learning curve
The Sunwolves may have won only one game out of 10 so far this season, but Japan's Super Rugby team is confident that its efforts will pay off somewhere down the line. "For us it's about focusing on the process rather than just results," second-row ...
