ＲＵＧＢＹ　ＪＥＲＳＥＹ

(Written by Azul: December 29, 2025)

On December 13, 2025, the 2025-2026 season of Japan’s professional rugby league, League One, commenced. Within its top category, Division 1, all 12 teams will play 18 matches each between December 13, 2025 and May 10, 2026 with standings determined by wins and losses.

Following this, the postseason (May 23 to June 7) will see the top 6 teams advance to the playoffs to determine the champion of this season.

Meanwhile, the bottom 2 teams from Division 1 will face the top 2 teams from the lower division, Division 2, in promotion/relegation play-offs.

The kickoff time for this day’s match was 1:00 PM. The temperature was around 11 degrees Celsius. A basic tip for watching games in winter is to secure a seat in the sun—it’s key to enjoying a long match.

True to an opening game, attendance reached 14,441, filling about 80% of the stadium. Since the Home Team was the Black Rams, the majority of fans were likely Rams supporters. Black supporter gear stood out prominently.

Let’s introduce the 2 teams that faced off that day.

First, the Visitor Team: TOKYO Suntory Sungoliath.

Since the Top League era, Suntory Sungoliath has been a perennial contender for the championship. As their current team slogan, Aggressive Attacking Rugby, indicates, they boast the league’s strongest attacking power. Last season, they finished 6th, barely making the playoffs, a result the team found unsatisfactory. However, this season saw a rule change in League One increasing playing opportunities for Japanese players. This rule change is advantageous for the Sungoliath, who boast many Japanese star players fresh out of university. All eyes are on how they will perform this season.

This day’s starting lineup was as follows.

Suntory Sungoliath
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Kenta KOBAYASHI	181cm	115kg	26	Japan
2	Kienori GO	177cm	100kg	29
3	Shuhei TAKEUTI	183cm	115kg	28	Japan　21caps
4	George HAMMOND	199cm	115kg	25
5	Harry HOCKINGS	206cm	118kg	27	Japan　1caps
6	Kanji Shimokawa	188cm	105kg	26	Japan　22caps
7	Sam CANE	189cm	103kg	33	NZ　99caps
8	Tevita TATAFU	183m	119kg	29	Japan　17caps
9	Yutaka NAGARE	166cm	75kg	33	Japan　36caps
10	Mikiya Takamoto	171cm	80kg	24	Japan
11	Cheslin KOLBE	172cm	80kg	32	South Africa 49caps
12	Isaiah PUNIVAI	189cm	100kg	25
13	Taiga OZAKI	184cm	93kg	27
14	Seiya Ozaki	175cm	85kg	30	Japan　4caps
15	Kotaro MATSUSHIMA	178cm	88kg	32	Japan　55caps

＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊

Harry HOCKINGS. 206cm, 118kg, 27 years old. Position = Lock. Japan caps = 1. Originally from Australia. He played for the Southern Hemisphere’s Super Rugby, Reds for 3 seasons from 2018 to 2020, then transferred to Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath in 2021. At Sungoliath, he has leveraged his 208cm frame to play as a key regular starter. This season, he was selected for the Japan national team, making his long-awaited Test Match debut. His playing style features securing lineout balls using his height advantage. Furthermore, when forming a maul, positioning himself centrally allows him to apply pressure to the opposing maul. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in sight, significant growth is anticipated this season.

Next, an introduction to the home team for this match, the RICOH Black Rams.

Last season, the Black Rams, particularly their FW players, fought hard and showed performances that could hold their own against top teams. They finished 7th last season, pushing their ranking to the brink of playoff contention. The starting lineup for this day was as follows.

RICOH Black Rams
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Kazuma NISHI	180cm	105kg	30
2	Shin OUCHI	183cm	107kg	27
3	Paddy RYAN	190cm	116kg	36
4	Michael  ALLADICE	200cm	112kg	34
5	Reijiro YAMAMOTO	191cm	110kg	23
6	Harrison FOX	198cm	108kg	30
7	Shuhei MATSUHASHI	180cm	100kg	32	Japan 9 caps
8	Liam GILL	186cm	105kg	33	Australia 15 caps
9	TJ PERENARA	181cm	92kg	33	New Zealand 89caps
10	Ichigo NAKAKUSU	174cm	84kg	25	Japan
11	Tom TAKAMOTO	182cm	92kg	24
12	Yuki IKEDA	187cm	98kg	30	Japan 2caps
13	Lrrzlo SWARD	193cm	105kg	22
14	Main TAIRA	180cm	90kg	25	Japan 1cap
15	Isaac LUCAS	179cm	84kg	26

Unlike Sungoliath, the Black Rams find themselves at a slight disadvantage this season due to changes in the playing rules. Last season, the Black Rams fielded 10 to 11 foreign players in their starting lineup, but this season, only about 7 foreign players can take the field. Specifically, the left and right wingers (WTB) and flanker (FL) positions are now filled by Japanese players. What happens when the number of foreign player slots decreases? The intensity of contact play during matches inevitably drops. While increasing playing opportunities for Japanese players is the goal, looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, I believe the Japanese national team won’t become stronger unless Japanese players emerge who can compete against foreign players and seize those opportunities. Personally, I consider this rule change a step backward.

＊＊　Player to Watch　＊＊

Yuki IKEDA. 187cm, 98kg, 30 years old. Position = CTB. Japan caps = 2. From Tokai University. Among the backline positions, center (CTB) involves the highest contact intensity and most frequent contact opportunities. IKEDA has played this position almost every minute throughout a full season with the Black Rams. He finally got playing time in this season’s Japan national team match, and I can’t help but hope for his success heading into RWC 2027.

Now, the first half begins.

The match kicked off with Sungoliath’s kickoff.

4 minutes into the first half:

Both teams kicked the ball around, sizing each other up early on. Within this, Sungoliath created the first scoring opportunity. It was a relatively easy position for a penalty goal, near the 22-meter line in front of the goalposts in the opposition’s half.

Sungoliath’s SO TAKAMOTO took the shot but missed, failing to score the opening points.

22 minutes into the first half:

Sungoliath dominated possession early, but after the 15-minute mark, Black Rams entered the opposition’s territory and launched consecutive attacks. During this, Sungoliath committed a penalty near their own 22-meter line. Black Rams, in a favorable position directly in front of the goalposts, opted for a penalty goal.

Black Rams’ SO NAKAKUSU converted it, putting the score at 3-0.

23 minutes into the first half:

After the restart following the penalty goal, WTB TAIRA caught the kickoff deep in his own half and immediately launched a counterattack. TAIRA then stepped past 5-6 defenders, gaining about 50m in one go. From here, the Black Rams continued their attack in the opposition’s territory. Finally, the Backs created numerical superiority on the left side, and FB LUCAS scored a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The Black Rams missed the conversion kick after the try, but this try brought the score to 8-0.

32 minutes into the first half:

As the first half drew to a close, Sungoliath finally entered the opposition’s territory and sustained their attack from there. Closing in on the opposition’s try line, they launched repeated waves of FW attacks. Finally, No. 8 TATAFU charged in and scored a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

Sungoliath successfully converted the try, narrowing the gap to 8-7.

The first half ended with this score, leaving the Home Team, the Black Rams, holding a one-point lead heading into the second half.

At halftime, set pieces were evenly matched, but in the ruck, Black Rams’ No. 8 Gill stood out defensively. Whenever Gill got involved in the ruck, the ball was turned over, preventing Sungoliath from establishing a rhythm for sustained attacks. Which team would take control of the game in the second half?

Now, the second half begins.

In this match, both teams were playing their season opener, but there were numerous penalties, resulting in many scoring opportunities going unrealized.

9 minutes into the second half:

Black Rams’ new signing, CTB SWARD, broke straight through from the first attack following a scrum near the center of the field and scored a try right under the goalposts. This player, despite this being his first professional contract with the Black Rams, was selected as a starter for the opening match. His ability to break through the line and score a try shows he is no ordinary rookie. He will be a player to watch going forward.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 15-7.

19 minutes into the second half:

Around this time, Sungoliath’s signature aggressive attacking rugby began to function effectively, leading to sustained waves of their attacks.

In response, the Black Rams defense countered with intense individual contact. However, as Sungoliath approached the try line in the opposition’s territory, they combined sustained attacks with a wide move from left to right, creating numerical advantage. Ultimately, WTB OZAKI scored a try in the right corner of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 15-12.

23 minutes into the second half:

Both teams created highlights in midfield through kicks and scrums. Here, Sungoliath won a scrum deep in the opposition’s territory, secured the ball, shifted play left, and gained numerical advantage. The ball was passed from FL CANE to substitute No.8 McMAHON, who scored a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 15-19 and completing Sungoliath’s comeback.

29 minutes into the second half:

As the match entered its final stages, Sungoliath’s high overall team work rate became increasingly evident. Players who came on as substitutes fulfilled their roles as impact players. When Sungoliath launched a big attack, Black Rams found themselves outnumbered, and ultimately, Sungoliath’s WTB KOLBE scored a try in the left corner of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 15-24.

40 minutes into the second half:

At this point, the Black Rams had two players temporarily sent off due to fouls. Both teams’ strategies were clear: the Black Rams, seeing a comeback victory as unlikely, aimed to score a try to secure a bonus point by keeping the deficit within 7 points. Meanwhile, Sungoliath needed just one more try to secure a 3-try margin victory and earn the Bonus Point.

However, the 2-man disadvantage left the Black Rams stretched thin against Sungoliath’s expansive play, leading to a try in the right corner of the in-goal area. The try was scored by substitute CTB NAKAMURA.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the final score was 15-29, with Sungoliath securing a victory and earning 5 points.

The Black Rams also took the lead and created highlights until past the 20-minute mark of the second half. We look forward to both teams’ performances in the next round and beyond.

＊＊ My Watch Collection 3 ＊＊

CASIO G-Shock Mud Master GG-B100BA

My companion for this match was the CASIO G-Shock Mud Master GG-B100BA. This watch is a collaborative product between CASIO and the British Army.

Being a co-developed product with the British Army, this watch looks quite rugged.

Functionally, it boasts 20 ATM water resistance, Bluetooth smartphone time synchronization, altitude, temperature, compass, and barometric pressure measurement capabilities. It features a Mud Resist structure and shock resistance. It’s a tough watch built to withstand harsh conditions. Despite its appearance, it weighs a light 97g, showcasing CASIO’s high level of technical expertise.

The package arrived in the special equipment box shown in the photo above. The inclusion of the British Army mark and camouflage pattern box emphasizes its special edition feel.

Inside this box is the small box shown above. Opening it reveals the watch.

This watch was released in April 2020. I acquired mine on Yahoo! Auctions for ¥50,000.

One drawback is that it uses a replaceable battery, not solar charging, requiring battery replacement every 2 years. Otherwise, it’s a tough watch that can handle getting wet or being dropped without worry. However, if you want it to last, it’s essential to keep the resin parts, like the band, clean after use. If left sweaty and dirty, this band will break in about 2 years, but with proper care after use, it can last over 10 years.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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(Written by Azul: December 14, 2025)

On November 30, 2025, I went to watch a Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group match at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. It took me 3 and a half hours to get from my hometown of Hachioji City in Tokyo to Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture, transferring between different modes of public transportation. Recently, I’ve started using the Green Car more often when traveling to watch games. Standing for long periods on the train makes me tired before I even arrive at the venue. However, riding in the comfortable Green Car, where I can sit back and relax, makes the long journey feel much shorter.

Today’s match was between Teikyo University, currently ranked 4th in the Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group, and Keio University, ranked 5th. Both teams have already secured their places in the National University Rugby Championship. However, as you can see from the photo above, there were hardly any spectators. According to the organizers, the attendance for the day was 1,027. This was probably because, although Teikyo University had won this matchup 5 times in a row over the past 5 years, Teikyo University has been so strong that Keio University has been completely unable to compete, so the audience has lost interest in watching. However, I was hoping that this season’s match would be more enjoyable than usual because the two teams are more evenly matched.

The current standings for the Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group this season were as follows.

	Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group Order 2025/11/30
order	team	Win	Lose	Winning Point
1	Waseda	5	1	32
2	Meiji	5	1	30
3	Tsukuba	5	1	28
4	Teikyo	4	2	27
5	Keio	3	3	21
6	Aoyama Gakuin	1	5	11
7	Nippon Sport Science	1	5	10
8	Rikkyo	0	6	6

Each team has 1 match remaining this season, but only the top five teams qualify for the National University Rugby Championship. With a significant point gap separating them from 6th place and below, qualification is already secured for Waseda University (1st) through Keio University (5th). However, the points are tightly clustered among the top 4 teams, so the exact order is likely to change.

Now, an introduction to the 2 teams facing off today.

First, Keio University Rugby Club.

Celebrating its 126th anniversary this season, it is the oldest team in Japanese rugby history. Regarding their playing style, they previously employed a style similar to the England team, kicking high punts and having forwards run in to gain ground. However, they have now shifted to a style that actively involves the backs and utilizes the entire field. Since last season, Keio has seen many players from the Japan U-18 national team join their ranks. Given the quality of these recruits, they could be contenders for the University Championship title within the next 2 to 3 years. This season, as the campaign progresses, the team has strengthened, putting up competitive performances against top-tier opponents and delighting their fans.

The starting lineup for this match was as follows.

Keio University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Yugo IBUKI	175cm	100kg	20
2	Takahiro FUJIMORI	173cm	102kg	21
3	Taisei NAKAYA	180cm	115kg	22
4	Seiichiro NISHINO	184cm	92kg	18	U-18,U-20 Japan
5	Keyver Bladley KYO	182cm	90kg	20	U18Japan
6	Yuichiro ONDA	175cm	100kg	20
7	Kise SIN	175cm	93kg	19	U18Japan
8	Masanori NAKANO	176m	107kg	19	U-20 Japan
9	Dansuke HASHIMOTO	169m	76kg	22
10	Yuki KOBAYASHI	168cm	75kg	18	U18Japan
11	Takumi KUSANAGI	177cm	87kg	19
12	Ryohei IMANO	183cm	90kg	22	U-18,U-20 Japan,JJ
13	Ryotaro ANZAI	180cm	84kg	19	U18Japan
14	O IBUKI	176cm	81kg	22
15	Yutaro TAMURA	174cm	80kg	19
					JJ=Junior Japan
					JXV=Japan XV

Next, an introduction to the Teikyo University Rugby Club.

Currently the reigning national university champions with 4 consecutive titles, this season’s team has struggled. After close matches, they lost to Tsukuba University and Meiji University, eliminating their chances of winning this season’s Kanto University Rugby Championship group. However, they did secure a victory against Waseda University Rugby Club, a team they battled for the title last season, demonstrating their underlying strength. If the team’s cohesion deepens, they possess the capability to aim for consecutive national championships. However, this season’s championship features exceptionally competitive teams, meaning even defending champions Teikyo University cannot afford complacency. Rugby fans can look forward to many exciting matches.

The starting lineup for the day was as follows:

Teikyo University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Ryota UENO	181cm	114kg	20
2	Naoyoshi KAJIKAWA	172cm	100kg	20
3	Tsubasa MORIYAMA	180cm	109kg	21	JXV,U18Japan,Japan
4	Akihiro TSUBONE	185cm	105kg	19	U18Japan
5	Antonio FISIPUNA	192cm	115kg	19	U18Japan
6	Shido KUREYAMA	190cm	90kg	21
7	Noeru KAWAMURA	175cm	90kg	22
8	Kaisa DAUNAKAMAKAMA	182cm	120kg	21	U-18 Japan
9	Yoshito MITAMURA	169cm	75kg	20	U-20 Japan
10	Takaya MOTOHASHI	181cm	88kg	21	U-20 Japan,JXV,Japan
11	Genki IKUTA	170cm	82kg	22	U-20 Japan,JJ
12	Yoshiki OMACHI	173cm	80kg	21	U-18,U-20 Japan,JJ
13	Futo SATO	180cm	87kg	20	U-18,U-20 Japan
14	Yusuke YOSHIDA	185cm	89kg	21
15	Rui YOSHIDA	176cm	85kg	19
					JJ=Junior Japan
					JXV=Japan XV

Now, the first half begins.

Teikyo University, currently defending their university championship title this season, is struggling. One reason may be the absence of a forward who can break through the defense. While CTB OOMACHI is Teikyo’s captain this season, their tactic of relying on the backs to break through hasn’t fully materialized yet. Furthermore, since Teikyo’s forward pack isn’t driving the attack forward, the intimidating presence Teikyo displayed in previous seasons is noticeably lacking. This might give opponents the impression that they are easier to play against.

However, the potential within Teikyo’s forwards is evident.

As the season progresses, if the forwards’ awareness awakens, they still have the potential to dominate matches.

That said, Teikyo’s backs this season show improved penetration and finishing ability when attacking. They draw deep lines, allowing each back to accelerate, receive the ball, and shift the defense before developing plays. This creates overloads on the wings during sustained attacks. Combined with the high finishing ability of both wingers, this forms the strength of Teikyo’s backs this season.

This match progressed at Teikyo University’s pace in the first half. While Keio University’s defense showed resilience in scrums and rucks, Teikyo’s backs repeatedly broke through the gain line and piled up tries as they built phases.

They scored four tries in the first half at 9′, 18′, 29′, and 34′. Furthermore, they did not concede any points to Keio University in the first half.

Although Teikyo and Keio are only one spot apart in the standings this season, Teikyo’s attacking power clearly overwhelmed Keio in the first half.

At halftime, Teikyo University had, just like last season, overpowered Keio University with sheer strength. This was somewhat unexpected, as a close contest had been predicted before kickoff. Keio University managed to advance their line several times to around the opponent’s 22-meter line, but they couldn’t break through to the try line from there.

Now, the second half begins.

Teikyo University scored the opening try of the second half once again. Keio’s defense tackled tenaciously, but Teikyo’s backs steadily connected passes, allowing their attack to continue and lead to points.

However, in the 11th minute of the second half, Keio University finally crossed the opposition’s 22-meter line, advanced, and scored their first try of the match in the left corner of the goalposts. The scorer was Keio University’s FL SHIN.

What caught the eye during Keio University’s second-half counterattack were their first-year players. Six players who had won the national high school championship with Toin Gakuen were selected for the starting lineup that day. They performed well at crucial moments, particularly standing out defensively.

In the 20th minute of the second half, Keio University scored their second try of the day. WTB IBUKI crossed over in the right center of the opposition’s in-goal area. Keio seemed to have identified gaps in Teikyo’s defense at this point, creating more opportunities to break through the line.

Although Keio mounted a counterattack in the second half, Teikyo demonstrated their superior ball-handling skills when transitioning to offense. They scored 4 more tries in the second half, pulling away from Keio to secure a final score of 50-19.

Both teams competing today could potentially meet again if they advance in the University Championship. Though Keio University lost this time, we hope they unleash their potential in the University Championship and deliver a great match.

＊＊ Jersey Collection 75 ＊＊

AVIREX 50th Anniversary Commemorative Jacket

The other day, when I went to Tachikawa City to meet a friend, this jacket caught my eye at the AVIREX shop in front of the station, and I ended up buying it on impulse. The price was 39,800 yen. AVIREX products bought in Japan are generally about twice the price of ALPHA products. Because it was so expensive, I hesitated for about 10 minutes, but I bought it anyway.

What really captured my heart was definitely this orange color.

This was my first time buying an AVIREX jacket, but since I didn’t think ALPHA’s shop carried the same model, I went ahead and bought it.

The lining color is like a MA-1, so it really stands out when worn in town. I’ve seen people wearing the same jacket in black or gray around town, but I haven’t seen anyone wearing this orange one yet.

The inside of the jacket has a camouflage pattern. It’s perfect for meeting someone in the city and getting spotted.

＊＊　My　Watch　Collection　3　＊＊

INVICTA　BOLT　43760

Since I bought the orange AVIREX jacket, I was looking for an orange watch to coordinate with it. That’s when I found the INVICTA BOLT pictured above. It’s a watch that stands out just as much as the AVIREX jacket.

However, I got it for a pretty good price: 19,000 yen. The INVICTA brand was founded in Switzerland in 1831 but moved its headquarters to the United States in 1991.

I think this INVICTA brand isn’t widely recognized in Japan, which is why it’s sold at this price. If the brand’s popularity rises in the near future, the selling price could go up.

This watch has a very rugged design and weighs about 240g, which is twice as much as a CASIO G-Shock. It’s too heavy for women to wear comfortably, but it’s definitely a masculine watch.

It doesn’t have as many functions as a G-Shock, but its unique design is truly one-of-a-kind. The standout feature of this BOLT is the thick wire forming the watch’s grill.

For a while, I’ll likely be wearing it more often, paired with my AVIREX jacket.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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(Written by Azul: November 16, 2025)

On October 25, 2025, a friendly match between the Japan national rugby team, the Brave Blossoms, and the Australian national team, the Wallabies, was held at the National Stadium in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. The Japanese team had lost all 6 previous matches against Australia and still had no victories. Could the Japanese team finally secure their first win in this 7th encounter?

Unfortunately, the weather brought rain. The temperature was 15 degrees Celsius, making for a chilly match to watch.

Attendance for the day was 41,612, a fairly decent turnout.

The Japanese national team is scheduled to tour Europe next, playing 4 Test matches.

The results of the Japanese national rugby team’s Test matches this season are as follows.

Japan　Rugby　Test　Match　2025
	Date	Opponent	match venue	Result
1	6/28	Maori All Blacks	Tokyo	20-53●
2	7/5	Wales	Kitakyushu	24-19○
3	7/12	Wales	Kobe	22-31●
4	8/30	Canada	Sendai	57-15○
5	9/7	USA	Heart Health Park	47-21○
6	9/15	Tonga	Dicks Sporting Goods Park	62-24○
7	9/21	Fiji	America　First　Field	27-33●
8	10/18	Australia　A	Yodokou Sakura Stadium	7-71●
5	10/25	Australia	Tokyo
6	11/1	South　Africa	London
7	11/8	Ireland	Dublin
8	11/15	Wales	Cardiff
9	11/22	Georgia

Looking at the results so far, the Brave Blossoms have lost to opponents ranked higher in the world, except for the 7-5 win against Wales. With upcoming Test matches against higher-ranked nations, we hope to see them perform even better than last season.

Now, let’s introduce the 2 teams competing this day.

First, the Visitor Team: the Australian national rugby team, the Wallabies.

Currently ranked 7th in the world. They have won the Rugby World Cup twice, in 1991 and 1999. At RWC 2023, they suffered the humiliation of their first-ever pool stage elimination. However, since last season, the team has strengthened and is regaining its peak form. The Wallabies’ playing style combines dazzling open attack with stable set pieces anchored by a powerful forward pack. They are not a team that relies solely on the forwards to attack, making them a good matchup for the Brave Blossoms, who also excel in open attack. This has historically produced exciting matches. However, the head-to-head record favors the Australian national team completely. The Japanese national team has never won.

＊＊　Player to watch　＊＊

Rob VALETINI. 193cm, 117kg, 27 years old. Position = FL, No. 8. Club = Brumbies. Australia caps = 39. The second player in history to sign a Super Rugby contract while still in high school. In 2018, he suffered a major injury that forced him to take an extended break. However, his subsequent performances earned him his Australian Test debut against Samoa in September 2019. His playing style, leveraging his powerful physique, features strong ball carries and clever offload play that leaves a strong impression on spectators. In 2023, he was named Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.

In this Test match, the powerful Wallabies back row, centered around him, is expected to dominate the game.

Next, an introduction to the Home Team, the Japan national rugby team, the Brave Blossoms.

The Brave Blossoms face 4 consecutive weeks of matches against teams ranked in the top tier of the world rankings starting this week. The goal for this series is to elevate their current world ranking of 13th into the top 12. The RWC 2027 pool draw will be determined by the world rankings as of December this year. To secure a favorable pool draw in the RWC 2027 qualifiers, they aim to accumulate wins even against top-ranked opponents. Will the Brave Blossoms succeed?

＊＊　Player to watch　＊＊

(The player standing in the left corner of the photo above is Ben GUNTER)

Ben GUNTER. 195cm, 120kg, 28 years old. Position = FL. Club = Panasonic Wildknights. Japan National Team Caps= 16. Born in Australia. After graduating high school in Australia, he was unable to secure a professional contract with a local team. However, he passed the tryouts for Japan’s Wildknights and turned professional in Japan. At age 19, he set the record for the youngest player ever to appear in a Top League match,Japan. Later, at age 21, he was selected for the Sun Wolves, Super Rugby Team. At age 26, he was selected for the Japan National Team for RWC 2023. He is currently a central defensive player for the Japan national team. His physical abilities are world-class. His tackles are so powerful that he has suffered frequent injuries in the past, limiting his caps. We hope he can approach RWC 2027 in peak physical condition.

Now, the first half kicks off.

One week prior, Japan XV, the Japan national team’s reserve squad, suffered a humiliating defeat against Australia A. The Brave Blossoms, Japan’s national team, faced immense pressure in this home game, carrying the hopes of their local fans. The previous week, Japan XV’s set pieces nearly collapsed under the opposing team’s pressure, leading to their heavy defeat. On offense, Japan XV’s attacks failed to breach Australia A’s defensive line, resulting in them being shut down except for FB YAZAKI’s try.

Could the Brave Blossoms live up to the expectations of the Japanese fans?

The Brave Blossoms successfully retained possession in the first scrum. However, in the early scrum battles, the Wallabies held a slight advantage.

13 minutes into the first half:

The Brave Blossoms failed to secure the ball at their own lineout. Despite having the 201cm tall jumper DEARNS, they couldn’t win the ball. This allowed the Wallabies to advance deep into the opposition’s territory. Their forwards drove forward vertically, scoring the opening try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area after only a few phases.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 0-7.

27 minutes into the first half:

Rain had been falling since kickoff, causing the ball to be quite slippery and leading to numerous handling errors like knock-forwards. Consequently, both teams’ scrum-halves adopted a strategy of kicking for contest deep into the opposition’s territory after some build-up play, aiming to regain possession.

During this phase of play, the Wallabies committed an offside infringement in a scrum. The Brave Blossoms, seeing the infringement occurred directly in front of the goalposts, approximately 30 meters out, opted for a penalty goal.

Brave Blossoms SO LEE converted this penalty goal, bringing the score to 3-7.

30 minutes into the first half:

The Brave Blossoms needed to regain ground after catching the restart kickoff in their own half. However, they committed a knock-forward penalty in their own territory, resulting in a Wallabies scrum. From there, the Wallabies advanced, with FB KELLAWAY breaking through the line on the first attack. He passed to the following CTB FLOOK, who carried it straight into the opposition’s goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 3-14.

The first half ended with this score. While the rainy weather played a part, the Brave Blossoms spent little time attacking and were mostly on defense. In contrast, the Wallabies showed efficient attacking, converting their opportunities into points without wasting much time.

Can the Brave Blossoms stage a comeback in the second half despite this disadvantage?

Before the second half began, heavy rain started falling, worsening the ground conditions.

Now, the second half begun.

The Brave Blossoms finally penetrated the opposition’s territory and launched a series of attacks, though they failed to get them into scores. However, the Wallabies’ defense was solid, preventing them from reaching the try line.

12 minutes into the second half:

The Wallabies committed a foul near the center of the field, and the Brave Blossoms opted for a penalty kick. SO LEE kicked the ball to a position threatening the try line, earning a lineout on the left corner in a prime spot. Securing the ball here, the Brave Blossoms’ forwards repeatedly launched side attacks towards the try line.

In this sequence, Brave Blossoms prop TAKEUTI broke through the opposition defense and scored a try in the left center of the in-goal area. The Brave Blossoms scored their first try of the match. The stadium erupted in the loudest cheer of the day.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 8-14.

17 minutes into the second half:

As if spurred by the Brave Blossoms’ earlier try, the Wallabies players’ fighting spirit ignited. Entering the opposition’s territory, the Wallabies forwards relentlessly drove forward through the scrum side.

The Brave Blossoms desperately defended their try line but committed an offside infringement. The Wallabies gained territory through a penalty kick and earned a lineout on the left side of the opposition’s try line. Securing the ball, the Wallabies formed a maul and surged forward, with FL TIZZANO scoring a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 8-19.

21 minutes into the second half:

During this period, both teams traded points, and the game became evenly matched.

The Brave Blossoms continued their attack in the opposition’s territory from the restart kickoff, gradually closing in on the try line.

The Brave Blossoms gained the upper hand in the scrum, with scrum-half FUJIWARA driving forward to within 50 cm of the try line.

Flanker GUNTER followed up, breaking through the scrum and darting to the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area to score a try.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 15-1.

In the remaining minutes of the second half, the Brave Blossoms took control of the attack, launching consecutive drives deep into the opposition’s territory. However, they were unable to score, and the Brave Blossoms ultimately lost the match by a margin of 4 points, with the final score 15-19. Having created several chances in the second half, the Brave Blossoms were eager to cap off their final domestic Test match of the season with a victory.

Moving forward, the Brave Blossoms must improve their world ranking during their European tour to secure a favorable draw for RWC 2027. We look forward to the Brave Blossoms’ strong performance this season.

＊＊　My　Watch　Collection　2　＊＊

My companion for this match was the VOSTOK EUROPE LUNAR ECLIPSE.

I purchased it from an online watch specialty store. The purchase price was 90,000 yen.

The design of this watch really struck a chord with me. True to its name, Lunar Eclipse, it has a fantastical design.

Functionally, it features 20 ATM water resistance and a stopwatch function. Compared to CASIO, it’s not packed with features. However, the real strength of this watch, as I’ve mentioned before, is its design.

Regarding the manufacturer, VOSTOK existed in the former Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, the manufacturer was reportedly dissolved. It was then reestablished in Lithuania under the name VOSTOK EUROPE. While the company itself moved to Lithuania, many watches produced here carry names clearly targeting the Russian market.

Recent VOSTOK products exhibit a strong sense of individuality in their design, ranging from pieces that follow the traditional Soviet-era style to those that evoke Lithuanian culture. I did replace one part on this watch. In its original state, the watch came with a leather strap. Considering potential use near water, I replaced it with an Italian-made urethane strap from MORELLATO. This strap has a high-quality feel, seems very durable, and above all, offers an exceptional wearing comfort.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

(Written by Azul: November 1, 2025)

On October 18^th,2025 , I traveled to Osaka for a friendly match between the Japan national rugby team and the Australia A team.

That day, I boarded the Shinkansen Nozomi 15 departing at 8:31 AM and arrived at Shin-Osaka Station at 10:39 AM. From Shin-Osaka, I took the Midosuji subway line and got off at Nagai Station. The subway ride took about 40 minutes.

From Nagai Station, it took less than 10 minutes to walk leisurely to the stadium.

The photo above shows Nagai Athletic Stadium, located next to today’s match venue. And here is Yodoko Sakura Stadium, this day’s match venue.

This stadium has a capacity of 24,644 spectators. It is the home stadium for Cerezo Osaka, a Japanese professional soccer team.

The weather that day was cloudy with a high of 26.3 degrees Celsius, making for quite humid and muggy conditions.

Attendance for the day was 10,105, showing decent popularity. Ideally, we’d want a full house, but Kansai fans are relatively discerning, so filling the stadium requires significant marketing effort.

Now, let’s introduce the 2 teams competing this day.

First, the Visitor Team: Australia A.

Australia A is a second-tier team, akin to the Wallabies, Australia’s national team. Since the Wallabies themselves are a powerhouse team boasting 2 RWC championships, this Australia A team is also quite strong. When we faced them 2 years ago, Japan fielded what was essentially the national team and still ended up with one win and two losses. This time, Japan XV is essentially a second-string team, so it would be interesting to see how much they can compete.

The starting lineup for the day was as follows.

Australia A
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Club	Australia Caps
1	Isaac KAILEA	190cm	129kg	25	Wallatahs	8
2	Matt FAESSLER	183cm	105kg	26	Reds	15
3	Rhys VAN NEK	177cm	108kg	26	Brumbies
4	Darcy SWAIN	200cm	113kg	28	Force	17
5	Josh CANHAM	202cm	119kg	24	Reds	1
6	Rory SCOTT	189cm	100kg	25	Brumbies
7	Luke REIMER	187cm	102kg	25	Brumbies	1
8	Pete Sam	185cm	102kg	33	Brumbies	33
9	Teddy WILSON	182cm	84kg	22	Wallatahs
10	Ben DONALDSON	184cm	84kg	26	Force	7
11	Ollie SAPSFORD	191cm	104kg	30	Brumbies
12	Hamish STEWART	183cm	90kg	27	Force	2
13	Joey WALTON	182cm	94kg	25	Wallatahs
14	Tim RYAN	186cm	88kg	21	Reds
15	Mac GREALY	180cm	89kg	23	Force

** Player to Watch **

Ben DONALDSON. 184cm, 84kg, 26 years old. Position = SO, FB. Club = Western Force. Australia Caps = 7. He made his international debut in a 2022 Test match against Italy. He was subsequently selected for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, appearing in 4 matches and scoring 45 points. He was also selected for 2 matches against the British & Irish Lions this season.

He boasts powerful physicality that holds its own against opposing defenders in contact, and is also a skilled kicker with a high success rate on conversions from difficult angles. Japan XV must apply pressure to DONALDSON to prevent him from freely dictating the game.

Next, an introduction to the Home Team, Japan XV.

This Japan XV squad features young players selected from the national team candidate training camp. While the backs include experienced internationals with numerous caps, the forwards include several players who are only semi-regulars for their clubs, having just graduated from university. While they show promise for the future, it remains to be seen how much they can compete against the strong Australia A team. We hope the players will rise to the occasion to build momentum for the next match.

The starting lineup for the day was as follows.

Japan XV
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Club	Japan Caps
1	Sho FURUHATA	185cm	123kg	28	Wild Knights
2	Shodai HIRAO	174cm	105kg	23	Sungoliath
3	Sanshiro KIHARA	181cm	110kg	22	Sungoliath
4	David VAN ZEALAND	196cm	116kg	25	Spears
5	Shu YAMAMOTO	190m	97kg	26	Black Rams
6	Tyler PAUL	195m	112kg	30	Spears
7	Akito OKUI	178cm	105kg	24	Verblitz
8	Amanaki SAUMAKI	189m	110kg	28	Eagles	5
9	Shuntaro KITAMURA	168cm	70kg	23	Blue Revs	1
10	Itigo NAKAKUSU	174cm	84kg	25	Black Rams	3
11	Halatoa VAILEA	187cm	103kg	26	Spears	2
12	Siosaia FIFITA	186cm	100kg	28	Verblitz	16
13	Yuya HIROSE	181cm	92kg	24	Spears	4
14	Kazuma UEDA	177cm	87kg	22	Steelers
15	Yoshitaka YAZAKI	180cm	85kg	21	Waseda Univ.	5

＊＊　Player to Watch　＊＊

Itigo NAKAKUSU. 174cm, 84kg, 25 years old. Position = SO, FB. Club = RICOH Black Rams.

Graduated from Keio University. Japan National Team Caps = 3. He is a player who displays innate game-making sense. While his physicality still shows room for improvement, he possesses remarkable luck, having been selected for the Japan national team at just 23 years old. His growth as a player will contribute to the Japan national team’s advancement, so we hope he continues to play matches and gain experience.

Now, the first half began.

The match started with Japan XV kicking off.

Japan XV’s movement immediately after kickoff was good. They won the ball in a scrum, launched a sustained attack, and advanced deep into the opposition’s 22-meter zone.

Japan XV gained possession for a lineout inside the opposition’s 22, but Australia A stole the ball. Australia A then counterattacked, driving deep into Japan XV’s territory and putting them under pressure.

6 minutes into the first half:

With the ball about 3m from the try line, the first scrum of the match was awarded.

Australia A won the scrum, released the ball, and moved it left. Led by their forwards, they steadily advanced towards the try line. On the 3rd attack, Australia A’s lock, SWAIN, scored the opening try, touching down just inside the left goalpost of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 0-7.

9 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Japan XV drove deep into the opposition’s territory. After releasing the ball from a scrum, they spread play to the left. SO NAKAKUSU executed a superb short punt, creating a golden try opportunity. However, Australia A’s SH WILSON made an incredible recovery to prevent the try.

14 minutes into the first half:

During this period, Japan XV created several decisive scoring opportunities, but Australia A’s solid defense prevented them from crossing the try line.

Australia A then regained possession. Following a sustained attack, the ball was spread to the left and reached FB GREALY. He used his speed to break through the line and, tangled up with defenders, scored a try in the left corner of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, leaving the score at 0-12.

17 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Japan XV entered the opposition’s territory, and the backs launched a series of attacks. WTB UEDA approached the try line, attempted a short punt, and tried to secure it, but Australia A’s FB GREALY snatched it and launched a counterattack from near his own try line.

Australia A players followed up, passing the ball in succession. Finally, lock SWAIN scored his second try of the day in the left center of the opposition’s try zone.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 0-19.

20 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Australia A secured possession. They linked up with short passes through the scrum, successfully breaking the line twice. Finally, WTB RYAN scored a try in the center-right of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 0-26.

22 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Japan XV moved the ball from near the center of the field to the left. FB YAZAKI, joining the attack from the line, used his trademark speed to break through the line, evading two defenders, and scored a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 7-26. Japan XV finally scored their first points of the match.

28 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Australia A gained advantage in set plays after entering the opposition’s territory, advancing beyond the 22-meter line. From there, Australia A’s forwards repeatedly attacked the flanks, forming a maul near the opposition try line. Finally, scrum-half WILSON drove through the maul’s side to score a try.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 7-33.

The first half ended with this score.

Japan XV showed individual breakthroughs, but their team coordination showed cracks. They couldn’t score, and defensively, they failed to break Australia A’s passing connections.

This marked the 15-minute halftime break.

Near my seat, rugby entertainer SHINYA mingled with fans. He was quite popular.

Could Japan XV overcome this deficit in the second half?

And so, the second half began.

2 minutes into the second half:

From the kickoff, Australia A broke the line from their own lineout and surged towards the try line. Japan XV defended desperately here, but ultimately conceded another try to Australia A. The try was scored by FL RAIMER.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 7-40.

6 minutes into the second half:

Although only 5 minutes into the second half, Japan XV’s defense was already beginning to collapse. They could no longer halt Australia A’s advances, allowing the ball to be passed repeatedly and points to pile up. Australia A linked passes from their own half, advanced down the left flank, and finally formed a maul to drive forward. Hooker FAESLER scored a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 7-47.

7 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV failed to regain possession from the restart kickoff after the try. From here, Australia A launched a counterattack deep in their own territory. Australia A attacked up the right side, rapidly advancing to near the opposition’s 22-meter line.

After securing the ball from the lineout, they spread the play to the left and scored a try with ease. The try was scored by prop VAN NEK. This try came in under 2 minutes from the  restart kickoff.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 7-54.

16 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV substituted their scrum-half and fly-half.

Both teams engaged in a deep kicking battle, turning the match into a war of attrition.

Australia A players, their legs tangled, fought hard to drive forward. Finally, center WALTON scored a try in the left corner of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 7-59.

However, a TMO video review was conducted, and Australia A’s try was disallowed due to a foul committed during the play. The score was adjusted to 7-54.

18 minutes into the second half:

During this period, Australia A’s WTB SAPSFORD was penalized for a high tackle, shown a red card, and sent off. Australia A faced the disadvantage of playing the remainder of the match with 14 men.

However, Australia A won a scrum deep in the opposition’s territory, and Japan XV was penalized. Australia A opted for a penalty kick, driving deep into the opposition’s territory to gain a lineout on their own ball near the try line. Securing the ball, Australia A formed a maul and advanced. From there, they spread the ball wide, and substitute scrum-half ROBERTSON scored a try in the right corner of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 7-59.

23 minutes into the second half:

By this stage, despite being a man down, Australia A dominated set pieces. Japan XV was struggling to properly halt their attacks.

Japan XV could stop opponents trying to break through the scrum side, but they couldn’t disrupt the attack by intercepting the offload passes that followed.

Australia A accelerated their wave attacks once entering the opposition’s territory. SO DONALDSON broke through the line, advancing deep into the opposition’s try zone. From there, the ball was passed to substitute prop IELI, who scored a try in the right center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 7-66.

In the 30th minute of the second half, Australia A’s CTB STEWART was temporarily sent off for 10 minutes due to repeated fouls. With 2 players down, Australia A’s offensive momentum inevitably slowed. Japan XV spent more time attacking in the opposition’s territory, but their lack of finishing power in front of the try line became evident.

37 minutes into the second half:

Despite being 2 players down, Australia A continued their attack, driving forward with each play. They moved the ball from the right edge to the left edge inside the opposition’s 22-meter line. Finally, WTB RYAN scored a try in the left corner of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, bringing the score to 7-74.

The match ended with this score.

In terms of the match content, it was a crushing defeat for Japan XV. Without FB YAZAKI’s try, it would have been a humiliating shutout loss. Continuing to play matches like this risks not being scheduled for next season, leaving a lasting negative impact for the future.

This means the Japanese national team will need to put up a strong fight in next week’s Test match against Australia.

＊＊ My Watch Collection ＊＊

Starting this time, I’ll be introducing the wristwatch I wear to the match venue.

My companion for this journey is the

CASIO G-SHOCK Gravity Master GR-B200.

CASIO heavily promotes its best-selling G-SHOCK watches, known as Master of G, broadly categorized into 3 types:

1)    Master of G, Land

2)    Master of G, Sea

3)           Master of G, Air

The G-SHOCK Master of G models were created to meet the demands of professionals working in the harsh environments of land, sea, and air.

This time, I wore the Master of G, Air GR-B200. The price was 39,800 yen when purchased new. Looking at the front, a distinctive feature is the carbon fiber insert in the bezel surrounding the watch, emphasizing both design and its lightweight yet high rigidity.

As a fundamental G-SHOCK feature, it boasts 20-bar water resistance, allowing you to swim with it. Time adjustment uses Bluetooth to sync with your smartphone, ensuring accuracy down to the second. One disappointment was that the watch’s battery isn’t solar-powered. Therefore, regular battery replacement is necessary (every 2-3 years).

A distinctive design feature of this watch is that, when viewed from the side, the operation buttons are modeled after a helicopter’s control stick. This side design makes a strong impression, so it will likely divide users. I personally liked this design, but since it wasn’t adopted in subsequent models, it might have struggled in sales.

Regardless of this specific model, the reassuring points when using G-SHOCK are:

1) It displays accurate time (as long as paired with a smartphone).

2) It rarely breaks, even if dropped.

3) It resists water ingress. While not a Divers Watch and unsuitable for diving, it won’t leak during activities like swimming.

These features make G-SHOCK invaluable for filming competitions.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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 (Written by Azul: October 12, 2025)

The sweltering summer has finally bid farewell, and with autumn’s arrival, official rugby matches have commenced across Japan. The first match I attended this season was a rare night game for university rugby. It was an official Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group match, featuring Waseda University (last season’s 1st place) VS Rikkyo University (last season’s 7th place).

Typically, this match often ends as a one-sided game dominated by Waseda University, with the audience estimated to consist mostly of students and alumni from both universities. The attendance that day was 5,337 people.

Regarding the ground conditions that day: the weather was sunny with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Since it wasn’t under direct sunlight, it was comfortable weather for watching the game.

Now, let’s introduce the two teams competing that day.

First, an introduction to the Waseda University Rugby Club, last season’s Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group winner.

Waseda University Rugby Club finished last season’s Rivalry Group undefeated in first place, raising expectations for victory in the National University Rugby Championship. However, they lost to the previous year’s university champions, Teikyo University, in the final, settling for second place.

With the graduation of the 4th-year players, a new team has been formed. This season, under captain CTB NONAKA, they aim to become Japan’s top university team for the first time since 2019. This season, many members from last season’s championship runner-up team remain, and they possess the capability to become Japan’s top university team.

The starting lineup for this day was as follows.

Waseda University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Airou SUGIMOTO	176cm	105kg	22	U19 Japan
2	Kenshin SHIMIZU	180cm	100kg	21	U18,20,23,Japan XV
3	Eito ARAI	179cm	105kg	21
4	Mitsuharu KOBAYASHI	188cm	99kg	20
5	Bunsuke KURITA	184cm	102kg	21	U20Japan
6	Osuke SHIRO	185cm	99kg	19	U18 Japan
7	Yusei TANAKA	166cm	87kg	22
8	Ken AIHARA	180m	92kg	22
9	Mashu ITOSE	175m	69kg	21
10	Ryota HATTORI	178cm	80kg	19	U18 Japan
11	Haruto IKEMOTO	183cm	89kg	21
12	Kengo NONAKA	180cm	92kg	22	U20,U21Japan,JJ
13	Kazune KUROKAWA	167cm	77kg	22
14	Kenzou TANAKA	172cm	77kg	20	U23 Japan
15	Yoshitaka YAZAKI	180cm	86kg	21	U18,U20 Japan,JapanXV,Japan
					JJ=Junior Japan
					JXV=Japan XV

In the season opener against Nippon Sport Science University, Waseda University won by a large margin of 59-7. However, some key players were returning from injury or illness and were not in the starting lineup. Starting from this match, they returned, and nearly the best lineup was assembled.

＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊

Yoshitaka YAZAKI. 180cm, 86kg, 21 years old. Position = FB. Japan caps = 5. Graduated from Toin Gakuen High School. He has been named to Japan national teams at various age levels. Last season, he was finally selected for the senior Japan national team, appearing in 5 matches and gaining international experience against world-class teams. This season, his absence from the national team roster initially worried rugby fans, but it was later revealed he underwent knee surgery after last season, requiring recovery time. He managed to be ready for the university’s official matches and started in this game. We hope he regains his form smoothly and performs even better than last season.

Next, an introduction to our opponents, the Rikkyo University Rugby Team.

Founded in 1923. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the team has actively scouted promising newcomers and assembled a regular lineup featuring players who competed in national high school tournaments, steadily building their strength. Rikkyo University’s goal is to qualify for the National University Rugby Championship, a tournament they have yet to participate in.

To achieve this, finishing within the top 5 of their current Kanto University Rugby Rivalry group is essential. Their season opener saw them face last season’s university champions, Teikyo University, suffering a 21-48 defeat. However, compared to last season when they were completely outclassed, they scored 3 tries, raising hopes for their performance this season.

This day’s starting lineup was as follows.

RIKKYO University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Hayase ISHIHARA	177cm	110kg	21
2	Satoshi ECHIGO	166cm	95kg	19
3	Shogo SAKUMA	181cm	115kg	22
4	Kazuki SHIRAISHI	178cm	97kg	22
5	Gakua FURUTA	180cm	100kg	18
6	Ryoyu TSUNODA	170cm	95kg	23
7	Yojiro ISHIKAWA	172cm	95kg	22
8	Eiku NAKAYAMA	178cm	96kg	20
9	Kanto ARIGA	177cm	86kg	20
10	Yuto MUKAI	177cm	85kg	19	U18 Japan
11	Go SHIBUYA	178cm	84kg	19
12	Kantaro SATO	176cm	88kg	22
13	Kyuhei AMO	172cm	83kg	21
14	Arishi MURAKAMI	171cm	83kg	20
15	Shuya FUKUI	180cm	82kg	19

While it may pale in comparison to Waseda University, which fields a team composed of Japanese national representatives from various age groups, the starting lineup features players who have all competed in national tournaments during their high school years, demonstrating steady progress in strengthening the team.

＊＊　Player to Watch　＊＊

Yuto Mukai. 177cm, 85kg, 19 years old. Position = SO. U-18 Japan National Team. Graduated from Tokai University Osaka Gyosei High School. The only U-18 Japan National Team member in Rikkyo University’s starting lineup for this match. While Waseda University’s SO is HATTORI, considered the top student player, it is precisely when the team is at a disadvantage that the true value of the SO, the team’s playmaker, is tested.

Now, the first half begins. Kickoff time was 3:00 PM.

For Rikkyo University, ranked 7th last season, to hold their own against Waseda, last season’s champions, set pieces would be crucial. They didn’t lose the initial scrum after the kickoff.

4 minutes into the first half:

Waseda University launched an attack from their own half. The ball reached FB YAZAKI on the left wing, who made a big gain, driving deep into the opposition’s 22-meter area. Rikkyo managed to halt the advance here, but Waseda launched a series of attacks. The ball found FB YAZAKI again, who scored a try in the right center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, but Waseda scored the opening points of the match. The score became 5-0.

12 minutes into the first half:

Rikkyo held their own in the initial scrum, but when they formed a scrum near the 22-meter line during this period, Waseda pushed them back decisively. Rikkyo conceded a penalty in this play, and Waseda opted for a penalty kick. However, at the lineout near the Rikkyo in-goal area, Waseda failed to secure the ball, allowing Rikkyo to regain possession in their own territory.

Here, Rikkyo’s SO MUKAI kicked the ball out from his own in-goal area. Although a freshman, his precise ball handling and powerful kicking made a favorable impression on the spectators. However, compared to Waseda’s SO HATTORI, who is rated as the top student player, he appeared less prominent.

Waseda then launched an attack deep in the opposition’s territory. The ball moved from SO Hattori to FB Yazaki, who displayed his speed, evading two defenders to score a try in the left center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, leaving the score at 10-0.

Watching this match, I noticed that nearly all the photographers were positioned on the right side from the main stand, about 20 of them, aiming to capture Waseda University’s scoring plays.

In contrast, only two photographers were trying to get shots of Rikkyo University’s scoring plays.

However, these two appeared to be reporters for Rikkyo University’s student sports newspaper. Therefore, the professional photographers, based on past results, were shooting expecting Waseda University to dominate this game.

22 minutes into the first half:

Waseda University opted for a penalty kick after an opposing team foul, earning a lineout opportunity with possession on the left side, beyond the opponent’s 22-meter line. Waseda secured the ball and formed a maul to drive forward. Rikkyo managed to withstand this, but Waseda then spread the play wide to the right. The Waseda backs linked up with several close passes, feeding the ball to WTB TANAKA on the right wing. TANAKA, tangled up by defenders, scored a try in the right corner of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 17-0.

While watching the players’ uniforms during the game, I noticed that starting this season, university teams are now permitted to receive support from private companies. Teams that receive such support have their sponsors’ names printed on their uniforms.

The photo above shows Waseda University receiving support from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). Operating as a university club incurs significant costs. Each member currently spends over 400,000 yen annually on club fees and training camp expenses, while club coaches work unpaid. To support this, the Rugby Association amended its regulations this season. This financial assistance is expected to improve the environment for university sports.

29 minutes into the first half:

Rikkyo University’s defensive strategy involved deploying players inward to form a defensive net, preventing opponents from breaking through the inside when the play opened up. Players positioned on the outside provided backup support. However, Waseda University’s rapid pace of play allowed them to break through the outside, resulting in significant gains and multiple scores against Rikkyo.

Aware of this, Rikkyo’s defense pressed forward earlier, applying pressure before Waseda could fully spread wide. This forced Waseda to attack deep into enemy territory but stifled their backs’ attempts to break through.

Here, Waseda’s SO HATTORI launched a short kick behind the advancing defense, sending his team’s BK players in for a run. Waseda FB Yazaki responded to this kick. Though tangled up by the defense, he used his natural breaking power to score a try right under the goalposts.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 24-0. With this try, Waseda FB Yazaki scored his 3rd of the first half, achieving a hat trick early on.

34 minutes into the first half:

Though trailing by a wide margin, Rikkyo University finally penetrated deep into the opposition’s territory during this period. Their forwards and backs worked cohesively to sustain the attack. This marked a significant improvement for Rikkyo compared to last year, as they created periods where they could hold their own against top-tier teams at the point of contact.

Waseda University regained possession in a scrum near the try line and SO HATTORI kicked the ball back into the opposition’s territory.

However, Rikkyo University’s backs then created a highlight moment. WTB MURAKAMI caught the ball in his own half and launched a counterattack. Waseda’s defense initially brought MURAKAMI down, but Rikkyo won the scrum, restarted the attack, shifted play to the left, and WTB SHIBUYA drove deep into the opposition’s in-goal area. Here, Waseda’s last line of defense, FB YAZAKI, made a tackle on Rikkyo’s SHIBUYA, pushing him out of bounds and preventing the score.

The first half ended with this score unchanged.

At halftime, Waseda held a significant lead on the scoreboard. However, this season’s Rikkyo team has shown stability in set pieces and has put up strong fights against top teams at the point of contact. Expectations are high to see how much they can rally in the second half.

Now, the second half begins.

2 minutes into the 2nd half :

Rikkyo adopted a defensive strategy similar to the first half, pressing forward early to disrupt attacks. Waseda countered by kicking behind the advancing defense. Once again, Waseda FB YAZAKI caught a kick behind the defense, evaded the opposition, and scored his 4th try of the day in the right center of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 31-0.

From where I was seated that day, I could clearly see Waseda University’s fullback YAZAKI running toward us. His stride was so long when he cut his steps that, at the collegiate level, I didn’t think anyone could catch YAZAKI.

9 minutes into the second half:

Perhaps due to the widening point gap, Waseda University began making substitutions around this time.

Waseda University changed their offensive approach, using FB YAZAKI as a wedge to create points and attempting breaks with other backline players. After entering the opposition’s territory, Waseda University spread wide to the right, and CTB KUROKAWA scored a try in the right center of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 38-0.

13 minutes into the 2^nd half:

During this period, Waseda Uninversity maintained possession deep in Rikkyo’s territory for extended periods. Rikkyo’s defense struggled to keep up with Waseda’s wide-ranging play. After the forwards gained ground, Waseda spread the ball wide to right wing TANAKA. He evaded the tackling Rikkyo defense with a hand-off and scored a try in the middle-right of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 45-0.

15 minutes into the second half:

Waseda counterattacked from Rikkyo’s kickoff, linking passes without a whistle and scoring a try directly under the goalposts. Center KUROKAWA scored the try. The conversion was successful, bringing the score to 52-0.

Regarding this try, Waseda’s FB YAZAKI broke through the line, accelerated rapidly, and gained over 50 meters. YAZAKI’s top speed was so overwhelming that Rikkyo’s defense became disjointed, making it look as if they were clearing a path for him – a truly spectacular run.

Following this play, YAZAKI, who had recently returned from surgery, was substituted off. While fans eagerly await his return to the Japanese national team, this match confirmed his steady recovery.

Ultimately, Waseda University shut out Rikkyo University with a final score of 78-0. For Waseda, fielding nearly their best lineup this season, it was a smooth start to the campaign. For Rikkyo, despite the loss, creating periods where they could compete against a top-tier team was a gain compared to last season. We hope Rikkyo continues to build their team as they aim for their inaugural appearance in the University Championship.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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(Written by Azul: September 27, 2025)

I haven’t been able to attend rugby matches for a while, but during that time I acquired a valuable jersey, so I’d like to introduce it.

This time, I’m introducing the jersey actually worn in matches by Serge Blanco, the fullback for the French national team who excelled at RWC 1987 and RWC 1991.

(Photo: His autobiography)

About Serge Blanco:

Born August 31, 1958, in Venezuela. After moving to France with his family in 1960, he began playing rugby. His club was Biarritz Olympique, based in the southern French port city of Biarritz near the Spanish border. He played for this club throughout his career.

Serge Blanco is now 67 years old.

He holds some of the most distinguished records in French rugby.

As a French international, he earned 93 caps between 1980 and 1991. He was a finalist in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup and won the Five Nations Championship six times (1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989), achieving the Grand Slam twice. (His 38 tries remain a national record). At the time, Blanco earned the nickname “The King.” He was considered the Pele(:King of Soccer) of rugby.

A jersey actually worn by soccer superstar Maradona in a historic match would come with a certificate of authenticity, and I imagine the price would be far beyond what I could afford.

This jersey is said to be the one worn during the 1987 Five Nations Rugby match where France defeated England.

Reference: On March 15, 1986, France defeated England 29-10 in an official Five Nations Rugby match, securing their place as the Northern Hemisphere champion in the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

This jersey doesn’t come with a certificate of authenticity, but I recall that replica jerseys didn’t exist back then. Trusting this claim, I won it on Yahoo! Auctions for approximately ¥100,000 (equivalent to $700 USD).

Hmm… I still can’t believe that jersey, worn by Blanco himself during his prime in that historic match, is right here in front of me. Thinking that Blanco’s DNA is soaked into the fabric makes me reluctant to wash it. Every single stain on this jersey holds value.

However, sports memorabilia in Japan doesn’t fetch high prices compared to auctions in Europe and America. A jersey like this for just ¥100,000. Conversely, if sports memorabilia is auctioned in Japan, it could be a chance to get it cheaply.

I’m looking forward to the next RWC 2027.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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 (Written by Azul: August 14, 2025)

The Japan Women’s National Rugby Team’s test match was held on July 26, 2025, at Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Minato Ward, Tokyo, so I went to watch it.

This year, the 10th Women’s RWC will be held in England from August.

The Japan Women’s National Team, SAKURA 15, is currently ranked 11th in the world. In the preliminary pool, they are grouped with New Zealand (ranked 3rd in the world), Ireland (6th), and Spain (13th). Finishing in the top two of the preliminary pool will secure a spot in the knockout stage.

This match provided a valuable opportunity to face Spain’s Las Lonas, who are in the same preliminary pool as Japan in the RWC. There were 2 matches scheduled against the Spanish national team, and in the first test match held a week ago, the Japanese national team won with a score of 32-19. As both teams are ranked almost equally in the world rankings, a close match was expected in this second game as well. 

Now, let’s introduce the 2 teams competing in this match. 

First, let’s introduce the visiting team, the Spanish women’s national team, Las Leonas.

Currently ranked 13th in the world, the Spanish women’s national team has participated in the RWC 6 times in the past, with their highest ranking being 6th (in 1991). The Spanish women’s national team’s schedule for the RWC 2025 is as follows:

August 24: vs. New Zealand (ranked 3rd in the world) 

August 31: vs. Ireland (ranked 5th in the world)

September 7: vs. Japan National Team (World Ranking 11th)

Outlook for the Spanish National Team at the 2025 RWC:

In Pool C of the qualifiers, the New Zealand National Team stands out as the strongest, but the other 3 teams are closely matched in strength, so a fierce battle for the second spot to advance to the knockout stage is expected. The Spanish national team’s weakness lies in set plays, so how much they can improve in this area by the time RWC 2025 begins will be the key to advancing to the knockout stage. If they can secure the ball on equal terms, their backline’s finishing ability is on par with that of the powerhouses. 

The starting lineup for this day was as follows. 

SPAIN
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Spain Caps
1	Laura DELGADO	172cm	93kg	35	50
2	Marieta ROMAN	171cm	93kg	26	19
3	Sidorella BRACIC	164cm	83kg	32	24
4	Elena MARTINEZ	180cm	102kg	23	1
5	Louredes ARAMEDA	175cm	86kg	33	37
6	Ana PERARUTA	172cm	74kg	23	5
7	Nerea GARCIA	170cm	75kg	28	4
8	Alba CAPEL	164cm	80kg	21	26
9	Anne FERNANDEZ de Corres	157cm	61kg	27	31
10	Amalia ARGUDO	169cm	70kg	24	22
11	Claudia CANO	169cm	67kg	19	12
12	Zahia PEREZ	172cm	72kg	21	25
13	Claudia PENA	163cm	68kg	20	22
14	Tecla MASOKO	165cm	74kg	25	6
15	Lea DUCHER	168cm	68kg	23	6

A notable feature of the Spanish national team is the high number of under-25 backline players with caps. These players have a high level of experience in big games, so if the match comes down to a tactical battle, they are likely to showcase their strengths. 

＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊ 

Amalia ARGUDO. 169 cm, 70 kg, 24 years old. Position: SO. Spanish national team caps: 22. ARGUDO joined the world-renowned French rugby club Stade Toulousain at the age of 16. Despite facing intense competition in France and suffering from repeated shoulder injuries, she accumulated over 50 appearances for a top-tier club. She is also expected to be one of the most watched players in her position at the Rugby World Cup 2025. She possesses a wide range of line-breaking techniques, so she doesn’t simply pass the ball around. She breaks down the opposition through running plays and then builds attacks, so when the ball is supplied properly, she delivers stunning attacks. Keep an eye on this playmaker’s performance.

Next, an introduction to the Home Team, the Japanese Women’s Rugby National Team, SAKURA 15.

Currently, SAKURA 15 is ranked 11th in the world. This season, they defeated the USA National Team (ranked 10th in the world) in a test match on April 26 with a score of 39-33.

The schedule for the 2025 Rugby World Cup is as follows.

August 24: Ireland National Team (world ranking 5th) 

August 31: New Zealand National Team (world ranking 3rd) 

September 7: Spain National Team (world ranking 13th)

While the Spain National Team, which they will face on this day, aims to break through with individual skills, SAKURA 15 will build the game with organized teamwork. Since these 2 teams are scheduled to face each other directly in the 2025 World Cup, they will likely keep their offensive plays under wraps, but it is certain that both teams are aiming for victory. 

The starting lineup for this day was as follows. 

JAPAN
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Manami MINE	163cm	76kg	21	1
2	Asuka KUGE	163cm	75kg	30	1
3	Kazuko KITANO	166cm	65kg	25	7
4	Yuna SATO	170cm	75kg	26	10
5	Otoka YOSHIMURA	173m	75kg	24	8
6	Masami KAWAMURA	172m	66kg	26	4
7	Iroha NAGATA	167cm	62kg	26	20
8	Seina SAITO	164m	68kg	33	35
9	Moe TSUKUI	152cm	53kg	25	22
10	Minori YAMAMOTO	168cm	63kg	28	24
11	Mele Yua Habiri KAGAWA	169cm	64kg	23	2
12	Haruka HIROTSU	169cm	50kg	24	7
13	Mana FURUTA	167cm	68kg	27	18
14	Misaki MATSUMURA	165cm	58kg	20	0
15	Rinka MATSUDA	170cm	74kg	23	9

Looking at the Japanese national team’s starting lineup, the lack of national team caps compared to the Spanish national team is noticeable. While the average age is the same, it will be interesting to see if this lack of national team experience will affect the match on this day.

** Player to watch **

Mele Yua Habiri Kagawa. 169 cm, 64 kg, 23 years old. Position: WTB, CTB, back row. Japan caps: 2. Half-Japanese, half-Tongan player. He emerged as a rising star before the tournament and was selected as a starter at WTB in the final test match. Originally a forward player, she stands out for her physical strength and has the ability to secure gains and tries when she gets the ball. It will be interesting to see if she can continue to score tries in this test match.

The attendance for this match was 5,244, setting a new record for a Japanese women’s national team match.

Now, let’s begin the first half. 

In the first match, the Spanish national team, Las Leonas, conceded several tries to Japan’s maul attacks near their own in-goal area. Las Leonas reflected on this and made adjustments to their maul defense near their own in-goal area for this match. 

Even when SAKURA 15 formed a good maul near the try line, they struggled to make progress.

7 minutes into the first half:

However, SAKURA 15 continued to dominate the ball in the opponent’s territory and kept up their attack. Here, SAKURA 15 attempted to advance again with a maul from a lineout on the left side near the opponent’s in-goal area, but Las Leonas stopped them. However, SAKURA 15 then moved the ball to the right and finally scored a try with WTB MATSUMURA.

However, this try was disallowed because the ball had left his hands just before grounding.

13 minutes into the first half: 

SAKURA 15 continued to attack deep in the opponent’s territory but remained unable to score, a frustrating situation that persisted. However, Las Leonas also committed seven fouls in this short period, resulting in two players being temporarily sent off. SAKURA 15 took advantage of this numerical superiority, moving the ball from the right to the left corner, and finally WTB KAGAWA scored a try in the left corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 5-0, with SAKURA 15 taking the lead.

28 minutes into the first half:

In this match, SAKURA 15 was stable in set plays, but the problem was the dense formation When SAKURA 15 was in the dense formation , the supporting players were noticeably slow, which slowed down the tempo of the continuous attacks.

However, in the battle for the center of the field, SAKURA 15 took the lead with its speed of play and few mistakes. SAKURA 15’s FL NAGATA functioned well as a link player, passing the ball to the backs, and when the ball reached WTB KAGAWA at the 10-meter line of the opponent’s territory, KAGAWA ran nearly 20 meters and scored her second try of the day in the left corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was missed, leaving the score at 10-0.

The first half ended with this score. Las Leonas had the advantage in contact situations, but handling errors prevented them from scoring. In the second half, Las Leonas could try to make a comeback and turn the game around?

Then, the second half began.

8 minutes into the second half:

Even in the second half, Las Leonas’ handling errors were noticeable. In the scrum, they were slow to release the ball and couldn’t establish a rhythm. Las Leonas secured the ball in a scrum deep in their own territory, and the scrum half attempted a box kick, but SAKURA 15’s flanker NAGATA charged in, stole the ball, and scored a try in the middle of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 17-0.

11 minutes into the second half:

At this point, Las Leonas’ passing improved, and their continuous attacks began to function. Las Leonas advanced deep into the left side of the opponent’s territory, where SAKURA 15 committed a foul. Las Leonas advanced their territory with a penalty kick, approached the opponent’s try line, and gained a chance for a lineout.

Las Leonas secured the ball, formed a maul, and advanced rapidly. Even when the maul collapsed, FL Garcia scored a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area with a vertical attack by the forwards.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 17-5. Las Leonas scored their first points of the match.

17 minutes into the second half:

After the try, SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory and gradually advanced, approaching the try line. As in the first half, Las Leonas’ defense in front of the in-goal area was solid, but they committed a foul in front of the goalposts. SAKURA 15 opted for a penalty goal, which SO YAMAMOTO converted, bringing the score to 20-5.

20 minutes into the second half:

At this point, both teams changed 4-5 substitution players. SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory from the restart kickoff, and the substitute players were dynamic, breaking through the line one after another and approaching the opponent’s in-goal area. SAKURA 15 moved the ball to the right, and WTB MATSUMURA scored a try in the right corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 25-5.

25 minutes into the second half:

Las Leonas entered the opponent’s territory and, from around the halfway line, the backs  players used long passes and running plays to break through the line and gain ground to just before the opponent’s try line. They then formed a scrum in front of the try line, and finally, substitute hooker JOU scored a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 25-12. 

As demonstrated in this attack, Las Leonas have fast-moving backs players and powerful forwards who can score tries without wasting time when they get close to the try line. This attack showed that they will be formidable opponents in the RWC.

30 minutes into the second half:

From the restart kickoff, SAKURA 15 entered the opponent’s territory, and the substitute players took the lead in breaking down the opponent’s defense and advancing.

Then, after the opponent committed a foul, they chose a penalty kick, secured the ball from the lineout, formed a maul, and advanced quickly, with substitute hooker KOKAJI scoring a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was unsuccessful, but the score became 30-12.

35 minutes into the second half:

Towards the end of the match, Las Leonas increased the speed of their back line attack. They were able to connect fast, long passes from the scrum half to the fly half, center, and wing, captivating the audience with their skill. Las Leonas broke through the line and advanced toward the try line in the opposition’s end zone. In the scrum in front of the in-goal area, SAKURA 15 showed more resilience in defense than before, but in the end, lock ARAMEDA scored a try with brute force.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 30-19.

The match ended with this score.

While SAKURA 15 secured a convincing victory, Las Leonas demonstrated their sharpness when their attacking strategies were executed effectively. The upcoming match on September 7 at the RWC 2025 is highly anticipated, and we look forward to another thrilling contest. 

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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 (Written by Azul:August 3, 2025)

The third match of the Japan national rugby team’s test match series was held at NOEVIR Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on July 12, 2025. The kickoff time on the day of the match was 2:30 PM, during the hottest part of the summer day. The temperature inside the stadium felt like over 33 degrees Celsius. 

On this day, the stadium’s retractable roof was closed, so direct sunlight was avoided, but it was still quite hot. In this heat, not only the players but also the spectators were tested for their endurance against the heat. Although the NOEVIR Stadium reportedly uses air conditioning, it was not at all cool. 

Let us now review the Japan national team’s test matches so far this season. 

	Date	Opponent	match venue	Result
1	6/28	Maori All Blacks	Tokyo	２０－５３●
2	7/5	Wales	Kitakyushu	２４－１９〇
3	7/12	Wales	Kobe
4	8/30	Canada	Sendai
5	10/25	Australia	Tokyo
6	11/8	Ireland	Dublin
7	11/15	Wales	Cardiff
8	11/22	Georgia

In last week’s match, the Japan national rugby team defeated Wales, finally securing a victory against a top-ranked team. As a result, the Japan national team’s world ranking rose from 14th to 12th. The test match against Wales was the second consecutive match following last week’s game. Can they maintain last week’s momentum and secure another victory against Wales this week?

The attendance for the day was 25,074.

Now, let’s introduce the two teams competing on this day.

First, the Visitor Team, Wales.

The Wales national rugby team, nicknamed the Red Dragons, is one of the 4 traditional nations of the British Home Unions and a world-class powerhouse. Their first Test Match was in 1881 against England. As of this day, they are ranked 12th in the world. Their highest ranking in the RWC was 3rd. From the match against Argentina on October 14, 2023, to the match against Japan on July 5, 2025, they suffered an unprecedented 18 consecutive Test Match losses, resulting in their worst-ever world ranking. Will they be able to put an end to this disgraceful losing streak in the test match against Japan on this day?

The starting lineup for this match was as follows.

WALES
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Wales Caps
1	Nicky SMITH	180cm	116kg	31	55
2	Dewi LAKE	185cm	114kg	26	19
3	Archie GRIFFIN	189cm	117kg	22	6
4	Freddie THOMAS	195cm	117kg	23	1
5	Teddy THOMAS	198cm	118kg	24	6
6	Alex MANN	191cm	98kg	23	5
7	Josh MACLEOD	188cm	103kg	28	2
8	Aaron WAINWRIGHT	188cm	106kg	27	55
9	Kieran HARDY	185cm	89kg	29	25
10	Dan EDWARDS	178cm	83kg	22	2
11	Joshua ADAMS	185cm	94kg	30	61
12	Ben THOMAS	183cm	91kg	26	12
13	Johnny WILLIAMS	191cm	100kg	28	8
14	Thomas RODGERS	180cm	91kg	26	10
15	Blair MURRAY	173cm	75kg	23	8

As can be seen from the number of caps, the Welsh touring team for this match features many young players who are expected to lead the future of Wales. This situation is similar across all nations as they prepare for the next RWC.

** Player to watch **

Joshua Adams. 185 cm, 94 kg, 30 years old. Wales caps = 61. Position = WTB. He recorded the most tries in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Wales’ playing style emphasizes open play more than Japan’s. Therefore, the wings are filled with players who have outstanding decision-making abilities. Adams is a world-class player who has made a name for himself globally. He makes accurate judgments in games, always gets involved in scoring opportunities, and when he gets the ball, he does the decisive work to score. He is truly a professional point scorer. In this game as well, every move Adams makes will be worth watching.

Next, the latest information on the home team, the Japanese national team, nicknamed the Brave Blossoms.

Last season, the team suffered a complete defeat against the top-ranked teams, and if they were to achieve similar results this season, it would affect the future of Head Coach Eddy Jones, according to some media reports, causing tension within the team. However, the Brave Blossoms broke the bad streak with their victory in the first match against Wales. The upcoming match will be a historic test match against a powerhouse nation, with the team aiming for consecutive victories. 

The starting lineup for the day was as follows. 

Brave Blossoms
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Yota KAMIMORI	172cm	105kg	26	1
2	Mamoru HARADA	175cm	101kg	26	11
3	Keijiro TAMEFUSA	180cm	108kg	23	10
4	Epineri　ULUIVITI	198cm	118kg	29	7
5	Warner DEARNS	201m	123kg	23	22
6	Michael LEITCH	189m	105kg	36	88
7	Jack CORNELSEN	195cm	110kg	30	21
8	Faulua MAKISI	187m	112kg	28	15
9	Naoto SAITO	165cm	75kg	27	24
10	Seungsin LEE	176cm	88kg	24	19
11	Halatoa VAILEA	187cm	105kg	26	1
12	Shogo NAKANO	186cm	100kg	28	8
13	Dylan RILEY	187cm	102kg	27	29
14	Kippei ISHIDA	167cm	75kg	25	1
15	Ichigo NAKAKUSU	174cm	84kg	25	1

Like Wales, the Brave Blossoms are also fielding many young players in preparation for the next RWC. Will any players step up and deliver a standout performance in this match? 

** Player to Watch **

Halatoa VAILEA. 187 cm, 105 kg, 26 years old. Position: WTB, CTB, FB, SO, No. 8. Born in Tonga. Graduated from Nippon Sport Science University. Club affiliation: Kubota SPARKS. A talented player who has been in the spotlight since his college days, he was finally selected for the Japanese national team this season. In addition to his natural physical strength, he has a proven track record as a place kicker and is a versatile player who can play both forward and back positions. In his debut for the Japanese national team in the recent match against Wales, he scored his first try, demonstrating his competitiveness and decisiveness. It will be exciting to see how he continues to grow in the future.

Now, let’s begin the first half. 

The match kicked off with the Brave Blossoms’ kickoff. 

9 minutes into the first half: 

Since last week’s match, the Brave Blossoms have begun to use short punts behind the opponent’s defense as one of their offensive tactics.

Both teams fought fiercely for possession of the ball. Here, Wales turned over the ball near the halfway line, moved to the left, broke through the enemy’s defense, passed to FB MURRAY, and finally passed to WTB ADAMS, who ran into the enemy’s in-goal area and scored a try in the left center of the in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 0-7, with Wales taking the lead.

19 minutes into the first half: 

In the first half, Wales had more time on the attack, while the Brave Blossoms had few opportunities to attack. However, during this period, the Brave Blossoms skillfully connected passes from near the halfway line, with FL LEITCH approaching the try line and exciting the crowd.

24 minutes into the first half:

Wales moved the ball from their own half, and WTB ADAMS carried it into the in-goal area, but he dropped the ball in front of him and was unable to score.

However, after a video review, it was determined that there had been a dangerous tackle during Wales’ attack, and the Brave Blossoms were awarded a penalty goal opportunity in front of the goalposts near the 10-meter line in the opponent’s half. Brave Blossoms’ SO LEE converted the kick, bringing the score to 3-7.

28 minutes into the first half:

Wales had been dominating with their passing game up to this point, but during this period, they shifted to a forward-based attack and made gains.

First, Wales advanced nearly 10 meters in a maul after a lineout with their own ball, then dominated the scrum and approached the enemy’s try line. 

Here, the Brave Blossoms committed a foul in the scrum, and Wales gained a lineout opportunity on the right side near the enemy’s try line. Wales then attempted to advance again with a maul attack and scored a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

Wales had corrected the issues they had struggled with in set pieces the previous week. 

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 3-14.

Brave Blossoms’ No. 8 MAKISI was temporarily sent off for 10 minutes due to a series of fouls during this attack and defense.

36 minutes into the first half:

Brave Blossoms was attacked by Wales, who took advantage of the fact that they were one man down due to the sending off.

First, Brave Blossoms was pushed back into their own territory after committing a foul in a scrum.

From there, Wales launched an attack, and WTB ADAMS, who received a pass on the left wing, showed off his high running skills, dodging 2 Brave Blossoms defenders with a swipe and breaking through the line. He then passed to SH HARDY, who had followed up, and HARDY scored a try right under the goalposts.

The conversion kick was successful, bringing the score to 3-21.

40 minutes into the first half: 

Here, the Brave Blossoms made an unusual move. Just before the end of the first half, they substituted all 3 players in the first row of the forward pack at once. Up to this point, Wales had dominated the game, so this substitution seemed to be a strong message from Head Coach Jones that he wanted to change the momentum of the game.

In the first scrum after the substitutions, the Brave Blossoms pushed through and drew a collapsing penalty from the opposition. The Brave Blossoms opted for a penalty kick, secured the ball from the lineout, and immediately launched an attack. The ball was passed from the No. 8 and CTB to the substitute prop TAKEUTI, who charged toward the opposition’s try line.

TAKEUTI was stopped by the Welsh defense just before the in-goal area, but he picked up the ball and charged again, scoring a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

This spirited play by the Brave Blossoms in the final moments of the first half drew the loudest cheers of the day from the stadium.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 10-21.

The first half ended here. Will the Brave Blossoms be able to carry the momentum they gained at the end of the first half into the second half? The crowd at NOEBIA Stadium waited with bated breath as the teams headed into halftime.

Now, the second half begins.

The second half kicked off with Wales’ kickoff.

9 minutes into the second half: 

The Brave Blossoms changed their attacking strategy in the second half. Once they entered the opposition’s territory, they attempted to break through using passes instead of kicks.

The Brave Blossoms penetrated deep into the opposition’s territory but failed to score.

Wales then won a scrum in the opposition’s territory, forcing the opposition to commit a “Not Release the Ball” foul. Wales opted for a penalty goal, which was successfully converted by SO Edwards, bringing the score to 10-24.

The first score of the second half was scored by Wales.

19 minutes into the second half:

The game became evenly matched at this point. Both teams broke through the line during attacks, but the ball was turned over in a dizzying series of plays.

However, when Wales launched an attack from the left side, Brave Blossoms’ lock DEARNS charged the opposing kick, and the ball rolled deep into the enemy territory. Brave Blossoms secured the ball and advanced toward the enemy try line, leading to a scrum.

From there, Brave Blossoms lock DEARNS charged forward with the ball and secured it in the middle of the right side of the opponent’s in-goal area.

After video review, the try was awarded to Brave Blossoms. The conversion kick after the try was missed, but the score became 15-24.

22 minutes into the second half:

After the try, Wales restarted with a kickoff and continued their attacks in the enemy’s territory. However, due to the heat and humidity in the stadium, Wales’ SO EDWARDS dropped the ball, which was picked up by Brave Blossoms’ CTB RILEY, who ran more than 50 meters and scored a try right under the enemy’s goalposts. The conversion kick after the try was successful, narrowing the score to 22-24, a mere 2-point difference.

35 minutes into the second half:

As the match entered its final stages, both teams began to show signs of fatigue. Players began to cramp up, making it difficult to run, and both teams resorted to kicking the ball back and forth.

Amidst this, Wales crossed the 22-meter line in the opponent’s territory and launched a series of attacks with all their might.

The Brave Blossoms defended fiercely, but Wales’ determination prevailed, forming a numerical advantage on the left side of the field, and finally, SO EDWARDS scored a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area. 

The conversion kick after the try was successful, bringing the score to 22-31. 

The match ended with this score, and Wales managed to stop their losing streak in test matches at 18. In the sweltering heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, this Wales vs. Japan test match ended with a 1-1 record. This fall, a match in Wales’ home stadium is scheduled, where the outcome will be decided. Which team will emerge victorious in the third match? We look forward to an exciting contest.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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 (Written by Azul: July 17, 2025)

The Japanese domestic league period has come to an end, and from now on through the fall, Japan’s national teams will be competing against foreign teams in national test matches.

The schedule for this season’s matches is as follows. As of now, eight matches have been arranged.

	Date	Opponent	match venue	Result
1	6/28	Maori All Blacks	Tokyo
2	7/5	Wales	Kitakyushu
3	7/12	Wales	Kobe
4	8/30	Canada	Sendai
5	10/25	Australia	Tokyo
6	11/8	Ireland	Dublin
7	11/15	Wales	Cardiff
8	11/22	Georgia

This season will be the second season of the Eddie JONES regime of the Japanese national rugby team. Looking back on last season, the Brave Blossoms, Japan’s national rugby team, lost all of their matches against teams ranked higher than them in the world. If this trend continues this season, there is a possibility that HC JONES, who is regarded as one of the world’s best general managers, will be ousted from his post.

On Saturday, June 28, I went to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Minato-ku, Tokyo, to watch the first game of the season for the Japanese national team. The number of spectators on that day was about 19,000, showing the high expectations for the Japanese national team.

Today’s opponent was Maori All Blacks. Since this team is not the NZ national team, this match was not recognized as a test match.

However, the Japanese national team will also be playing as Japan XV, which means a selected Japanese team consisting mainly of young players.

Let me introduce the two teams that will play on this day.

First, let me introduce Maori All Blacks, the Visitor Team.

The Maori All Blacks are made up of players of Maori descent, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The Maori All Blacks have played most recently in the southern hemisphere winter, when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, so they will be playing in the northern hemisphere in the middle of summer. The temperature in Tokyo on that day was over 30 degrees Celsius, and the players had to deal with a harsh temperature difference of over 20 degrees Celsius.

With only 1 match this season, how will Japan XV fare against this formidable opponent?

This day’s starting lineup was as follows.

Maori All Blacks
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Club Team
1	Jared PROFIT	182cm	116kg	32	Chiefs
2	Kurt EKLUND	180cm	103kg	33	Blues
3	Kershawl SYKES-MARTIN	187cm	122kg	26	Crusaders
4	Isaia WALKER-LEAWERE	197cm	122kg	28	Hurricans
5	Laghlan MCWHANNELL	198cm	114kg	26	Blues
6	Tekamaka HOWDEN	193cm	109kg	23	Highlanders
7	Jahrome BROWN	189cm	105kg	25	Chiefs
8	Cullen GRACE	193cm	105kg	28	Crusaders
9	Sam NOCK	178cm	85kg	29	Blues
10	Rivez REIHANA	189cm	94kg	25	Crusaders
11	Jonah LOWE	182cm	100kg	25	Highlanders
12	Gideon WRAMPLING	188cm	102kg	23	Chiefs
13	Bailin SALIVAN	186cm	103kg	26	Hurricans
14	Cole FORBES	180cm	91kg	25	Blues
15	Zarn SALLIVAN	193cm	97kg	24	Blues

＊＊　Players to watch　＊＊

Rivez REIHANA. 189cm, 94kg, 25 years old. Position=SO, FB. he was selected as man of the match in the finals as he was in command of the Crusaders, the winning team of this season’s Super Rugby. He was also a member of the Maori All Blacks Japan Tour last season. He is an all-around SO player and led the Crusaders back to the championship after they had fallen to the bottom of the standings with the loss of NZ national team SO MOUNGA. A large and physical player, he will try to break through defenses with his run play when he sees a hole in them.

Next, I would like to introduce the home team, Japan XV.

The Brave Blossoms of Japan, who were eliminated from the preliminary pool at the RWC2023, have brought in Eddie JONES, a world-class coach, as their head coach since last season. However, the Brave Blossoms’ performance so far has not been good. Will the “super-fast rugby” advocated by Head Coach JONES really work in this match? Fans all over Japan will be watching the first game of the season.

The starting lineup for this day was as follows.

Japan XV
No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Kenta KOBAYASHI	181cm	115kg	26
2	Hayate ERA	170cm	106kg	24
3	Shuhei TAKEUCHI	183cm	115kg	27	7
4	Epineri　ULUIVITI	198cm	118kg	29	4
5	Waisake RARATUBUA	193m	118kg	27
6	Vueti TUPOU	190m	115kg	25
7	Kanji SHIMOKAWA	188cm	105kg	26	12
8	Keito AOKI	187cm	110kg	23
9	Kenta FUKUDA	173cm	80kg	28	1
10	Sam GREENE	178cm	85kg	30
11	Kazuma UEDA	177cm	87kg	23
12	Charlie LAWRENCE	171cm	92kg	27	NZ 7th
13	Siosaia FIFITA	187cm	105kg	27	16
14	Main TAIRA	180cm	91kg	25	1
15	Jingo TAKENOSHITA	180cm	86kg	21

** Players to watch **

Sam GREENE. 178 cm, 85 kg, 30 years old. Position = SO. Club = Shizuoka Blue Revs. Born in Australia. He has been active in the Blue Revs, but has often played in the middle of the game due to foreign player quotas. With the revision of the League One rules this season, his playing opportunities increased dramatically, leading to his selection as a candidate for the Japan national team this season. One of the characteristics of his play was that he can keep longer time with the ball after receiving a pass, and opponents often found it difficult to read what he was going to do next, making it difficult for him to respond. I hope that he will adapt to the Japan national team at an early stage and become a pillar of SO, which is said to have a thin player pool.

Now, let’s start the first half.

The match of the day was played under the blazing sun in mid-summer, extremely harsh conditions for the players. In these matches, kicks tend to be used more often as the players get tired.

The use of the right kick, the accuracy of the kick, and the proper handling of the ball after it has been kicked are all important.

9 minutes into the first half:

Japan XV basically built their attack based on the current team’s principle of “super speed” (quick decision making, quick development). The ball was then quickly deployed in the left direction.

Japan XV quickly moved to the left. The ball was connected with the FW and BK, and the attack unfolded as Japan XV approached the enemy 22m line. Here, Japan XV’s WTB UEDA cut in, overcame the opposing defense, and scored a try to the left of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal was also successful, making the score 7-0, and Japan XV scored first.

20 minutes into the first half:

Japan XV was still in good physical shape, so they distributed the ball quickly and aggressively, and then attacked wide into the Maori All Blacks territory. They came close to the enemy try line, and Maori All Blacks did their best to defend and deny them a try. However, Japan XV took advantage of both the set play and the tight pack in this area, and a penalty kick was scored right in front of the goal posts. Japan XV’s SO GREENE made steady progress on this PG to make the score 10-0.

23 minutes into the first half:

From the restart kickoff, Maori All Blacks attacked into the enemy territory and continued strong contact play, gradually making progress.

Maori All Blacks came close to the enemy try line, but when they were unable to make a breakthrough in a tight battle, they quickly moved to the right, freed WTB Forbes on the right flank, and passed the ball to Forbes who scored a try in the right corner of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal after the try was disallowed because the kicker REIHANA was over time. The score was 10-5.

28 minutes into the first half:

Maori All Blacks’ attack gradually began to connect, moving forward with strong contact play, and even after being tackled, they continued to attack with offload passes.

Finally, Maori All Blacks made a move from the center of the field to the left side, and CTB Rampling, running to the outside, scored a try in the right corner of the enemy’s in-goal. The conversion goal after the try failed, and the score was 10-10 to Maori All Blacks.

32 minutes into the first half:

Japan XV took the restart kickoff and attacked into enemy territory, made a series of good tackles, won the ball, and approached the enemy try line.

Japan XV was now in a position to score, and they did just that, as the Maori All Blacks were able to hold off a relentless flank attack on the right side in front of the in-goal.

From there, Japan XV moved to the left and the ball was passed to WTB UEDA, who went into the in-goal, cut in, and grounded the ball near the goal posts for his second try of the day.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 17-10.

38 minutes into the first half:

Japan XV caught the restart kickoff and launched a daring counter attack from deep in their own 22m line. However, WTB TAIRA made a grievous knock-on in front of the goal post. Maori All Blacks then repeated the side attack from deep in front of the enemy try line, and hooker EKLUND scored a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal after the try failed, and the score was 17-15.

The first half ended with this score, and Japan XV went into the second half with a 2 point lead.

The match, which drew a crowd of nearly 20,000, showed the high expectations of the fans for the Japanese national rugby team. The first half was a high scoring affair, with both sides scoring in the first half, but could the Japan XV keep the momentum going? Or will the Maori All Blacks show their NZ rugby pride and pull off an upset victory?

Let’s start the second half.

3 minutes into the second half:

The Maori All Blacks were strong at the start of the second half. They pushed and won in every contact situation, and also succeeded in connecting a series of offload passes. Maori All Blacks lock MCWHANNELL powered the ball into the in-goal for a try.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 17-22.

To make matters worse for Japan XV, hooker ERA was fouled in the high tackle and sent off for 10 minutes.

10 minutes into the second half:

After a somewhat poor start, Japan XV moved into enemy territory, and about 30 meters directly in front of the goal posts, they drew a foul on their opponents, earning the right to a PG. Japan XV’s SO GREENE scored to make the score 20-22.

19 minutes into the second half:

At this time, Maori All Blacks began to use a lot of off-load passes when breaking the line, and Maori All Blacks’ tackling was getting outpaced by Japan XV, Maori All Blacks FB SALLIBAN scored a try right in the middle of the enemy in-goal. 

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 20-29.

26 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV, seeing this as the turning point between victory and defeat, showed a tenacious day defense, but the momentum of the attack tilted to Maori All Blacks’ side, Maori All Blacks kept up the passing and made steady progress.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 20-36.

25 minutes into the second half:

Maori All Blacks made it a rule in the second half that the player following the ball carrier would gain momentum and receive a pass. This allowed Maori All Blacks to continue to attack even when Japan XV made a tackle, and Japan XV began to spend more time defending. Maori All Blacks’ FL BROWN scored a try right in the middle of the enemy in-goal.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 20-43.

32 minutes into the second half:

The score was already 23 points in favor of Maori All Blacks against Japan XV with less than 10 minutes left in the second half, and the game was almost decided. Maori All Blacks won the ball in a tight battle, and then came out of their own half, and were unstoppable. The try was scored by WTB HAUITI-PARAPARA, who ran solo from the 10-meter line and scored a try in the middle of the in-goal area.

The conversion goal after the try failed, but the score was 20-48.

41 minutes into the second half:

Toward the end of the game, both teams made a lot of handling errors due to the heat, but the Japan XV players’ errors were especially noticeable and their attack did not continue. Japan XV was unable to score, despite coming very close to the enemy try line.

Conversely, Japan XV was cut back by Maori All Blacks and was pinned down at once. Here, Maori All Blacks, after a series of FW side attacks on the right flank, took a big step to the left flank, and substitute FB TRUSK scored a try in the middle on the left.

The conversion goal after the try was unsuccessful, but Maori All Blacks held on to win by a score of 20-53. In the second half, Maori All Blacks scored 6 tries.

In contrast, Japan XV fought hard in the first half, but in the second half they were on the defensive, scoring only 1 PG.

This was the first game of the season for Japan XV, and with the poor results of the Eddie Jones regime from last season, the future of the national team is looking bleak.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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 (Written by Azul: June 22, 2025)

On June 1, 2025, the Japan Rugby League One playoff final for the 2024-2025 season was held at the National Stadium in Shibuya, Tokyo.

This was the 4th season for League One, and the previous winners were as follows.

2022: SAITAMA Panasonic Wild Knights

2022-2023: KUBOTA Spears

2023-2024: TOSHIBA Brave Lupas

In the third-place match that preceded the final, KOBELCO Steelers (5th in the regular season) beat Panasonic Wild Knights (2nd in the regular season) by a score of 22-17.

And the combination for this final match is

TOSHIBA Brave Lupas (regular season 1st place) vs KUBOTA Spears (regular season 3rd place) .

The kickoff time was 15:05, the weather was cloudy, and the temperature was 24 degrees Celsius, making the conditions a bit humid. The final was played in front of 51,009 spectators, 80% of the National Stadium.

Here are the two teams that made it to the final.

First, an update on TOSHIBA Brave Lupas, last season’s champion and this season’s regular season’s 1st place finisher in League One.

Brave Lupas’ regular season record this season was 15 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. Their losses were 2 to the SHIZUOKA Blue Revs and 1 draw against the Panasonic Wild Knights. Looking at the losses, in the 2nd match against Blue Revs on April 12, the team lost by a double score of 26-56. In this match, they had already lost one game to Blue Revs, so even though it was a revenge chance for Brave Lupas, they were outplayed by Blue Revs. They were pushed at set pieces and were unable to stop the strong individual skills and breakthroughs of the Revs’ individual players. I personally was hoping for a 3rd matchup between the Blue Revs and Brave Lupas, but alas, the Revs lost in the 1st round of the playoffs, so we never got to see them face off in person. In this season’s League One, the teams are so close that the outcome would not be known until they actually played each other. It has been an exciting season for fans watching the games. Then, we were looking forward to seeing what would happen in this day’s match.

This day’s starting lineup was as follows.

TOSHIBA Brave Lupas
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Sena KIMURA	175cm	105kg	24
2	Mamoru　HARADA	175cm	101kg	25	Japan 10caps
3	Taufa LATU	183cm	120kg	26
4	Jacob　PIERCE	201cm	106kg	27
5	Warner　DEARNS	202cm	124kg	23	Japan 20caps
6	Shannon FRIZELL	195cm	114kg	30	New Zealand 33caps
7	Takeshi SASAKI	180cm	101kg	26
8	Michael LEITCH	189cm	113kg	35	Japan 87caps
9	Yuhei Sugiyama	169cm	76kg	27
10	Richie MO’UNGA	176cm	83kg	30	New Zealand  56caps
11	Yuto MORI	174cm	82kg	24
12	Taichi MANO	172cm	88kg	28
13	Rob THOMPSON	184cm	103kg	33
14	Michael COLINS	187cm	94kg	31
15	Takuro MATSUNAGA	172cm	82kg	26	Japan 4caps

Brave Lupas had almost the best lineup. Unfortunately, Japan’s national WTB, NAIKABULA, was unable to play in this final due to injury.

＊＊　Player to watch　＊＊

Richie MO’UNGA is 175 cm, 80 kg, 30 years old. 56 caps for New Zealand. I have already introduced MOUNGA some times in this section, but he is a key player in Brave Lupas, and it is hard to imagine a victory for Spears without stopping him.

After winning 3 consecutive championships with the SUPER RUGBY Crusaders, he moved to Japan’s League One Brave Lupas and immediately became the MVP of last season’s championship, and if they win again this season, he will win his 5th consecutive championship. He is a player who can instantly spot an opening in the opposing team and move his own team freely, and even if he cannot find an opening, he can move on his own to make a precise breakthrough. In League One, MOUNGA has yet to reach its full potential.

The next team to advance to the finals was KUBOTA Spears.

In League One this regular season, they finished in 3rd place with 14 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. Their losing records were as follows

12/28: Wild Knights 26 – Spears 24

3/1: Brave Lupas 31 – Spears 27

All of the losses were close, but the Spears team is slowly improving towards the end of the season. The Spears have a consistent set play from their front row, which has kept them from falling too far behind in the standings.

When they play against teams with strong FWs, the margin will be very close, but when they dominate the FW game, we have seen many victories by large margins this season. It will be interesting to see if they can become the League One champions for the 2nd time on this day, following their victory the year before last.

The starting lineup for this day’s match was as follows.

KUBOTA SPEARS
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Yota KAMIMORI	172cm	105kg	25
2	Malcolm MARX	189cm	117kg	30	South Africa 74caps
3	Opeti HELU	190cm	127kg	26	Japan 1cap
4	Ruan　BOTHA	205cm	120kg	32
5	David BULBRING	199cm	113kg	35
6	Tyler PAUL	195cm	111kg	29
7	Takeo SUENAGA	178cm	98kg	30
8	Faulua MAKISI	182cm	117kg	28	Japan　7caps
9	Shinobu FUJIWARA	171cm	76kg	25	Japan　6caps
10	Bernard　FOLEY	182cm	89kg	35	Australia 75caps
11	Koga NAZUKA	173cm	82kg	25	Japan　3caps
12	Harumichi TATEKAWA	180cm	93kg	35	Japan　62caps
13	Rikus PRETORIUS	193cm	104kg	24
14	Halatoa VAILEA	187cm	105kg	25
15	Atsushi OSHIKAWA	175cm	87kg	25

Spears has also assembled almost their best lineup for this match. One of the concerns was the accumulated fatigue from playing 5 rounds of matches in a row since the Regular Season, but how the team fights in their signature FW game will be the highlight of this match.

＊＊　Player to watch 　＊＊

Malcolm MARX is 30 years old, 189 cm, 117 kg. He has 72 caps for the South African national team. Position = Hooker. World No. 1 hooker. This player has also been featured in this section some times, but since he is the central player in Spears, it would be unthinkable to exclude him from the final to determine the winner. The strongest scrums, mauls, and lineouts in League One are only as good as MARX. With the best big men in League One at the core of their team, the Spears would be able to show their strength on the defensive side of the ball. Their iron-clad defense would disrupt the rhythm of their opponents’ attacks, and when their opponents are exhausted, they would put their powerful frontline forward to score points by force. This is the rugby of Spears. Would it be Brave Lupas’ rugby or Spears’ rugby that wins the final?

Let’s start the first half.

The game started with a kick by Spears.

The spiritedness of each Speras player was remarkable. In a densely packed battle, they turned up their opponents, turned over, and made progress toward the enemy’s try line.

8 minutes into the first half:

The race to win the ball in set pieces and dense battles was almost a 50-50 battle.

However, Brave Lupas continued to attack and gradually pushed deeper and deeper into enemy territory.

Brave Lupas came close to the try line, and after a left-right move, SO MOUNGA broke the line with his individual skill and scored a try in the left corner of the enemy’s in-goal, dragging a couple of opposing defenders with him.

The conversion goal after the try was unsuccessful, but Brave Lupas succeeded in scoring the first points of the game. The score was 5-0.

Both teams played well in the final. The teams pushed each other individually and when they got into a development game, they were turned over and the play did not break down.

At this point, the game had already turned into a war of attrition. Both teams played with such intensity that it looked as if they might not last until the end of the game.

17 minutes into the first half:

The next scoring opportunity came for Speras. Brave Lupas’ CTB MANO committed a high tackle on Speras’ WTB VAILEA as the Spears moved into their own territory. Spears chose to go for the PG because they were in front of the goal post and about 30 meters away. Spears’ SO FOLEY scored to make the score 5-3.

22 minutes into the first half:

Brave Lupas had another scoring opportunity, this time in a tight battle as Brave Lupas entered enemy territory, and Spears committed a foul.

Brave Lupas chose to go for the PG and SO MOUNGA scored to make the score 8-3.

32 minutes into the first half:

At this time, Brave Lupas was spreading the ball around so much that the big Spears players were getting pushed around and having a hard time getting into the enemy territory.

The Spears broke the deadlock with a scrum deep in their own territory.

The Spears pushed in at this scrum and earned a collapsing foul from their opponents. From here, Spears pushed into enemy territory, deployed the ball, and attacked deep into enemy territory, where Brave Lupas was fouled in a tight battle. With the goalposts in front of them, Speras opted for the PG. SO FOLEY scored it to make the score 8-6.

The first half ended with this score. In the first half, Brave Lupas spent a lot of time on the attack, and the Spears were often forced to defend. Spears, who finished 3rd in the league, had been playing in the playoffs since the quarterfinals, so there were concerns about fatigue due to the consecutive games. However, with a 2-points difference on the score, Spears had plenty of room for an upset victory. The timing of the player changes in the second half could make or break this match.

So let’s get the second half underway.

From the kickoff to start the second half, Brave Lupas advanced forward as they entered enemy territory, advancing their position to near the 22-meter line. Here, Speras committed an infringement near the front of the goal post. This was a great PG opportunity, but Brave Lupas chose to go for a penalty kick instead of a PG, and from a lineout on their own ball, they made the strong choice to go for the try.

However, Spears played tenacious defense and did not allow them to score. Conversely, from this point on, the Spears pushed deep into enemy territory.

7 minutes into the second half:

Here, Brave Lupas deployed from deep in their own territory to make up ground.

Brave Lupas’ SO MOUNGA broke the line despite being tangled up with the opposing defense, and quickly attacked deep into the enemy territory.

He passed to Brave Lupas’ WTB MORI, who ran alongside him, and MORI scored a try in the middle of the enemy in-goal on the left side.

Brave Lupas scored the first points of the second half to put the game in their favor. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 15-6.

16 minutes into the second half:

Brave Lupas continued to hold the ball and attack in enemy territory. Brave Lupas was able to break down the Spears’ defense, which had been rock solid in league play, allowing few line breaks to the other team. Brave Lupas broke down the Spears’ defense several times, and the crowd at the National Stadium cheered loudly each time.

Brave Lupas made full use of off-load passes, and their BK players made a big move from the left side to the right side, and finally SO MOUNGA scored a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.

However, this try was cancelled out by video judgment due to a throw forward infringement in the middle of the field.

21 minutes into the second half:

Brave Lupas took control of the match in the second half and continued to attack almost exclusively in enemy territory. However, the gap between the teams remained tight as Speras did not break down defensively. However, Brave Lupas had a couple of PG chances in this period. In the second half, Brave Lupas had been trying to score a try instead of going for the PG when they had PG chances, but finally, the Speras defense gave in and they went for the PG.

SO MOUNGA of Brave Lupas scored it, and the score was 18-6.

32 minutes into the second half:

With 30 minutes to go in the second half, it was finally time for Speras to attack.

The Speras team was able to get into the enemy territory, and from a lineout set play, they were able to push forward in a maul and score a try with their powerful FW.

However, Brave Lupas’ defense held strong, and the two teams battled hard around the try line, with Brave Lupas pushing the ball back and kicking it out to regain possession just short of the try line.

However, the Spears again made a series of forward advances to the try line. After 3 or 4 more of these attacks, the Spears challenged the FWs to a tight battle in front of the in-goal on the left flank.

From there, the Spears made a turnaround, and after a big move to the right, WTB NEZUKA went for a try, which was blocked by the opposing defense, but the Spears were able to expand again, and CTB TATEKAWA scored a try at the right side of the goal post.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 18-13.

With 8 minutes remaining, Speras had enough time to make a comeback, but the substitutes were unable to apply pressure at the set piece, and Brave Lupas pushed them back at the scrum. Brave Lupas, the match-winners, used their time skillfully here, and the game came to an end. In the end, SO MOUNGA kicked the ball out and the game was over.

With this result, Brave Lupas won the League One playoff final and became the champion for the second year in a row.

Spears kept Brave Lupas at bay until the end of the match, entertaining the crowd but falling short of their first championship in two years.

The final, which closed out the season, was just as heated as last season, with an unpredictable outcome until the very end. We look forward to another great match next season as the league as a whole raises its level.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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