Japan fly-half Ryunosuke Ito will miss the Nations Championship’s Northern Hemisphere stage to play for Meiji University in the Kanto University Intercollegiate Championship. Ito, 21, made headlines in July when he made his Brave Blossoms debut as a student against Italy. The fourth-year student pulled the strings in his first pro rugby game and now, with just seven caps to his name, has locked down Japan’s number 10 jersey in the absence of Kobe Steelers standout Lee Seung-s

Japan head coach Eddie Jones believes that their super-fast brand of rugby can make the Brave Blossoms the team that everyone wants to watch at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Jones’ vastly-improved side has turned a corner this year, winning their first Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) title since 2019 following hard-fought 20-15 win against Fiji in September. The 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists had made a dream start to the inaugural Nations Championship by beating Italy 27-10 in

Japan head coach Eddie Jones today provided an evaluation of his vastly improved side 24 hours after their Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) final win over Fiji, while outlining plans to scour the globe for try-scoring wingers to add to his squad. Two-time former Wallabies head coach Jones, 66, led the Brave Blossoms to their first PNC title since 2019 with a gritty 20-15 triumph over undermanned Fiji in front of 17,421 fans at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Jones addressed th

Japan starlet Ryunosuke Ito’s first professional club will be Eddie Jones and Beauden Barrett’s ex-side Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal. Meiji University fly-half Ito, 21, was a revelation for his country in the Nations Championship as he made his Test debut in the Brave Blossoms’ impressive season-opening win against Italy. The precocious Kanagawa native, who led his University side to All-Japan University Rugby Football Championship glory in Jan

Meiji University fly-half Ryunosuke Ito has shone for Japan in his three Nations Championship appearances as Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones has successfully unearthed his latest wonderkid. Ito caught the eye with an assured Japan debut as the hosts impressively beat Italy 27-10 at a sold out Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo in the opening round of the new tournament. © JRFU Fourth-year student Ito, 21, pulled the strings in a plucky Brave Blossoms display against Irela