Toyota Shuttles Aichi’s new fly-half Noah Lolesio has spoken of his desire to return to the Wallabies fold after an impressive start in Japan following a lengthy lay-off. Lolesio, 26, was overlooked for the 2023 World Cup by Eddie Jones but established himself as the Wallabies’ first-choice fly-half under Joe Schmidt before suffering a serious neck injury in a Test match against Fiji last July. The fit-again former Brumbies ace, who was signed as a replacement for ex-England

Australia’s dual-code wing Mark Nawaqanitawase’s new club has been revealed as Saitama Wild Knights after the League One leaders announced the deal on Monday afternoon. The 25-year-old Sydney Roosters wing will spend a second season in the NRL this year before moving to Japan in December following the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour. According to the Sydney Herald, Nawaqanitawase has inked a two-year contract with Atsushi Kanazawa’s inaugural League One champions who are currentl

Wallabies star Noah Lolesio will make his debut for new side Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi on Saturday after returning to full fitness following a serious neck injury. Lolesio, 26, was overlooked for the 2023 World Cup by Eddie Jones but established himself as the Wallabies’ first-choice fly-half under Joe Schmidt before suffering a neck injury in a Test match against Fiji in July which required surgery. The fit-again former Brumbies fly-half has participated in full train

Australia’s dual-code wing Mark Nawaqanitawase has inked a two-year deal with a Japanese division one club, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The 25-year-old Sydney Roosters wing will spend a second season in the NRL this year before moving to Japan as he returns to union to earn a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Nawaqanitawase has penned a lucrative deal with more than $1 million a season and has resisted offers from France, Jonathan Drennan reported. The form

Urayasu D-Rocks' star centre Samu Kerevi is aiming for a Wallabies recall in 2026 as he aims to represent Australia at a third successive World Cup in 2027. Kerevi, 32, last played for his country in November 2024 against Wales in the Autumn Nations Tour and was shown 20-minute a red card for  a dangerous tackle on Jac Morgan. Despite impressing last season for basement outfit Urayasu with 14 tries in 16 appearances and beating 76 defenders (third highest in the league), t he

Dan Carter’s discipline. Richie Mo’unga’s energy. Quade Cooper’s edge. Kintetsu Liners’ head strength and conditioning coach Takeshi Sakaguchi has trained elite number 10’s and he’s just started working with Springboks Manie Libbok. In this exclusive RugbyJP.com interview, Sakaguchi explains how Japanese rugby is evolving and why consistency, detail and mindset define world-class players.   Sakaguchi has established himself as a go-to authority on strength and conditioning i

Wallabies legend Will Genia is relishing working with Springboks star Manie Libbok as he makes the transition into coaching alongside his long-time teammate Quade Cooper at division two side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.   Genia, who announced his retirement in August, and his ex-half-back partner Quade Cooper, both, 37, rejoined the promotion-chasing Liners as coaches in July after six seasons playing for the Osaka-based club.   Papua New Guinea-born Genia is working as a skills

Wallabies star Noah Lolesio has joined second division Japanese side Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi and could make his debut against Springboks star Manie Libbok in round one in December. Brumbies fly-half Lolesio, who RugbyJP.com reported was poised to join the Shuttles back in April, was overlooked for the 2023 World Cup by Eddie Jones but established himself as the Wallabies first-choice fly-half under Joe Schmidt. The 25-year-old Auckland native suffered a neck injury

Japan star Dylan Riley, 28, has been named as vice-captain for Saturday’s clash against the Wallabies at the National Stadium in Tokyo. The Saitama Wild Knights outside-centre will earn his 34 th  cap for the Brave Blossoms in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup encounter which is expected to attract over 45,000 fans.  Riley in action against Wales - © JRFU 1. Born in Durban, South Africa   Riley was born in Durban on the east coast of South Africa in 1997. South African fans proud

Japan head coach Eddie Jones has lauded his record against Australia as he prepares to face his former employers for the first time since presiding over the Wallabies’ first group stage exit at the World Cup in 2023. Pacific Nations Cup runners-up Japan host Joe Schmidt’s resurgent side on Saturday at the National Stadium in Tokyo ahead of the Autumn Nations Series in November. The build-up has been dominated by Jones being reunited with the two-time World Cup winners who he

Japan hosts the Wallabies on Saturday at the National Stadium in Tokyo while former League One champions Saitama Wild Knights face Super Rugby outfit Queensland Reds in Australia.   RugbyJP.com had opportunity to speak to Queensland Reds’ General Manager (High Performance) Sam Cordingley (below) - a former Grenoble, Reds and Wallabies scrum-half-ahead of a momentous weekend for Japanese-Australian rugby relations. RugbyJP.com (RJP) : Were you surprised to see Saitama's head

Wallabies legend and former Hanazono Kintetsu Liners star Will Genia has announced his retirement at the age of 37. Genia and his...

Former Wallabies stars Will Genia and Quade Cooper will make their coaching bow for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners against Richie Mo’unga’s...

Former Wallabies star and ex-Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu has been appointed as the new head coach at division two side...

Hanazono Kintetsu Liners’ former superstar half-back pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper have rejoined the division two side as...

Yokohama Canon Eagles’ double World Cup-winning scrum-half Faf de Klerk has been overlooked for South Africa’s 37-man squad for the first...

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) and Rugby Australia today announced that a fixture between Australia A and a Japan XV side will...

Urayasu D-Rocks centre Samu Kerevi has put his hand up for selection for the Wallabies this summer after a fine season in Japan and is...

Kintetsu Liners’ forwards coach and World Cup-winning Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu will coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV...

Glenn Delaney’s Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars announced their outgoing players after concluding their season with an away...