Japan cast their net towards the north

By STEFFAN THOMAS

JAPAN’S newly formed National League One has vowed to raid the northern hemisphere for its best players after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby in Japan has always been able to attract some of the world’s best players such as Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams, and Michael Hooper, among others.

While there have been some northern hemisphere players such as former England second row George Kruis and Wales international Cory Hill plying their trade in Japan, most star players have come from the southern hemisphere.

But Genichi Tamatsuka, the chairman of Rugby League One, is hopeful the likes of Stuart Hogg, Maro Itoje, Finn Russell, Josh Adams, Antoine Dupont, and Damien Penaud will eventually end up in Japan.

“That is part of our expansion plan,” said Tamatsuka, when asked if the Japanese clubs would target signing more European-based players.

“That will be very important to make us global. After the 2023 World Cup in France, it will be a good opportunity to make Japanese clubs stronger and it will lead to the globalisation of our league.

Target: Maro Itoje

“The competition to get the best players from the global market is getting tougher, but the players will come because this is a good environment to play rugby and they are well compensated.

“The more higher quality players joining the league the better. I really want more great players coming to Japan.

“By playing in a different country with a different culture the players can create new relationships with other companies, and sponsors.

“Playing in Japan will expand their experiences and improve them. They will go back to their country as better players.”

The Top League mixed semi-professional players with fully-fledged professionals, but the launch of Rugby League One is intended to take Japanese rugby to the next level. While the Top League was run by the Japanese Rugby Union, this new venture is run by the companies which own the participating clubs.

The fully professional Rugby League One will be played between January and May and will consist of three divisions.

There will be promotion and relegation each season with 24 teams participating and will include some of the world’s best players such as Malcolm Marx, Willie Le Roux, Samu Kerevi, Damian McKenzie, Bernard Foley and Kwagga Smith.

“In the past because the Top League was under the union’s control there was some misunderstandings between the companies and the unions,” said Tamatsuka.

“However, now it is totally independent. It will be a very open book and we will share everything with the teams.

“Each team will have a certain balance between Japanese players and foreign players with only three foreign players on the field at one time.

“The quality of rugby is also very important. It has to be a high level of rugby otherwise some of the players won’t be satisfied.”