Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

DREAMTEAM

10 February 2019 0 comments

TONY FENNER, COVENTRY AND FORMER AUCKLAND, OTAGO, EASTERN PROVINCE, EDINBURGH AND BEDFORD UTILITY BACK, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST 1. Charlie Faumuina […]

Currie Cup winner Nick Easter to join Sharks for Super Rugby

29 January 2019 0 comments

Nick Easter has found his calling in South Africa

Quade Cooper gets Queensland Reds exit after icy relationship with Brad Thorn

23 October 2018 0 comments

Quade Cooper has spoken out against his treatment at the Queensland Reds after sealing a move to the Melbourne Rebels for the 2019 season. The […]

Rugby players lift up car to rescue drunk teammate who had been run over

25 September 2018 0 comments

The prop had taken a lie down in the street before the incident on Sunday

Ma’a Nonu to re-join Blues after leaving Toulon

13 September 2018 0 comments

A third stint with New Zealand’s underachieving Super Rugby outfit

Easter: I learned more in adversity with Quins than if we were on hot form

23 August 2018 0 comments

Nick Easter speaks to Neale Harvey about leaving the Stoop and how he got the job in Durban with the Sharks

Ace Mo’unga has frustrated Lions chasing his shadow

5 August 2018 1 comment

By NICK CAIN On their way: David Havili dives over to score Crusaders’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Show time: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson […]

Sharks torn to shreds by classy Crusaders

22 July 2018 0 comments

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Composed: Sam Whitelock Crusaders … 40 Sharks … 10 DEFENDING champions Canterbury Crusaders demolished the Shark in Christchurch. Crusaders scored five tries […]

Ace Foley spearheads Waratahs fightback

22 July 2018 1 comment

By SAM JACKSON Waratahs … 30pts Highlanders… 23pts BERNARD Foley scored a Super Rugby personal best 25-point haul to help Waratahs to a stunning 30-23 […]

Jantjies shows his class to kill off Jaguares

22 July 2018 1 comment

By MARK WILSON Lions … 40 Jaguares … 23 FLY-HALF Elton Jantjies produced his best performance of the season to lead the Lions to a […]

Boyd sure his ‘Canes can go up a level in last four

22 July 2018 0 comments

By JOHN DANIELS Energised: Brad Shields Hurricanes… 32 Chiefs … 31 THE Hurricanes became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals after they got […]

Blues bring in Thornton

8 July 2018 1 comment

RORY Thornton has joined Cardiff Blues on a yearlong loan deal. The 23-year old Ospreys lock is the third addition to the squad in recent […]

Crusaders guarantee home run to the final

8 July 2018 0 comments

■ By SAM JACKSON THE CRUSADERS cemented top spot in the table with a big win over the Highlanders to celebrate Wyatt Crockett’s 200- match […]

Samurai win final two legs to secure series title

8 July 2018 1 comment

NEWS EXTRA SAMURAI Rugby retained their title in the Super Sevens Series at Ealing Trailfinders last weekend. Samurai and the British Army were the two […]

It’s no home comfort yet for Umaga’s woeful Blues

3 June 2018 2 comments

By ADAM ELLIS Bad day at the office: Jerome Kaino of the Blues PICTURE: Getty Images MELBOURNE Rebels heaped more woes on Tana Umaga’s dire […]

Barbarians put the brakes on a few England careers

3 June 2018 0 comments

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Poor preparation: England were humbled by the Barbarians last weekend PICTURE: Getty Images The two best […]

Underdogs Castres have their day again

3 June 2018 1 comment

TOP 14 FINAL Montpellier 13 Castres 29 DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN The Castres flags waved wherever you looked and those who held them at the […]

Hurricanes outmuscled by clinical Crusaders

27 May 2018 0 comments

By JAKE JONES In the clear: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis scores for Crusaders PICTURE: Getty Images THE Crusaders took a major step towards defending their Super Rugby […]

Lancashire clubs highlight need for level playing field

27 May 2018 1 comment

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Ambitious: Ealing Trailfinders are pushing hard for the Premiership I was not surprised by the news […]

‘Tahs finally end the Kiwi winning run over Aussies

20 May 2018 2 comments

By JAKE JONES Try time: Israel Folau scores for the Waratahs THE Waratahs ended Australia’s unwanted record of 40 games without a win over their […]

Lion Williams passes on

20 May 2018 1 comment

FORMER Wales and British & Irish Lions player Gareth Williams has died aged 63 after a battle with a rare nervous system disorder. Williams had […]

Falcons double gong

20 May 2018 1 comment

NEWCASTLE director of rugby Dean Richards and winger Vereniki Goneva have been named Premiership Rugby’s top coach and player for 2018. Exeter back-row Sam Simmonds, […]

Durham City in mourning

20 May 2018 1 comment

TWO amateur rugby players for Durham City have died after being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties after a night out during a tour of […]

Summer off could spell the end for new Saint Haskell

20 May 2018 1 comment

JEFF PROBYN Hanging by a thread: James Haskell’s England career could be over PICTURE: Getty Images A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Iam pleased […]

Ashton loses his golden touch at wrong time

20 May 2018 0 comments

DAVID BARNES Dismay: Chris Ashton missed two chances to score, costing Toulon defeat PICTURE: Getty Images FRENCH COLUMN The sureness of touch that has brought […]

Stunning comeback puts Crusaders top

13 May 2018 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Fighting back: Joe Moody dives over to score for the Crusaders PICTURE: Getty Images THE Crusaders pulled off the biggest comeback in […]

Surprising Eddie didn’t rest more of his Six Nations flops

13 May 2018 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN Vital role: Brad Shield’s experience of South Africa will be hugely beneficial PICTURE: Getty Images PICTURE: Getty Images I have just received my […]

Lions feel the bite as Hurricanes’ predator extends purple patch

6 May 2018 1 comment

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Dangerman: Ben Lam scores for Huricanes PICTURE: Getty Images BEN Lam scored a hattrick as Hurricanes beat Lions 28-19 in their clash […]

Jubilant Jaguares stun Blues in Auckland

29 April 2018 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Close to tears: Nicolas Sanchez and Javier Ortega Desio celebrate the Jaguares’ victory over the Blues PICTURE: Getty Images THE JAGUARES scored […]

Fixtures

29 April 2018 0 comments

Week beginning Sunday, April 29, 2018 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs Pinnacle: Charles Piutau Piutau not giving up […]

Sharks grab SA bragging rights with Du Toit’s try

22 April 2018 0 comments

By SAMUEL JACKSON Breaking through: Sharks’ prop Thomas du Toit PICTURE: Getty Images BURLY prop Thomas du Toit crashed over for a late try as […]

Read out of NZ Tests with France

22 April 2018 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA STEVE HANSEN has been dealt a major blow ahead of the All Blacks series against France by being told not to risk captain […]

Erasmus brings in de Bruin for June campaign

15 April 2018 1 comment

NEWS EXTRA By SAM JACKSON LIONS head coach Swys de Bruin will join the Springbok coaching staff on a consultancy basis for the June Tests […]

Jaguares bare teeth to shock the Rebels

15 April 2018 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Masterclass: Beauden Barrett starred for Hurricanes PICTURE: Getty Images THREE second-half tries inspired the Jaguares to a comefrom- behind 25-22 victory at […]

Chiefs keep momentum with penalty try winner

8 April 2018 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Flyer: Lions wing Madosh Tambwe celebrates his hat-trick PICTURE: Getty Images THE Chiefs stretched their winning run to five Super Rugby matches […]

Murray’s eagle eye earns the advantage

8 April 2018 1 comment

THERE were all sorts of difficult calls for our referees to make in Europe last weekend – and in real time as opposed to us […]

Bananaman Hernandez could take your breath away

8 April 2018 1 comment

JUAN Martin Hernandez circa 2007 was an astonishing player touched by genius who added a good deal of X-factor to the Pumas and for a […]

RUGBY MATTERS

8 April 2018 0 comments

Hopefully commonsense will prevail in Spain case BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points In spotlight: Mathieu Belie I’VE seen a […]

RAF getting closer to Forces parity by parachuting into the Stoop

8 April 2018 0 comments

The RAF celebrated its Centenary last week and it’s always been something of a bugbear, stoically borne, that for all sorts of reasons their rugby […]

Sharks are circling around prop Matt

1 April 2018 0 comments

Move? Matt Mullan is being tempted away from Wasps The Scarlets are set to sign electric Cheetahs full-back Clayton Blommetjies. Blommetjies, 27, has chosen to […]

Not-guilty Jackson on his way to Premiership

1 April 2018 0 comments

IRELAND international Paddy Jackson could look to rebuild his career with a move to the Premiership next season. Blindside understands Premiership clubs have been sounded […]

Paul’sgoing strong – 15 years after his first cap

1 April 2018 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Any day now Paul James will qualify for membership of an exclusive club, one reserved for those […]

Mystery of Murdoch ends with his death

1 April 2018 0 comments

EVER since Keith Murdoch stepped off the team bus on that wintry Monday morning in Cardiff, those left behind clung to the faint hope that […]

Painting the town Scarlet

1 April 2018 1 comment

IN THE best of all Scarlet worlds, the Basque city of Bilbao will be in for a Welsh language make-over next month on the occasion […]

Points machine du Preez puts in flawless display

1 April 2018 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON 38-point haul: Sharks playmaker Robert du Preez ROBERT du Preez scored 38 points as the Sharks crushed the Blues 63-40 to move […]

Williams close to joining Deano

1 April 2018 0 comments

DEAN RICHARDS is looking to complete the signing of London Irish centre Johnny Williams once the Exiles’ relegation from the Premiership has been confirmed. It […]

ON THE BLIND SIDE

1 April 2018 1 comment

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ LEICESTER TIGERS prop Logovi’i Mulipola has been made an offer to join Pro D2 outfit Grenoble next […]

Highlanders led to slaughter by Lam’s brilliant strikes

25 March 2018 1 comment

By SAM JACKSON THE Hurricanes delivered a lesson in clinical finishing to beat the Highlanders 29-12 in a fierce match in Wellington. Winger Ben Lam […]

Diamond upbeat despite Charnley project failure

25 March 2018 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE SALE SHARKS boss Steve Diamond says he wouldn’t hesitate to make another crosscode raid – if the right player was available, despite […]