RugbyJP.com had the pleasure to speak to URC outfit Ospreys’ Chief Executive Officer Lance Bradley in a Q&A about Japan Rugby and League One.
Hereafter Lance Bradley will be written as LB.
RugbyJP: Do you and your staff have any time to watch any overseas rugby beyond Europe such as Super Rugby and League One?
LB: I don’t but the coaches will.
RugbyJP: Does Japan’s League One ever tend to come up in discussion? LB: Not specifically but agents are always making us aware of potential prospects.
RugbyJP: Can you explain the process of what happens when the WRU identifies a player whose born and is playing overseas but is eligible for Wales? Would they send out an email to all the Welsh regions to inform them?
LB: This would have to be directed to the WRU.
RugbyJP: Have you been informed of Shizuoka Blue Revs flanker Richard Goh Jones? (He’s born in Kyoto, Japan and has a Welsh father and a Japanese mother. He won the club’s breakthrough award last season and best tackler award this term. He’s 25, 177cm, 93kg and his favourite player is Sam Warburton)
LB: I haven’t but it’s possible that our Rugby GM has. He’s on holiday now, so I’m unable to check with him
RugbyJP: If you were interested in seeing footage of such a player would that be straight forward to arrange?
LB: Yes. Agents are always sending us footage of their players.
RugbyJP: What do you think is the key to Wales being able to attract such dual-qualified players to play for a Welsh region as the likes of Taine Plumtree has done at the Scarlets?
LB: The same as attracting any other player – how we can develop him as a player, the coaching and training set up, the club’s ambitions, etc. And of course, what the package would be.
RugbyJP: Japanese rugby has staff recruiting teenagers in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and bringing them to study here for three years and then by the time they play two seasons in League One they’re eligible for Japan on residency grounds. This is now part and parcel of the game. What are your thoughts on this as Japan has become one of the most appealing countries to play rugby in in the world.
LB: I haven’t really thought about it to be honest.
RugbyJP: Promising Neath-born centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler decided to take up an opportunity in Japan after his first-team appearances were limited at the Ospreys. Since then Joe Hawkins has left and George North moves to France this summer. As a club do you have any regrets about losing a young prospect or is it a case of trying to play a fine balancing act?
LB: I’m not familiar with the circumstances surrounding this player. Obviously no club wants to lose exciting prospects, but the key is to retain as many as we can. We’re very happy with how many of our current squad have re-signed with us.
RugbyJP: Is the door open for Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler to potentially return to the Ospreys in the future?
LB: I’m not familiar with the circumstances of his departure, so I can’t really say.
RugbyJP: What is your opinion of the structure of Japanese club rugby with international corporations owning and funding the major of the top clubs?
LB: I’m aware of it from my nearly twenty working for Mitsubishi Motors but I haven’t given it any thought since I became involved in rugby.
RugbyJP: Is it a growing concern, especially with the reduction of caps for Welsh players based overseas to 25, that Wales will lose key players and prospects to Japan?
LB: I can only speak on behalf of Ospreys but we’re very happy with the number of players we’ve retained in our squad.
RugbyJP: There’s no budget cap in Japanese rugby but there is a limit on only having three current non-Japanese international Test players in a matchday squad. What do you think of this player model which is done with the Japanese national team in mind?
LB: I haven’t really thought about it in any depth. With regard to Welsh rugby I think it’s important to have a salary cap. It’s how about how much you spend, it’s about how well you spend.
RugbyJP: A record-breaking 56,000 fans attended the League One final in May. Resources are a crucial factor in this. Ospreys has been one of the most active clubs in terms of fan engagement and game promotion this season. Do you think there’s anything to learn from how the likes of France and Japan are packing out stadiums?
LB: I’m sure there is. The challenge we have is engaging with a Welsh rugby public who have been fed a diet of bd news for so long, especially under the previous management of the WRU.
RugbyJP: Ospreys legend Shane Williams finished his career in Japan. Do you think it would be viable to have a partnership with a Japanese club in terms of exchanging young talent for expeditions and perhaps a commercial element?
LB: We have partnerships with clubs in South Africa and New Zealand, so there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work in other markets.
RugbyJP: Wales will tour Japan in 2025. If there was an opportunity would the Ospreys like to have a presence off the field, in addition to on it, during that tour? A number of Japanese clubs have links with Super Rugby teams.
LB: We’d always be interested in exploring potential opportunities.
Comentarios