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Richie Mo'unga: I last lost like that in the under 8s
Toshiba Brave Lupus’ back-to-back MVP Richie Mo’unga said Sunday’s 46-0 whitewash by rivals Saitama Wild Knights was his worst defeat since he was playing under 8s rugby. Mo’unga, 31, is aiming to sign off from Toshiba this season by winning a third consecutive League One title but their ‘three-peat’ ambitions got off to a humiliating start as they were routed by inaugural champions Saitama Wild Knights. The manner of the defeat - Toshiba’s worst in the history of League One,

Mark Pickering
Dec 16, 20252 min read


Carter, Mo’unga, Cooper, Libbok: Meet the S&C guru behind rugby’s elite No.10s
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

Mark Pickering
Dec 5, 20257 min read


Mo’unga returns after five months, hails star debutant Tjay Clarke
Toshiba Brave Lupus superstar Richie Mo’unga returned to action on Saturday as the back-to-back League One champions defeated Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 36-33 in their latest pre-season game in Fuchu. Two-time MVP winner Mo’unga, 31, who will return to New Zealand next summer, was making his first appearance since his starring role in the League One final win against Kubota Spears in June. “It felt awesome to be back playing, it’s been five months and nothing can prepare

Mark Pickering
Nov 20, 20253 min read


Mo’unga set for Toshiba return — and reunion with his ex-Canterbury coach
Toshiba Brave Lupus superstar Richie Mo’unga returns to action on Saturday for the first time since steering his side to back-to-back League One titles in June. Mo’unga, 31, opened the scoring after five minutes with a sublime solo effort and added eight points from his boot to inspire the Fuchu team to an 18-13 win over Kubota Spears, despite playing with a broken hand. The 2023 World Cup runner-up, who won the Japan Rugby League One MVP award for the second season in a ro

Mark Pickering
Nov 13, 20253 min read


Kubota’s Bryn Hall tips Mo’unga to return to Japan after 2027 World Cup
Kubota Spears scrum-half Bryn Hall has tipped Toshiba Brave Lupus fly-half Richie Mo-unga to return to Japan after his third tilt at a...

Mark Pickering
Aug 16, 20253 min read


Toshiba’s MVP Richie Mo’unga to return to New Zealand in 2026
Toshiba Brave Lupus' double League One winner and back-to-back MVP Richie Mo’unga will return to New Zealand in 2026 after completing his...

Mark Pickering
Aug 7, 20252 min read


EXCLUSIVE – Toshiba’s Shannon Frizell poised to extend Japan stay
Toshiba Brave Lupus star Shannon Frizell is set to deal the All Blacks a major blow by extending his stay in Japan after completing his...

Mark Pickering
Jun 2, 20252 min read


Mo’unga stars as Toshiba win back-to-back League One titles
Toshiba Brave Lupus made history as the first team to win back-to-back League One titles as they defeated Kubota Spears 18-13 at the...

Mark Pickering
Jun 1, 20253 min read


RugbyJP.com Gossip Column
Welcome to the latest edition of RugbyJP.com ’s Gossip Column as we round-up all the latest news, transfer rumours, departures and...

Mark Pickering
Apr 16, 20252 min read


EXCLUSIVE – Richie Mo’unga to join ANZAC team to play the Lions
Toshiba Brave Lupus star Richie Mo’unga has been invited to join the ANZAC team to play the British and Irish Lions by his former All...

Mark Pickering
Apr 14, 20251 min read


League One stars as viral toy figures
RugbyJP transformed four League One stars into toy figures in the latest online AI trend. These images were created using AI. Which one...

Mark Pickering
Apr 10, 20251 min read


Champions Toshiba beat Saitama to move top
Champions Toshiba Brave Lupus defeated Saitama Wild Knights 42-31 to replace them at the top of the table as Robbie Deans’ side were...

Mark Pickering
Mar 22, 20253 min read


Japan-based ANZAC XV to face British & Irish Lions
RugbyJP has picked a Japan-based ANZAC XV to face the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer. The trans-Tasman team will be...

Mark Pickering
Feb 28, 20251 min read


4 Things to Look Out for in Round Nine
1. Michael Hooper returns for Toyota Verblitz Ex-Australia captain Michael Hooper returns to top-flight 15-a-side action for the first...

Mark Pickering
Feb 21, 20254 min read


Tonga Rugby Union to open talks with Richie Mo’unga
Tonga Rugby Union is set to approach Toshiba Brave Lupus fly-half Richie Mo’unga over switching allegiances from New Zealand to represent...

Mark Pickering
Feb 18, 20252 min read


Mo’unga and Frizell’s Toshiba edge past Cane’s Suntory
League One champions Toshiba Brave Lupus outfought Suntory Sungoliath to win the Fuchu derby at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday....

Mark Pickering
Feb 15, 20254 min read


Richie Mo’unga to see out Toshiba contract until 2026
League One champion and Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner Richie Mo’unga will see out his existing Toshiba Brave Lupus contract after...

Mark Pickering
Jan 22, 20252 min read


Best League One season coming up – Richie Mo’unga
League One champion and Most Valuable Player award winner Richie Mo’unga believes the fourth edition of Japan’s professional league will...

Mark Pickering
Dec 3, 20242 min read
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