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World Cup shadow looms large as second season of JRLO set for kick-off
In many ways, it is appropriate that the spectre of the Rugby World Cup looms large as Japan Rugby League One kicks off when the Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo face the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars on December 17 in Tokyo.
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The league is an advancement made off the back of the hugely successful 2019 global showpiece, streamlining competition with the aim of significantly raising the standard of the domestic game in Japan.
Despite the travails the world has endured since, the country is now kicking on from hosting the Rugby World Cup, with Japan Rugby League One a statement of its intent to gain a prominent place in the global club game.
In terms of star power, this process is already well underway as the competition beds in for its second season.
Seven of the Springboks who brutalised England at Twickenham last month boarded a plane to Japan shortly after, joined by their teammates Pieter Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager.
England internationals Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes have found homes in Japan Rugby League One while Wallabies Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Tom Banks, and Bernard Foley continue their careers in Japan and will each have an eye on the Australian World Cup squad.
While Kerevi will only make the last month of the season at best as he recovers from a knee injury sustained in this year’s Commonwealth Games Sevens, the other half of Australia’s ‘Special Ks’, Koroibete, is a marked man as his Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights pursue a third straight title.
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The Wild Knights edged Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in the last Top League final two years ago and got the better of Sungoliath again in a tight finish to the inaugural Japan Rugby League One final.
Fellow semi-finalists Kubota Spears Funabashi, Tokyo Bay, and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo should also be in the fight, as will the star-studded Toyota Verblitz who will be seeking to make up for the disappointment of missing last season’s playoffs.
In a league that has been reorganised for season two, with 12 teams contesting Division One, while six do battle in the second, and five in the third Division, the stardust has been sprinkled beyond the premier section.
Serial try-scorer Israel Folau, who debuted with 10 in his maiden season in Japan, promises to light up Division Two playing for the new merger club, Urayasu-D Rocks, who twice beat Super Rugby’s Western Force this month.
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His is not the only big name in what promises to be a dogfight in the race for promotion.
The MIE Honda Heat has landed the former Argentina test captain Pablo Matera, as well as Banks, while the 65-cap French lock Yoann Maestri is quite literally the biggest name added by a much-changed Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi as the club chases back-to-back promotions.
Towering Wallaby lock Rory Arnold has also arrived, swapping Stade Toulousain for the Hino Red Dolphins.
Teams are allowed up to three foreign-capped test players. The competition for these places is heating up as the awareness of Japan Rugby League One amongst the global elite grows.
Already several big-name off-contract All Blacks have been linked with clubs for 2024.
Clubs are reporting interest from across the globe, due to the financial security, excited crowds, impressive facilities, shorter season, and the different lifestyle the Japanese game offers.
As more countries are selecting players from beyond their borders, the ability to continue Test careers while playing in Japan also holds an increasing appeal.
After being delayed by Covid, and further impacted by pandemic-enforced crowd restrictions and match cancellations, the JRLO hierarchy are upbeat heading into its’ second edition.
JRLO chairman Genichi Tamatsuka, the head of Lotte Holdings (Japan) and a highly successful Japanese businessman in his own right, is confident about the league’s future after its complicated birth.
“While the victory and the first title were deservedly won by the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, we were all victorious, by getting our new league up and running in such unique and difficult circumstances,” Tamatsuka says.
“We appreciate that the number of big-name players and coaches in Japan Rugby League One generates interest for fans far beyond our shores.
“This is something that we are proud of and want to build on as we look to grow the league’s identity globally, while also extending the game’s reach further across Asia.”
As season two begins, Tamatsuka’s vision is already beginning to take shape.
The competition, which includes a round of matches on Christmas Day, will run until finals at the end of May.
– Japan Rugby League One
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments