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19dReuters

Ireland to face New Zealand, U.S. in autumn

Ireland will host New Zealand in one of four international tests announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union for Andy Farrell's squad in October and November.

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29dReuters

Ireland edge past Japan in free-scoring thriller

Ireland survived some brilliant attacking Japanese play to gain revenge for their shock 2019 World Cup defeat with a 39-31 win in an entertaining and free-scoring match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Photo By Ian Rutherford/Sportsfile via Getty Images

35dReuters

Murray replaces injured Jones as Lions captain

The British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland confirmed that captain Alun Wyn Jones will miss the South Africa tour after dislocating his shoulder in the warm-up win over Japan on Saturday.

Toru Hanai/Getty Images

68dSam Bruce

Discussions underway over cross-border rugby comp with Japan

Super Rugby could be set for yet another structural change and a return to Asia after it was revealed that discussions have taken place around a new tournament that would pit leading Japanese Top League clubs against those from New Zealand and Australia.

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101dAAP

Not just money: Why Japan is becoming an increasing threat to Australian rugby

Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph has offered an alarming insight into why the increasing player drain to Japan is becoming a huge headache for Australian rugby.

Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images

118dAAP

Aussies swapping allegiance to Japan after Top League chance

Young midfielder Dylan Riley has become the third Australian-raised player in his Japan Top League team to declare their allegiance to the Brave Blossoms in a worrying trend for Australian rugby.

Toru Hanai/Getty Images

152dAAP

Hooper backs Japan, but worries over more Tests

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper would love to see Japan play more international Tests, but says rugby's various governing bodies need to be careful not to burn out players in the process.

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228dReuters

Jones cleared to continue advisory role in Japan

Eddie Jones has been cleared to continue as a consultant for Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath after the Rugby Football Union said there is no conflict of interest.

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284dReuters

Lions to face Japan in June ahead 2021 tour

The British and Irish Lions announced on Wednesday they will host Japan in Edinburgh next June ahead of their tour of South Africa.

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340dAAP

Hooper to take six month sabbatical in 2021

Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper will take up a six-month sabbatical deal to play rugby in Japan, leaving the NSW Waratahs without their biggest star for most of the next Super Rugby competition.

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347dReuters

Springboks Marx signs for Japan's Kubota Spears

South Africa's World Cup winning hooker Malcolm Marx has signed for Japanese Top League side the Kubota Spears.

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367dRueters

Smith, Cruden to join Japan's Kobe Steelers

New Zealand World Cup winners Ben Smith and Aaron Cruden will join Kobe Steelers, the Japanese rugby union team said on Friday, following in the footsteps of other high-profile compatriots like Dan Carter.

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419dReuters

World Rugby unveils qualification format for 2023 World Cup

World Rugby has announced the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup in France aimed at promoting a "genuine opportunity" for all unions, the game's global body said on Monday.

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434dReuters

England's Kruis to play in Japan next season

England lock George Kruis and Welsh centre Hadleigh Parkes will play in Japan for the Panasonic Wild Knights next season, the Top League club said on Monday.

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471dReuters

All Blacks great Dan Carter set to leave Japan's Kobelco Steelers

Three-time World Player of the Year Dan Carter announced he was leaving Japanese Top League side Kobe Steelers in an Instagram post on Friday.

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481dReuters

Leitch fears Japan failing to build on World Cup heroics

Japan's fairytale run to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals was a highlight of last year's tournament but with the afterglow all but gone captain Michael Leitch fears not enough is being done to secure the Brave Blossoms a place at the game's top table.

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497dReuters

Japan's Top League canceled due to coronavirus

Japan's Top League is cancelling the remaining 42 matches of the season to help stem the spread of the coronavirus and safeguard the health of players and spectators, organisers of the rugby union competition said in a statement on Monday.

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images

515dSam Bruce

COVID-19, No future and heavy defeats: Life at the Sunwolves

They have just 12 more games. Their home games remain shrouded in uncertainty. And they're coming off consecutive 45-plus point defeats. But with rugby buzzing after the World Cup, the Sunwolves are simply getting on with the job, as Jake Schatz explains.

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569dReuters

Wales to tour Japan and New Zealand

Wales will take on Japan and New Zealand in three test matches in June and July as part of their summer tour this year.

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593dReuters

Japan's Mafi fined for assaulting teammate

Amanaki Mafi pled guilty to assaulting former team mate Lopeti Timani in New Zealand in 2018.

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622dESPN staff with Reuters

Jamie Joseph to continue as Japan coach through 2023

Jamie Joseph is out of the running to coach the All Blacks after he inked a new deal to remain in charge of Japan through to the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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632dESPN

England return to Japan for 2020 tour

Eddie Jones and England will return to Japan to play two Test matches next year.

Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images/Getty Images

637dTom Hamilton

Rugby World Cup 2019 -- ESPN's Team of the Tournament

With the dust settling on the Rugby World Cup, we assess the past six weeks of world-class rugby and the star performers.

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651dTom Hamilton

Springboks rock Japan out of their Rugby World Cup dream

The hosts have brought something new to rugby's top table, and the sport needs to ensure that their next opportunity is not another four years away.

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images

651dReuters

South Africa end Japan's World Cup dream, set up semifinal against Wales

The Springboks proved far too strong for the host nation, who became the first Asian nation to play in the Rugby World Cup knockout phase.

2019 Rugby World Cup Table

Pool A
R	Team	GP	PD	P
3	Scotland	4	+64	11
2	Ireland	4	+94	16
4	Samoa	4	-70	5
1	Japan	4	+53	19
5	Russia	4	-141	0
Pool B
R	Team	GP	PD	P
2	South Africa	4	+149	15
1	New Zealand	4	+135	16
3	Italy	4	+20	12
5	Canada	4	-163	2
4	Namibia	4	-141	2
Pool C
R	Team	GP	PD	P
1	England	4	+99	17
2	France	4	+28	15
3	Argentina	4	+15	11
5	United States of America	4	-104	0
4	Tonga	4	-38	6
Pool D
R	Team	GP	PD	P
1	Wales	4	+67	19
2	Australia	4	+68	16
3	Fiji	4	+2	7
5	Uruguay	4	-80	4
4	Georgia	4	-57	5

2019 Top ScorersRugby World Cup

Points
Tries

Yu Tamura , FH
51
Matches 5
Kotaro Matsushima , W
25
Matches 5
Kenki Fukuoka , W
20
Matches 4

Kotaro Matsushima , W
5
Matches 5
Kenki Fukuoka , W
4
Matches 4
Pieter Labuschagne , FL
1
Matches 5

2019 RankingsRugby World Cup

JPN11^th
Tries Scored 1^st South Africa : 27 Tries Scored
SA1^st
13
27
JPN8^th
Points Difference 1^st South Africa : 149 Points Difference
SA1^st
53
149