The test stars set to dominate 2022 Japan Rugby League One season
Super Rugby Pacific is still a month-and-a-half away from kick-off, but footy fans in the Asia-Pacific corner of the globe can get their rugby fix as early as this weekend when the opening round of the new-look Japan Rugby League One kicks-off.
The revamped competition – which was formerly known as the Top League and is now fully professional – gets underway in its fresh format on Friday when the Kubota Spears host the Wild Knights at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
That will kick-off the league, which is split into three divisions and will feature a raft of test stars both from Japan and around the rugby world.
In anticipation of the tournament kicking off, we take a look at a XV made up of the top talent set to grace the Japan Rugby League One this season.
1. Keita Inagaki
Club: Saitama Wild Knights
Age: 31
Nation: Japan
Test caps: 39
A four-time Top League title-winner with the Wild Knights, including last year, Keita Inagaki is one of Japan’s most experienced players. The Niigata-born product has played 39 test since his Brave Blossoms debut in 2014 and featured in all nine matches of Japan’s historic two World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2019.
Honourable mentions: Craig Millar (Saitama Wild Knights), Isileli Nakajima (Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
2. Malcolm Marx
Club: Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay
Age: 27
Nation: South Africa
Test caps: 46
One of the world’s premier hookers, Malcolm Marx returns to Japan for a third season of club rugby. After numerous campaigns with the Lions in Super Rugby, the 2019 World Cup winner packed his bags and joined the Shining Arcs in 2020 before switching to the Kubota Spears last year.
Honourable mentions: Atsushi Sakate (Saitama Wild Knights), Shota Horie (Saitama Wild Knights), Ash Dixon (Green Rockets Tokatsu)
3. Koo Ji-won
Club: Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Age: 27
Nation: Japan
Test caps: 18
Another standout Japanese prop, Koo Ji-won was also part of Japan’s stunning run to the 2019 World Cup knockout stages, starting in his side’s famous wins over Ireland and Scotland, as well as their quarter-final against the Springboks. At club level, the South Korean-born tighthead was formerly a member of the Honda Heat.
Honourable mentions: Asaeli Ai Valu (Saitama Wild Knights), Paddy Ryan (Munakata Sanix Blues)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Age: 28
Nation: New Zealand
Test caps: 41
Joining Toyota Verblitz from the Blues and New Zealand Rugby as part of a season-long sabbatical deal, Patrick Tuipulotu adds physicality and leadership to his new team’s second row. The experienced lock has been an All Black since 2014 and captained the Blues to their first title since 2003 when they won Super Rugby Trans-Tasman last year.
Honourable mentions: Jake Ball (Green Rockets Tokatsu), Cory Hill (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Jackson Hemopo (Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars), Jack Cornelsen (Saitama Wild Knights), Ben Nee-Nee (Kamaishi Seawaves)
5. Franco Mostert
Club: Mie Honda Heat
Age: 31
Nation: South Africa
Test caps: 51
Another member of South Africa’s World Cup-winning squad of 2019, Franco Mostert has become a veteran of the Japanese club game after joining the Black Rams in 2016. The current Springboks star then left to link up with Gloucester in England two years later, but returned to Japan in 2020 to sign with the Honda Heat.
Honourable mentions: George Kruis (Saitama Wild Knights), James Moore (Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu), Tom Franklin (Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
6. Pieter-Steph du Toit
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Age: 29
Nation: South Africa
Test caps: 58
As the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, Springboks behemoth Pieter-Steph du Toit is arguably the biggest acquisition of the League One off-season. Joining Toyota Verblitz from the Stormers, the 2019 World Cup winner will be hoping to get back to his best in Japan after an injury-riddled campaign in 2021.
Honourable mentions: Ben Gunter (Saitama Wild Knights), Ned Hanigan (Kurita Water Gush), Hendrik Tui (Tokyo Sungoliath)
7. Kwagga Smith
Club: Shizuoka Blue Revs
Age: 28
Nation: South Africa
Test caps: 19
A key member of the current Springboks squad, Kwagga Smith returns for a fourth season with the Shizuoka Blue Revs, formerly known as Yamaha Jubilo. When he first moved to Japan in 2018, the 2019 World Cup winner balanced his domestic duties with the Lions in Super Rugby, but signed on with the Blue Revs on a full-time basis in 2020.
Honourable mentions: Sean McMahon (Tokyo Sungoliath), Lappies Labuschagne (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Matt Todd (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Liam Gill (Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu), Blair Cowan (Black Rams Tokyo)
8. Kazuki Himeno
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Age: 27
Nation: Japan
Test caps: 22
One of Japan’s key players at the 2019 World Cup, Kazuki Himeno returns to Toyota Verblitz following a one-off spell with the Highlanders in Super Rugby last year. The Brave Blossoms star impressed during his time at the Dunedin-based franchise, and will be hoping to carry that form with him into the new domestic season.
Honourable mentions: Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Isi Naisarani (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Tevita Tatafu (Tokyo Sungoliath), Amanaki Mafi (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Nasi Manu (Hino Red Dolphins)
9. Will Genia
Club: Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Age: 33
Nation: Australia
Test caps: 110
An undoubted Australian great, Will Genia is back for his third season in Japanese club rugby with the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. A Wallabies centurion whose test career spanned a decade and three World Cups, the Papua New Guinea-born star will be eyeing promotion from Division 2 to Division 1 come the end of the season.
Honourable mentions: Greig Laidlaw (Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu), Yutaka Nagare (Tokyo Sungoliath), Naoto Saito (Tokyo Sungoliath), Fumiaki Tanaka (Green Rockets Tokatsu), Augustine Pulu (Hino Red Dolphins)
10. Quade Cooper
Club: Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Age: 33
Nation: Australia
Test caps: 75
At the centre of rugby’s greatest comeback story in 2021, Quade Cooper didn’t continue his fairytale return to the Wallabies on their European end-of-year tour. Instead, he returned to Japan early to link back up with Genia, his long-time halves partner, in a bid to steer Kintetsu to the top division of League One.
Honourable mentions: Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes Osaka), Aaron Cruden (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Yu Tamura (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Colin Slade (Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars), Tom Taylor (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Brett Cameron (Kamaishi Seawaves)
11. Marika Koroibete
Club: Saitama Wild Knights
Age: 29
Nation: Australia
Test caps: 42
Among the stars of Australia’s 2021 test campaign, Marika Koroibete secured his long-term future by inking a lucrative multi-year deal to join the Wild Knights. As such, the Fijian-born flyer’s presence in the club’s roster is set to make the reigning champions all the more stronger in 2022.
Honourable mentions: Ataata Moeakiola (Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
12. Samu Kerevi
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath
Age: 28
Nation: Australia
Test caps: 38
A World Rugby Player of the Year nominee and an Olympic sevens athlete in 2021, much will be expected from Wallabies star Samu Kerevi in his third season with Tokyo Sungoliath. A barnstorming ball carrier, the Fijian-born midfielder should flourish on Japan’s fast tracks against typically soft defences.
Honourable mentions: Ryan Crotty (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Hurimichi Tatekawa (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Hadleigh Parkes (Saitama Wild Knights), Phil Burleigh (Kyuden Voltex)
13. Jesse Kriel
Club: Yokohama Canon Eagles
Age: 27
Nation: South Africa
Test caps: 51
A long-serving Springbok who was also part of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup success, Jesse Kriel continues his second stint in Japanese club rugby with the Canon Eagles, who he first joined in 2020. Prior to that, the ex-Bulls star had spent a single season with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes during the 2015-16 Super Rugby off-season.
Honourable mentions: Tim Lafaele (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Dylan Riley (Saitama Wild Knights), Will Tupou (Toyota Verblitz), Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Nick Grigg (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
14. Israel Folau
Club: Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu
Age: 32
Nation: Australia
Test caps: 73
One of rugby’s most controversial characters, it can’t be denied the talents that former Wallabies star Israel Folau possesses. Those talents will return to rugby union for the first time since he was sensationally sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 as he has signed for the Shining Arcs this season.
Honourable mentions: Joe Tomane (Black Rams Tokyo), Lomano Lemeki (Green Rockets Tokatsu), Matt Duffie (Mie honda Heat)
15. Damian McKenzie
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath
Age: 26
Nation: New Zealand
Test caps: 40
Rivalling Du Toit and Folau as the biggest signing of the new season, All Blacks star Damian McKenzie has joined Tokyo Sungoliath as Beauden Barrett’s replacement after letting his New Zealand Rugby contract run out. Set to return to New Zealand later this year, McKenzie will be targeting a League One title during his stay in Japan.
Honourable mentions: Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Semisi Masirewa (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners)
Japan Rugby League One will be will be free to view in the U.S. and Canada on The Rugby Network, with two live games per week, and available on-demand shortly after.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments