Toshiba Brave Lupus’ standout centre Rob Thompson has been ruled out for six weeks after sustaining a broken finger in Saturday’s loss to Black Rams Tokyo in Kagoshima. Palmerston North product Thompson, 34, who has been playing the best rugby of his career this season, played the full 80 minutes in the back-to-back champions’ fourth consecutive loss. RugbyJP.com understands that the former Highlanders and Māori All Blacks midfielder will undergo surgery this week and then f

Japan teammates Warner Dearns and Mamoru Harada will go head-to-head on their respective Super Rugby debuts today as the Hurricanes host Moana Pasifika in Wellington. Wellington-born Brave Blossoms captain Dearns, 23, starts in the second-row as Clark Laidlaw’s Hurricanes open their campaign at home following a bye in round one. Harada, 26, comes into Pasifika’s 23 on the bench after being left out of their squad which stunned Fijian Drua on the road in Lautoka. The former To

Japan head coach Eddie Jones believes that the All Blacks should try to lure Kobe Steelers captain Brodie Retallick back to Test rugby this summer. Retallick, 34, who won the last of his 109 caps for his country in the 2023 World Cup final, is nearing the end of his three-year contract in Japan. The 2014 World Player of The Year has been in inspired form for Dave Rennie’s title candidates Kobe and is the top scorer in division one with nine tries in eight games. The former Ch

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

Samoa international Sam Slade is one of four new signings for division three side Sayama Secom Rugguts. Former New Zealand u20...

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...

Kobe Steelers has officially announced the arrival of All Blacks and Chiefs centre Anton Lienert-Brown on a one-year contract. The...

Back-to-back League One winner Warner Dearns will join Super Rugby Pacific outfit the Hurricanes for the 2026 season, the club announced...

Crusaders’ match-winning fly-half Rivez Reihana has been named in a 29-strong Māori All Blacks squad today ahead of their match against a...

The Cross-Border Rugby series between League One and Super Rugby sides will not be held in 2025. While the decision was made and...

Super Rugby Pacific side NSW Waratahs overpowered former League One champions Kubota Spears 43-17 at Spears Edoriku Field in Funabashi on...

Super Rugby Pacific side NSW Waratahs has announced their team to play former League One champions Kubota Spears at Spears Edoriku Field...

Tongan number eight Lui Naeata starred in Japan for Kobe, Red Hurricanes and Toyota Shuttles. The Japan-qualified 30-year-old has joined...

Cash-rich Toyota Verblitz has signed Australia U20s captain Toby Macpherson on a season-long loan deal from Super Rugby Pacific side ACT...

New Super Rugby Pacific Chief Jack Mesley has said that he has an ‘open mind’ to new teams joining the competition including from Japan,...

League One division one newcomers Urayasu D-Rocks has renewed their strategic partnership with Australian Super Rugby Pacific...