World Cup-winning former All Blacks head coach Sir Graham Henry believes that New Zealand Rugby (NZR) should take a flexible approach regarding the eligibility of Japan-based Richie Mo’unga, Shannon Frizell and Brodie Retallick this summer. Henry, 79, was this week appointed as a NZR selector as new head coach Dave Rennie announced the legendary coach’s return to the All Blacks fold during his press conference in Auckland on Tuesday. The former Wales boss has had several shor

Toyota Verblitz head coach Steve Hansen announced his resignation and took aim at the standard of refereeing in Japan after his team’s loss to Honda Heat in the final round of the regular season. World Cup-winning Hansen has stepped down with his co-coach and fellow ex-All Blacks boss Ian Foster taking over as head coach in Aichi from next season. Former Wales coach Hansen, who won the World Cup in 2015 with New Zealand, was appointed as the team’s Director of Rugby in 2019 a

Honda Heat star Tevita Ikanivere, Shizuoka Blue Revs wing Semi Radradra and Toshiba Brave Lupus centre Seta Tamanivalu have been named in Fiji’s provisional 50-man squad for the inaugural Nations Championship. Fiji captain Ikanivere has starred in his first season in Japan with nine tries in 16 games for Kieran Crowley’s Suzuka-based side and will be expected to lead the talent-rich group picked by interim head coach Senirusi Seruvakula. © Fiji Rugby Ex-NRL star Radradra make

Ex-Kubota Spears full-back Liam Williams has returned to URC side Scarlets in a mentorship role to nurture to the club’s new generation of young backs. Williams, 35, called time on his illustrious career in March due to a persistent knee injury. The 93-cap Welsh legend won the Pro12 Grand Final with the Scarlets in 2017 before joining English giants Saracens who he helped to win both the Premiership title and the European Rugby Champions Cup in 2019. After a short stay with C

Toshiba Brave Lupus flanker Shannon Frizell will return to New Zealand this summer as he targets an All Blacks return which officially ends Tonga and Wales' hopes of an unlikely allegiance switch. Two-time League One winner Frizell, 32, has put pen to paper on a one-year deal and will be available to play for Tasman in the NPC - the country's round-robin National Provincial Championship - which starts in July. The 33-cap loose forward could still be fast-tracked into the All

Kobe Steelers fly-half Bryn Gatland believes his teammate and club captain Brodie Retallick is the best lock in the world. In-form Gatland, 30, who has matured in Japan into being a highly consistent and accurate playmaker, has scored 83 points this season for the new division one leaders. The former Chiefs fly-half, who was one of new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie’s first signings at the club in June 2023, was full of praise for the 2015 World Cup winner as talk of a ret

League One title contenders Kobe Steelers have confirmed reports that defence coach Peter Murchie will join Wales’ national team at the end of the season. Dave Rennie’s once-beaten Kobe side handed Saitama Wild Knights their first loss of the campaign on Saturday to move second in the table at the halfway stage of the campaign. BBC Wales’ Gareth Griffiths reported on Sunday that Wales, whose head coach Steve Tandy has also been handling defensive duties, were set to move for

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

Ebbw Vale flanker Sion Parry starts for Canada against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup clash today as he closes in on realising his...

Former Bristol Bears captain Siale Piutau has hailed the Prem club’s signing of Welsh wing wizard Louis Rees-Zammit. Auckland-born centre...

Japan head coach Eddie Jones believes returning Welsh star Louis Rees-Zammit will quickly rediscover his best form on the Test match...

Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to be unveiled as the new head coach at Japanese division one side Urayasu D-Rocks,...

The Welsh Rugby Union has named Scotland’s defence coach and ex-Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy as their new head coach. Tandy, who worked...

Wales fought their way to a gutsy 31-22 win over Japan to end a two-year, 18-game game losing streak in Kobe on Saturday. The downbeat...

Wales fans have urged their club sides to approach Japanese international Shuhei Takeuchi who is a free agent after leaving League One...

Eddie Jones’ Japan produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Wales 24-19 as the visitors wilted in the Kitakyushu heat....

Wales’ return to Japan, for the first time since the 2019 World Cup, will see the visitors fighting to end the worst losing streak in...

Under-pressure Japan head coach Eddie Jones has conceded that he didn’t ‘coach very well last year’ as he prepares the Brave Blossoms...

Former Mitsubishi Dynaboars wing Shane Williams is set to play for a British and Irish Legends team against Australia next month. Welsh...

RugbyJP.com has picked its starting Wales team to play Japan in the first Test on 5 July following interim head coach Matt Sherratt's...