Japan

The pools for RWC 2023 have and some freshness and some familiarity. What are the fresh match-ups and what are the déjà vu match-ups that will take-place at the group stage? Freshness Pool Balance What is RWC 2023’s Pool of Death? Is there actually one? Compared to prior RWCs the …

The latest signing announcement from the LA Giltinis for the 2021 Major League Rugby season is another Australian who arrives by way of Japan. Corey Thomas is a 6’4″ (1.94m) lock or loose forward who qualifies for Canada through his Edmonton-born father. Thomas, 26, started one Super Rugby match for …

The New England Free Jacks have confirmed the return of Japan international Kensuke Hatakeyama for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He fulfills the second of a two-year contract announced in November of last year. Hatakeyama managed just two games during the MLR campaign. The 78-test veteran started the season …

Robbie Petzer’s move to Japan has been cancelled. The ex-Raptors star signed for Tokyo Gas of the Top East League earlier this year, but travel restrictions due to the pandemic has thrown a wrench in those plans. He will instead stay in Major League Rugby having agreed a deal with …

England’s top women’s division – the Premier 15s – is set to kick off this weekend. The semi-professional competition will feature a number of North American players this season, with an impressive six names in Exeter’s lineup to face Gloucester-Hartpury. New Canadian arrivals Emily Tuttosi, McKinley Hunt, and Taylor Black …

Japan are prepared to host the troubled Summer Olympic Games regardless of any complication imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, says the country’s Olympic Minister. Seiko Hashimoto spoke at a media conference on Tuesday to reassure the public that the Games would go on in 2021. “Everyone involved is working together …

Colorado Raptors star Robbie Petzer will not be returning to Major League Rugby in 2021. While many of his teammates have opted to stay in the league following Colorado’s withdrawal, Petzer will move to Japan to take up a contract with Tokyo Gas. Petzer, 24, arrived from South Africa ahead …

Bill Beaumont has established an 8 Nations competition. It sees Fiji and Japan joining the six members of the annual 6 Nations tournament. The competition replaces the annual November Internationals that see teams traveling to Europe to play three or four matches. The cancellation of the matches due to COVID-19 …

The new dates for the Rugby Sevens event at the postponed Tokyo Olympics have been confirmed. As expected the games will take place between July 25-31, 2021, a near identical placement to where the rugby would have been played had the tournament taken place as planned in 2020. Ajinomoto Stadium …

World Rugby has confirmed the qualification  model for Rugby World Cup 2023. The France-hosted tournament will be a 20-team competition, operating on the same model as that of Japan 2019. As was the case in RWC 2019, RWC 2023 has eight qualifying slots. The eight successful teams will join the …