Japan v Italy, Michael Leitch will lead a Japan side that contains a mixture of youth and experience when they play Italy on Saturday at Oita Bank Dome in the first of two tests. Leitch, who will be winning his 54th cap, lines up at openside flanker alongside two of the form players in this ...
Japan
Asia Rugby helps Singapore Rugby to lead the way in training and education in Asia
In the lead up to the HSBC Sevens World Series, Singapore Rugby hosted a number of workshops and World Rugby courses with a view to improving the standard of rugby across Asia. Participants from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Guam and India took part in the Regional ...
Japan impress in Singapore showdown
Japan finished 13th at the Singapore Sevens, their first event since qualifying for the 2018/19 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. With five players making their debut on the world stage Japan impressed with three wins out of their six matches to finish 13th. In the 13th place play-off Japan beat ...
Japan with chance to shine in Singapore
Japan have touched down in Singapore with a chance to compete with the very best in the world of rugby sevens. Having qualified for the 2018/19 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with victory over Germany in the Hong Kong Sevens qualifier final, Japan get an immediate opportunity to play on the ...
China qualify for Kitakyushu quarter finals
In their first tournament since qualifying for the 2018/19 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, China booked their spot in the quarter-finals. Despite losing their opening match to Australia 33-5, a narrow 19-17 defeat so Spain and an impressive 24-12 win over Ireland now means they face New ...
Ozawa: Essential for Japan to be part of sevens elite
Japan captain Dai Ozawa said ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens his side had the confidence to replicate the class of 2016 in winning the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong. He called on those that had played in 2016 to lead his side to victory and, paired with outstanding individual ...
Japan qualify for World Series in dramatic finale
Japan beat Germany 19-14 in the final of the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong to book their place on next season’s World Series. Trailing by two points after the buzzer had sounded, their experience shone through and they went the entire length of the pitch to snatch the ...
Japan into last four as Hong Kong lose to Chile
Japan beat Uruguay 26-19 in the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier quarter-finals and will face Ireland for a spot in the final on Sunday. Siosifa Lisala got Japan off to a flyer in the quarter-finals, scoring his third try of the weekend straight from the restart. Santiago Arata showed great ...
Japan with work to do in Series qualifier
Japan won one and lost won after the first two rounds of pool matches at the Hong Kong Sevens, while the hosts suffered two narrow defeats. In similar fashion to the women, the qualification tournament will see one side qualify for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on day two. Japan opened ...
Japan look to replicate 2016 qualification
At this weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens, Japan will be looking to secure their place back on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Having secured promotion from this tournament in 2016, Japan were relegated the following season and find themselves looking to qualify again alongside 11 other nations with ...