Rugby union in Japan

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Rugby union in Japan is a growing sport.

Japan has the fourth largest rugby union playing populations in the world and the sport has been played there for over 100 years. There are 125,000 Japanese rugby players. ^[1]

The Japanese team are known for their speed and resourcefulness but have sometimes been at a disadvantage due to their relatively smaller size compared to Southern hemisphere and European players. This is changing, however, as the Japanese diet increasingly includes more meat at the expense of fish and resembles Western diets more closely. (As Japan is the nation of sumo, there is no obvious reason why they cannot produce large rugby union players.)

Training regimes and coaching are of a generally high standard, though sometimes it seems that politics interferes in the national squad's coaching and selection, with unfortunate results. The national team is also usually reinforced at and before the World Cup by one or two foreigners who qualify under IRB regulations. Of these Andrew Miller and Andrew McCormick, both from New Zealand, and Sinali Latu from Tonga have been the most successful.

Contents 1 Governing body 2 Domestic competitions 2.1 Top League 2.2 Microsoft Cup 2.3 University championship rugby 2.4 National High School Rugby Tournament 3 National team 3.1 Super Cup 3.2 IRB Pacific 5 Nations 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Governing body

Main article: Japan Rugby Football Union

Rugby union in Japan is governed by the Japan Rugby Football Union.

The Japan Rugby Football Union was officially formed on November 30, 1926 and is a full member of the International Rugby Board with one seat on the Executive Council.

[edit] Domestic competitions

[edit] Top League

Main article: Top League

The Top League is a semi-professional league which was first competed for in 2003-4.

[edit] Microsoft Cup

Main article: Microsoft Cup

The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan. It is played between the top eight teams of the Top League.

[edit] University championship rugby

Main article: University championship rugby

The Japanese University rugby championships are held annually.

[edit] National High School Rugby Tournament

Main article: National High School Rugby Tournament

The National High School Rugby Tournament is held annually at Kintetsu Hanazono rugby stadium in East Osaka, Japan from the end of December to early January. All 47 Prefectures of Japan are represented, with four extra teams (one from Hokkaido, one from Tokyo, and two from Osaka prefecture) to make up the numbers.

[edit] National team

Main article: Japan national rugby union team

The national team (which is named "The Cherry Blossoms") is ranked 20th worldwide by the International Rugby Board (IRB) as of 28 August 2006.^[2]

[edit] Super Cup

Main article: Super Powers Cup

The Super Cup is an annual international rugby union competition contested by national teams from Canada, Japan, Romania and United States. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup.

[edit] IRB Pacific 5 Nations

Main article: IRB Pacific 5 Nations

The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is an international rugby union competition held between five Pacific rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand's second XV).

[edit] See also

• Japan Rugby Football Union
• Japan national rugby union team
• Sport in Japan

[edit] References