Japan World Cup star Lemeki laments player re-classification

Honda Heat star Lomano Lemeki has lamented Japan Rugby League One’s re-classification of foreign-born Japan internationals.

Lemeki, 36, took to X to bemoan JRLO’s upcoming changes to player eligibility which will start from the 2026-2027 season with the aim of increasing the playing time for ‘homegrown’ Japan-born players.

The popular Auckland-born utility-back, who has Tongan heritage, moved to Japan in 2009 and was a standout player for the country’s sevens team at the Rio 2016 Olympics as they stunned New Zealand on their way to a fourth-place finish.

After being named as one of the tournament's 'Dream Seven' outstanding players, newly-appointed Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph immediately called up the dazzling back for his first Japan squad.

Lemeki made four appearances at Japan’s home World Cup in 2019 including a Player of The Match display against Samoa and repeated that appearance record and individual feat at the 2023 World Cup while also scoring a drop-goal in narrow pool loss to Argentina.

The ageless livewire, who has a Japanese wife and acquired Japanese citizenship in August 2014, left division two side NEC Green Rockets last summer to rejoin top-flight outfit Honda this season and made an instant impression.

Former Canon, Mazda and Sanix Blues man Lemeki has scored seven tries in just four appearances this season and is in a race to be fit for Honda’s two-leg relegation/promotion play-off against Quade Cooper’s Kintetsu Liners later this month after breaking his jaw in March.  

In a now viral tweet on Wednesday, after the JRLO unveiled their new rules on player classification, Lemeki shared his surprise and dismay at the changes which will see him drop to the new A2 category.  

Lemeki has 20 caps for Japan which means he falls short of the new 30-plus rule which will enable fellow foreign-born players such as Michael Leitch to be classified as A1.

From the 2026-2027 season, clubs must have at least eight A1 players on the field.

The current A category for Japan-qualified players will be replaced by A1 and A2 categories which could see a reduction in playing time for players who who will drop from A to A2.

Lemeki’s tweet has almost 400,000 views and over 3,000 likes.  

Rugby writer Rich Freeman replied: “Absolutely ridiculous situation mate.”

X handle Tier 2 Rugby commented: “Japan is sabotaging themselves for ethnic ideology reasons. Would their main rivals who they hope to surpass in rankings put an ethnicity based rule and disrespect players who tried their best to help them? Answer is no they wouldn't.”

Lemeki last represented Japan at the 2023 World Cup with Joseph’s successor Eddie Jones overhauling the Brave Blossoms squad and casting aside some of their senior figures.

Honda’s key man would be eligible to switch allegiances to his parents’ homeland of Tonga in October 2026 but RugbyJP.com understands that Lemeki has no interest in representing any country other than Japan, despite being approached by Tonga Rugby Union.

Honda face the Liners on Saturday 24 May in Osaka and on Friday 30 May in Suzuka. Lemeki can expect a rapturous ovation if he’s able to return to action in Kieran Crowley’s side’s season-defining play-off series.

RugbyJP.com will be on-site to cover Honda’s home play-off leg on Friday 30 May.

Pictures courtesy of JRLO