top of page


Mo'unga inspires Toshiba on his return ahead of the play-off semi-finals
All Blacks superstar Richie Mo'unga inspired Toshiba Brave Lupus to their fifteenth win of the season on his return with a season-best...

Mark Pickering
May 7, 20243 min read


Toyota’s Smith stars off the bench as Barrett wins Japan send-off
Toyota Verblitz’s All Blacks ace Beauden Barrett signed off from League One with a 45-18 victory over a stubborn Black Rams Tokyo side at...

Mark Pickering
May 6, 20244 min read


VIDEO HL - Wild Knights v Canon Eagles
Panasonic Wild Knights defeated Yokohama Canon Eagles 43 - 14 in Oita to finish the regular season unbeaten with 16 wins from 16 games.

Mark Pickering
May 5, 20241 min read


League One, Division 1, Round 16 Teams
The final weekend of the division one regular season is upon us. The action begins in Mie as relegation-threatened Honda Heat host Kobe...

Mark Pickering
May 4, 20244 min read


Meet Quade Cooper’s 40-year-old Liners teammate
Japan Rugby’s fully professional and star-laden League One is now in its third season but there are still a few fading remnants of the...

Mark Pickering
May 2, 20242 min read


Japan Rugby League One Gossip Column
Welcome to 2 May edition of RugbyJP.com’s Weekly Gossip Column as we round-up all the latest news, transfer rumours, departures and more. ...

Mark Pickering
May 2, 20242 min read


Liam Williams targets 2027 World Cup with Wales
Kubota Spears full-back Liam Williams has reiterated his desire to return to the international Test rugby fold for Wales’ summer tour to...

Mark Pickering
Apr 29, 20242 min read


Freddie Burns steers Shuttles past Wayne Pivac’s NEC GR
Promotion hopefuls Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi concluded their division two regular season with a dramatic come-from-behind victory...

Mark Pickering
Apr 28, 20242 min read


Toshiba overpowers Suntory in Fuchu derby ahead of play-offs
Toshiba Brave Lupus underlined their title credentials by overpowering Suntory Sungoliath 36-27 in the Fuchu derby at Chichibunomiya...

Mark Pickering
Apr 27, 20242 min read


Title-chasing rivals Toshiba and Suntory set to meet in Fuchu derby
Title contenders Toshiba Brave Lupus and Suntory Sungoliah will clash in the Fuchu derby on Saturday in the penultimate round of League...

Mark Pickering
Apr 26, 20242 min read


Kobe Steelers confirm Ardie Savea’s exit
Kobe Steelers has announced that World Player of The Year Ardie Savea will leave the club at the end of the season. The 30-year-old’s...

Mark Pickering
Apr 26, 20242 min read


World Cup star Lemeki hails retiring Tanaka
Legendary Japan scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka, 39, has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. The NEC Green Rockets number...

Mark Pickering
Apr 24, 20242 min read


World champion boxer to attend Dynaboars’ last home game
Undefeated world champion boxer Junto Nakatani will attend Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars last home game of the season...

Mark Pickering
Apr 24, 20242 min read


Top 5 Player Stats After RD 14
RugbyJP.com has compiled Top 5 Player Stats in select categories following round 14 of the top-flight. League One's premier division...

Mark Pickering
Apr 22, 20241 min read


Champions Kubota end Kobe’s play-off hopes in Sapporo
League One champions Kubota Spears ended Kobe Steelers’ play-off ambitions with a convincing 39-29 victory at the Sapporo Dome in...

Mark Pickering
Apr 21, 20242 min read


Kriel scores on return as Yokohama sink the Dynaboars in Tokyo
Springboks star Jesse Kriel marked his return to action for Yokohama Canon Eagles by scoring his first try of the campaign as the hosts...

Mark Pickering
Apr 20, 20243 min read


5 Things to Look Out for in League One - RD 14
1. Do or Die for Smith, Barrett and du Toit in Japan Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz find themselves in an ominous must-win position in...

Mark Pickering
Apr 19, 20244 min read


Joseph Manu to play under Ian Foster at Toyota
NRL star Joseph Manu will play under former All Blacks coach Ian Foster at Toyota Verblitz next season. Toyota announced the arrival of...

Mark Pickering
Apr 18, 20243 min read


Ex-Toshiba wing Cooper Vuna retires
Former Toshiba Brave Lupus winger Cooper Vuna has announced his retirement at the age of 36. Auckland-born Vuna started his career in...

Mark Pickering
Apr 17, 20242 min read


Honours even as Toshiba and Kobe play out 80-point thriller
Second-placed Toshiba Brave Lupus and play-off chasing Kobe Steelers produced the game of the season at a sun-soaked Chichibunomiya Rugby...

Mark Pickering
Apr 14, 20242 min read
bottom of page
