Japan - The Rugby Paper

Tag: Japan

Malins keen to get back into England contention

21 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Malins will use the closing weeks of the season to give the England selectors a nudge ahead of the summer Tests […]

Barrett, the man for every occasion

21 April 2024 0 comments

As a centre-three-quarter par excellence, there is nothing Jordie Barrett cannot do. Nobody in his position can truck it up the way he does, make […]

Wallaby Koroibete leads way again for Saitama

21 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Saitama Wild Knights thumped Toyota Verblitz 40-7 to stretch their perfect record to 14 wins from 14. Marika […]

Minnows in line for a World Cup boost

14 April 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE World Rugby aims to streamline the Rugby World Cup qualification process to give non-high performance nations even more time to prepare for […]

Baxter backs world club champs

14 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter welcomes plans for a new club world championship providing it is financially viable. Slated to start […]

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

14 April 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded a new title sponsor […]

Leaders Knights stretch winning run to 13

14 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Wild Knights extended their perfect record to 13 wins with a 50-26 win away to the Tokyo Black […]

Strawbridge appointed to England on permanent basis

9 April 2024 0 comments

Andrew Strawbridge will join Steve Borthwick’s England coaching staff on a permanent basis as an assistant coach and coaching advisor. Strawbridge, 59, supported England in […]

Grayson now has Japan in his sights

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The demise of Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish has left just 10 starting fly-half spots across a congested Premiership, leaving the […]

Malins on his marks for sprint to the line

7 April 2024 2 comments

By MARK STEVENS Max Malins says he’s gearing up for what promises to be a ‘sprint finish’ in the race for this season’s play-offs in […]

England need access to their overseas stars

7 April 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due […]

Deans’ unbeaten Knights charge on at summit

7 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Unbeaten Wild Knights extended their lead at the top by defeating Dynaboars 53-12. Robbie Deans’ side went into […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 07/04/24

5 April 2024 0 comments

It’s the weekend of the last 16 of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, and you can find reports from 11 games across the two […]

Hong Kong Sevens Comes Alive in 2024! All You Need to Know!

3 April 2024 0 comments

Rugby Sevens Action will return to the centre stage with the HSBC SVNS Series and the all-important Hong Kong Sevens. The upcoming edition of Hong […]

Dingwall has his eye on All Blacks

1 April 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Fraser Dingwall is set on helping Northampton finish the season on a high and putting himself in contention for England’s summer tour […]

Borthwick now spoilt for choice at 15, says Piutau

1 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Charles Piutau feels England’s decision to drop Freddie Steward in favour of George Furbank at full-back shows the embarrassment of riches Steve […]

Exeter flyer on the fast track to top

31 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Rob Baxter has warned opposition defences that England sensation Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will only get better with time after impressing for both club […]

Llewellyn keen to put himself in the frame for Wales

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Max Llewellyn’s form for Gloucester this year will have put the centre in the frame for Wales’s summer tour to Australia. That […]

Sanzaar miss chance to inject new blood

31 March 2024 0 comments

The 2024 Six Nations has been lauded in the southern hemisphere for its sensational quality and entertainment – which has not always been the case. […]

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ardie Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two sides’ first ever meeting in Tokyo this […]

Gatland’s left with mountain to climb

31 March 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW AN alternative Wales squad, one untainted by the Six Nations whitewash, is to be found scattered across […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 31/03/24

29 March 2024 0 comments

Time is running out for the RFU’s new Professional Game Partnership (PGP) to be agreed, and you can find the latest progress after a meeting […]

I’m fresh and ready for action, says Muir

24 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Will Muir broke into the England squad this year and although he did not feature in the Six Nations, Bath’s coaches noted […]

England are Six Nations wonders

24 March 2024 0 comments

ENGLAND’S remarkable two-match transformation from a kick-chase side into a team which hit all the highs in terms of attacking tempo, skill, and risk, was […]

Packer’s proud to join the 100 club

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… Italy v England Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi CAPTAIN Marlie Packer earns her 100th cap as England begin their quest […]

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury lock Zoe Aldcroft

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: Scarborough Date of birth: 19/11/96 Community club: Scarborough RFC Red Roses Debut: vs France July 2016 Caps: 48 Why I Play […]

It’s time to consider talent, not geography

24 March 2024 0 comments

If everyone is heading to French club rugby, including the England centurion Courtney Lawes, it makes Courtney Lawes right: rival unions need to rise above […]

England were good, but a bit complacent

24 March 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WATCHING the France versus England game last Saturday night, I couldn’t help but think that a […]

NFL sides look set to take punt on Mallinder

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Harry Mallinder’s dream of winning an NFL contract has moved a step closer after the former England U20 captain made it through […]

All the pressure’s on us – Cockerill

17 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Georgia vs Portugal Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Eddie Jones has coached three national teams, South Africa have won two […]

Now that’s what I call a performance, England

17 March 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME OKAY, I was wrong in my prediction a couple of weeks ago with Ireland failing to […]

Saitama make it a perfect 10 against Steelers

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Saitama Wild Knights underscored their status as title favourites with an impressive 28-18 win over Kobe Steelers. Robbie […]

Watkin’s ready to stake his claim

10 March 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE Owen Watkin plays week in, week out with George North but today he gets his big chance to stake a claim to […]

Matavesi: We need to hit the ground running

10 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi wants normal service to be resumed after what has been “a weird year” in the Premiership and an […]

Kobayashi hat-trick as Chiefs turn on power

10 March 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs.. 43pts Tries: Menin 13, Kobayashi 22, 46, 77; Rogers 30, Fryday 59, Moloney 66 Conversions: Cantorna 13, 31, 58, 67 […]

Players or gladiators? Why the game is struggling to find the right balance

10 March 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees reports on World Rugby’s attempts to broaden the sport’s appeal but can see problems ahead It has become an annual event this decade […]

We are going to miss you guys a lot

10 March 2024 0 comments

All career-ending injuries are to be mourned but the last couple of weeks or so have been hard to digest for Italy fans and indeed […]

Borthwick should put faith in this trio

3 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED PETER Winterbottom knows a thing or three about our sport, so you would expect him to make some telling points over […]

Appleton confident Portugal can meet Spanish challenge

3 March 2024 0 comments

By NICK POWELL PREVIEW… Portugal vSpain Today. Kick-off 3pm, Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon PORTUGAL host Spain in today’s second semi-final looking for a statement […]

Benson leads the way for Cambridge

3 March 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Oxford………………11pts Cambridge…….. 56pts Tries: Hamilton 66 Penalties: Tries: King 2, 20 Holdroyd 4, Gompels 28, Kantolinna 31, Hughes 39, Bland 41, Tosa […]

Waratahs prove too strong for Crusaders

3 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Crusaders suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their title defence after the impressive Waratahs secured a stunning 37-24 […]

Appleton expected to beat Wales at Rugby World Cup

29 February 2024 0 comments

Portugal captain Tomás Appleton set his side the goal of beating Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and feels that “crazy” ambition helped Os Lobos win […]

Rugby’s stuck in the ice age. It needs to open up

25 February 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock talks to Freddie Burns about life in Japan and what he thinks the sport must do to attract the youngsters FREDDIE Burns is […]

Tosa takes chance with a lighter blue

25 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE Makoto Tosa will join an exclusive club on Saturday when he wins his second Blue in the Varsity Match – and make […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 25/02/24

23 February 2024 0 comments

It’s a huge weekend in the Six Nations, and you can find action from the Calcutta Cup and Wales’ tough test in Dublin in The Rugby […]

Hendrickson enjoying his new life in Japan

18 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Tom Hendrickson is settling well to life in the Far East having swapped the Premiership for that of Japanese Rugby League One. […]

DREAM TEAM

18 February 2024 0 comments

RORY BARTLE, THE FORMER NORTH OTAGO, LONDON SCOTTISH, JERSEY REDS, GLOUCESTER & WALES U20S LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…1. […]

Crusaders aiming for six of the best

18 February 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Preview Ben Jaycock looks forward to the new Super Rugby season with the Melbourne Rebels fighting to survive THE last time an Australian […]