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Every Division One club's three 2026/27 foreign Test stars revealed
RugbyJP.com has compiled a list of the three foreign Test stars (Category C players) at each of the 12 Division One clubs for the 2026-27 season. This list reflects current retained players and new signings and is subject to change. The clubs are listed below in alphabetical order: Black Rams Tokyo TJ Perenara, New Zealand (34 years old) Liam Gill, Australia (34) Paddy Ryan, Australia (37) Kobe Steelers - 2025-2026 Champions Brodie Retallick, New Zealand (35) Grant Williams,

Mark Pickering
7 days ago2 min read


Last-gasp Suntory thwarts Black Rams in thrilling quarter-final
Suntory Sungoliath rescued their quarter-final with a match-winning 84th minute try to edge past the spirited Black Rams Tokyo who's sensational second half comeback was undone in the last play of the game. © JRLO In a frenetic game that had everything, play-off regulars Suntory controlled proceedings from the outset and powered their way to a 17-0 lead after just 15 minutes as first-time post-season contenders the Rams looked overawed by the occasion. TJ Perenara gave them a

Mark Pickering
May 235 min read


David v Goliath: Black Rams dare to dream against powerhouse Suntory
League One’s division one play-offs kick off on Saturday with TJ Perenara’s Black Rams Tokyo facing Sam Cane’s Suntory Sungoliath as World Cup winners and ex-All Blacks teammates clash at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. The history-making Rams are making their first appearance in the top-flight post-season after former All Blacks centre Tabai Matson, who played for then-Top League side Yamaha Jubilo (now Shizuoka Blue Revs) from 2001 to 2006, impressively steered the To

Mark Pickering
May 224 min read


Rams captain Perenara lauds Suntory’s Kolbe ahead of quarter-final
Blacks Rams Tokyo’s World Cup-winning captain TJ Perenara lauded Suntory Sungoliath full-back Cheslin Kolbe as one of the best players in the world ahead of their League One quarter-final next week. Perenara, who was speaking at the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) Play-Offs Media Conference in Akihabara, Tokyo, on Thursday afternoon, identified the Springboks superstar - who finished the regular season as the top points scorer - as the greatest threat posed by their Tokyo rival

Mark Pickering
May 145 min read


TJ Perenara: Aaron Smith has made me a better player
Black Rams Tokyo captain TJ Perenara faced his long-time former All Blacks colleague Aaron Smith for possibly the last time on Sunday as the latter’s Toyota Verblitz prevailed 40-28 to keep alive their play-off hopes. Perenara, 34, has been the driving force behind the Black Rams’ impressive season with Tabai Matson’s fourth-placed team on the verge of booking a play-off spot for the first time in the League One era. The 89-cap All Black, an ever-present for the Rams in his s

Mark Pickering
Apr 292 min read


RD 5 PREVIEW: Team news, line-ups and comments
Japan’s all-action League One competition continues this weekend with the top-flight set for its fifth instalment this season. Yokohama Canon Eagles (12th) v Saitama Wild Knights (2nd) Mitsuzawa Stadium, Kanagawa - 12.00 KO Ex-All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald’s misfiring Yokohama Canon Eagles host undefeated Saitama Wild Knights in the round’s opening game on Saturday. MacDonald’s side has tasted defeat at the hands of Shizuoka Blue Revs, Mitsubishi Dynaboars, Tosh

Mark Pickering
Jan 1618 min read


Welsh hooker to join RWC winner at Black Rams Tokyo
Welsh hooker Tomoya Adachi is set to join League One side Black Rams Tokyo after impressing during a trial in October, RugbyJP.com understands. The Caerphilly-based 21-year-old, who has played for Wales u20s, was one of 14 departures from the hapless URC outfit the Dragons in May. Adachi, who also qualifies for Japan and Belgium, played against Glenn Delaney’s Mitsubishi Dynaboars and former Pontypool player Scott Pierce’s Secom Rugguts during a two-week trial in October. Th

Mark Pickering
Nov 4, 20252 min read


I’d jump at the chance to play for the All Blacks - TJ Perenara
Black Rams Tokyo’s World Cup-winning scrum-half TJ Perenara would ‘jump at the chance’ to play for the All Blacks again as their injury...

Mark Pickering
Sep 18, 20253 min read


Kobe's Gatland inspires comeback against Perenara's Rams
Dave Rennie’s play-off contenders Kobe Steelers fought back from a 14-point deficit to narrowly defeat Black Rams Tokyo 27-24 at...

Mark Pickering
Mar 30, 20254 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


TJ Perenara’s Black Rams upset Suntory
TJ Perenara inspired Black Rams Tokyo to their first win over League One powerhouses Suntory Sungoliath in 21 years with a a hard-fought...

Mark Pickering
Dec 28, 20242 min read


I couldn’t turn down Japan – TJ Perenara
All Blacks legend TJ Perenara was introduced by his new club Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo following their pre-season win over Kurt-Lee...

Mark Pickering
Dec 7, 20242 min read


Cane’s Suntory and TJ Perenara’s Rams set for Tokyo clash in December
All Blacks teammates Sam Cane and TJ Perenara will be reunited in December when the Black Rams Tokyo hosts Suntory Sungoliath at...

Mark Pickering
Sep 30, 20242 min read
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