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Ex-Kubota full-back Liam Williams takes on mentorship role at Scarlets
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

Mark Pickering
7 days ago2 min read


Wales and Tonga coy on Toshiba flanker Frizell’s return to New Zealand
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

Mark Pickering
Apr 112 min read


Kobe’s Bryn Gatland: Retallick is the best lock in the world
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

Mark Pickering
Mar 183 min read


Kobe Steelers confirm defence coach’s departure to join Wales
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

Mark Pickering
Feb 242 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


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

Mark Pickering
Aug 30, 20252 min read


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

Mark Pickering
Aug 20, 20253 min read


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

Mark Pickering
Aug 14, 20253 min read


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

Mark Pickering
Aug 8, 20254 min read


Wales unveils Steve Tandy as new head coach
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...

Mark Pickering
Jul 21, 20252 min read


Wales hold firm to beat Japan and end 18-game losing streak
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...

Mark Pickering
Jul 14, 20254 min read


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

Mark Pickering
Jul 11, 20252 min read


Japan fightback condemns Wales to 18th loss in a row
Eddie Jones’ Japan produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Wales 24-19 as the visitors wilted in the Kitakyushu heat....

Mark Pickering
Jul 5, 20253 min read


The untold story of Suntory’s 2001 win over Wales
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...

Mark Pickering
Jul 5, 20253 min read


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

Mark Pickering
Jun 24, 20252 min read


Ex-Top League star set for Legends tour in Australia
Former Mitsubishi Dynaboars wing Shane Williams is set to play for a British and Irish Legends team against Australia next month. Welsh...

Mark Pickering
Jun 11, 20252 min read


RugbyJP's Wales team to play Japan
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...

Mark Pickering
May 21, 20251 min read


Ex-Kubota star Liam Williams set to be a free agent
Former Kubota Spears full-back Liam Williams will be a free agent this summer after his short-term contract with Saracens expires. The...

Mark Pickering
May 15, 20251 min read


EXCLUSIVE – Liam Williams set to miss Wales’ tour to Japan
Former Kubota Spears full-back Liam Williams will miss Wales’ two-match tour to Japan this summer, RugbyJP.com can reveal. Williams, 34,...

Mark Pickering
May 1, 20252 min read


Ex-Rockets lock Jake Ball re-joins the Scarlets
Former NEC Green Rockets lock Jake Ball has completed his retirement u-turn by signing a deal to return to Welsh URC outfit Scarlets for...

Mark Pickering
Apr 30, 20253 min read
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