Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One

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. […]

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 […]

Riley scores again as Wild Knights march on

18 February 2024 0 comments

Japan League One The gap between the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and the rest is widening at the top of the table but the Chiefs’ […]

Crusaders captain Heinz catches up with his old pals

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Willi Heinz led the Crusaders against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday night and used his week in England to catch up […]

Crusaders make it tough for Bears as lively crowd enjoy fright night

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By ROGER PANTING Bristol……………………… 14pts Tries: Davies 27, Marmion 56 Conversions: MacGinty 27, 56 Crusaders……………….. 31pts Tries: Springer 39, 51; Aumua 62, 66; Hotham […]

Cotter off to winning opener with Blues

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby’s Blues demolished Tokyo Sungoliath 43-7 in the first of four games in the inaugural Cross-Border Rugby series between teams from […]

Esterhuizen says no to Toulon

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen is on the shopping list for several clubs in Japan after appearing to have rejected […]

Savea keen to take on Hurricanes

14 January 2024 0 comments

Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has signed for Moana Pasifika from the Hurricanes. The World Cup winner is “looking forward to the challenge” with […]

Tigers are braced for Porter departure

14 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers are looking for an outside centre, with Super Rugby sides spying on a move for England international Guy Porter, below, who has a […]

Dean’s unbeaten Knights surge on at summit

14 January 2024 0 comments

JAPAN ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Saitama Wild Knights continued their rampaging start to the Japan Rugby League One season with an 81-21 demolition of Sagamihara […]

Chiefs ace Tom set for Hanazono

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Tom Hendrickson has signed a deal with Osaka-based Japanese League One side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners after leaving Exeter Chiefs […]

Spears turn up the heat on new boys Mie

17 December 2023 0 comments

JAPAN RUGBY By BEN JAYCOCK Reigning champions Kubota Spears steamrolled past Division 1 newcomers Mie Heat 75-0 to secure their first win of the season […]

Cane and Kolbe link up for Japan opener

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Just over a month since the Rugby World Cup final, 14 of the players who featured in the showpiece match will suit […]

Evans loving life at flying Fijian Drua

10 November 2023 0 comments

Former Harlequins CEO Mark Evans is loving his time in the same role at Super Rugby Pacific side Fijian Drua, who he believes had a […]

Jones heads to Moana Pasifika

8 October 2023 0 comments

Former Wales fly-half and assistant coach Stephen Jones is set to head to New Zealand to link up with Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika, coached […]

Retired? No, I’m available, says Cipriani

10 September 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Danny Cipriani will consider any offers to continue his playing career despite not pulling on his boots for the last 10 months. […]

London Irish trio reunite in Brisbane

3 September 2023 0 comments

Former London Irish boss Les Kiss is getting the band back together in Brisbane after taking two of the Exiles’ coaching staff with him to […]

Davis likely to join Kiss after Wallaby exit

20 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former Bath, Wasps and London Irish defence coach Brad Davis is being tipped to […]

Super Rugby fixtures: Crusaders begin title defence with a repeat of last year’s final

17 August 2023 0 comments

Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on February […]

Burns has his eye on media

6 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Freddie Burns says he would love to move into the media if he calls time on his career when his second spell […]

Anscombe the latest to head for Japan

23 July 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is the latest Wales player to head to Japan by signing for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath after the 2023 World […]

Kiss agrees terms with Reds

16 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former London Irish head coach Les Kiss will be working in Super Rugby next season after agreeing terms with […]

Patchell’s switch

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell who was thought to be heading to France after being released by The Scarlets could now be on […]

Kiss favourite for Reds

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE NEIL FISSLER Former London Irish boss Les Kiss has emerged as the clear favourite to replace former All Blacks star Brad Thorn […]

Blair joins Rennie at Japan’s Kobe Steelers

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former Edinburgh boss Mike Blair is to join Japanese side Kobe Steelers as attack coach. The 42-year-old, who made 85 appearances for Scotland at scrumhalf, […]

Kiss weighing up his options

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former London Irish boss Les Kiss appears to be in demand after speaking to clubs in Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship about making a […]

Ex-Tiger Burns making his way back to Japan

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former England fly-half Freddie Burns is heading back to Japan next season after a spell playing in Super Rugby for the Highlanders in New Zealand […]

Crusaders to the fore in Team of the Season

2 July 2023 0 comments

Ben Jaycock selects his best XV from this season’s Super Rugby Pacific championship The Crusaders’ incredible dynasty continued as they lifted their seventh consecutive Super […]

Heavenly finish as Crusaders snatch title

25 June 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific Final Chiefs ……………… 20pts Tries: Stevenson 22, Narawa 42 Conversions: McKenzie 24, 44 Penalties: McKenzie 19, 49 Crusaders………..25pts Tries: […]

McKenzie makes the difference for Chiefs

18 June 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAMERON STEPHENS The Chiefs will host the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final next week after edging past a resilient […]

Heroic Brumbies fly the flag for Australia

11 June 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific round-up The Brumbies produced a heroic goal line stand to book their place in this week’s semi-finals as Luke […]

Fijians on a roll as they race past Reds

4 June 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAMERON STEPHENS Fijian Drua created history as they booked their spot in the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time […]

Western Force move for Potter

28 May 2023 0 comments

Western Force are poised to announce that they have signed former Leicester Tigers winger Harry Potter who was released early from his contract by the […]

Wallaby lock heads for Rebels

28 May 2023 0 comments

Wallaby lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has signed a deal with Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels after only spending a season playing in the Premiership for Northampton […]

Fakatava the star as Highlanders steal it

28 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Folau Fakatava kept the Highlanders play-off hopes alive and sent the club’s inspiration leader Aaron Smith out on […]

Chiefs bounce back to tame Hurricanes

21 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Tupou Vaa’i scored two tries as the Chiefs bounced back from their first loss of the season to […]

Spears secure their first championship

21 May 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay caused a major upset by winning their first ever piece of silverware and became the second team […]

Lynagh’s late strike ends Reds hoodoo

14 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Queensland Reds broke their New Zealand hoodoo to end the Chiefs’ unbeaten start to the season. New-found composure […]

Koroibete hat-trick downs the Eagles

14 May 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up Saitama Wild Knights will defend their crown next week after winning their semi-final 51-20 against Yokohama Eagles. A second-half hat-trick from […]

Valetini’s late double stuns the Hurricanes

7 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS Two months after their shock win over the Crusaders, Fijian Drua slayed their second Kiwi powerhouse of the […]

Japan League One round-up

7 May 2023 0 comments

It’s advantage to Mitsubishi Dynaboars and Honda Heat in the Japan Rugby League One relegation play-offs as both sides were victorious in the first legs […]

Magical McKenzie puts Chiefs on top

30 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS A late surge saw the Chiefs edge the Crusaders 34-24 in a thrilling contest to extend their unbeaten […]

Chiefs hit 50 ahead of Crusaders showdown

23 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Chiefs’ unbeaten streak continues as they secured another bonus point victory to strengthen their grip on top […]

Spears put down marker for play-off rematch

23 April 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK A flurry of late tries propelled Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay to a 39-24 victory over Tokyo Sungoliath in […]

Japan League One: Wild Knights looking to bounce back from shock loss

21 April 2023 0 comments

There would have been a strange feeling at the Kumagaya training base of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on Monday as players and coaching staff […]

Ruthless Chiefs slay Canes to stay on top

16 April 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific round-up The Chiefs maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they overturned a nine-point half-time deficit to beat […]

Shizuoka end Wild Knights’ long win streak

16 April 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Japan League One round-up In a shock result, previously undefeated league leaders Saitama Wild Knights lost 44-25 to Shizuoka Blue Revs, snapping […]

Toole try completes Brumbies fightback

2 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS The Brumbies stole an unforgettable, high-octane Australian derby as Corey Toole’s 77th-minute try completed an astonishing 40-36 comeback […]

Holders Knights secure play-off place

26 March 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Defending champions Saitama Wild Knights held off Toyota Verblitz 19-10 to clinch a Japan Rugby League One play-off berth with their 13th […]