Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Japan League One 2024/25 Season Preview

13 December 2024 0 comments

The fourth edition of Japan Rugby League One kicks off next week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh […]

Robertson needs to redress the balance

25 August 2024 0 comments

Chris Hewett Thinking allowed It was a cheap shot, admittedly, but only a pacifist or a fool would spurn the opportunity to kick the New […]

Hardy on hand to grab last-gasp win

21 July 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Reds……………………………..35 Tries: Asiata 14, 28, 51; Grealy 59, 69 Conversions: O’Connor 14, 28, 51, 59, 69 Wales……………………………..36 Tries: Griffin 4, Grace 19, Dyer 21, Tshinunza […]

Clarke on rampage as Blues take gold

23 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Blues……………………………..41pts Chiefs ……………………………10pts Tries: A Ioane 12, Clarke 21, 50, 61, Lam 72 Conversions: Plummer 13, 22, 51, 62, 73 Penalties: Plummer […]

Chiefs delight as they stun ’Canes

16 June 2024 0 comments

World Rugby By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby Pacific round-up Results and fixtures Blues 34 – 20 Brumbies Hurricanes 19 – 30 Chiefs Saturday June 22: […]

Gregor Townsend will not close the door on George Turner’s Scotland career

13 June 2024 0 comments

Gregor Townsend is adamant the door is not closed on George Turner’s Scotland career although he acknowledged it will be “challenging” for the hooker to […]

George Turner raises doubts over Scotland future after making switch to Japan

11 June 2024 0 comments

Scotland’s first-choice hooker George Turner has signed for Japanese side Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a move likely to have implications for his international career. Glasgow […]

Rebels facing tough test against ‘Canes

2 June 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Super Rugby Pacific play-off spots were confirmed this weekend, with the soon-to-be extinct Melbourne Rebels living to fight […]

Shock for Knights as Lupus snatch the title

2 June 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Toshiba Brave Lupus shocked Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights to secure their first Japan Rugby Division One title for […]

Melbourne Rebels ditched by Super Rugby over financial woes

30 May 2024 0 comments

Australian Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels have been dropped from the competition due to financial difficulties. The Rebels have been in voluntary administration since January […]

Crusaders stun Blues to keep season alive

26 May 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Super Rugby Pacific round-up Crusaders salvaged some dignity in their torrid Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a shock 29-27 win over league […]

Damian strikes as Knights edge out Eagles

19 May 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Saitama Wild Knights continued their unbeaten run to secure a place in the Division One final, while Division […]

Strange ending adds to Crusaders’ misery

19 May 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By TOM JEFFREYS The Crusaders suffered yet another sucker punch in their nightmare season with a last-minute 31-24 loss to the […]

Mo’unga likely to be back in black

12 May 2024 0 comments

SO he hasn’t gone for good, after all. Not quite. If the All Blacks have their way, as they invariably do in these circumstances, Richie […]

Blues hold on in battle at the top

12 May 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Bluse held on with their backs to their try line as they edged past the Hurricanes 31-27 to […]

Perenara tops try list as ’Canes march on

5 May 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK TJ Perenara became the all-time top Super Rugby try scorer as his table topping Hurricanes demolished the Waratahs. […]

Unbeaten Wild Knights finish in fine style

5 May 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Saitama Wild Knights sealed an unprecedented unbeaten league season with a 43-14 win over Canon Eagles. In the […]

Brave Lupus safe in second

28 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Toshiba Brave Lupus secured second place with a 36-27 win over third placed Suntory Sungoliath to earn a […]

Brumbies put end to ’Canes winning start

28 April 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Hurricanes’ unbeaten start came to an end as the Brumbies breathed life into their own Super Rugby […]

Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow

21 April 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Hurricanes overcame a poor second half in which they conceded three yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38-15 […]

Wallaby Koroibete leads way again for Saitama

21 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Saitama Wild Knights thumped Toyota Verblitz 40-7 to stretch their perfect record to 14 wins from 14. Marika […]

Porter set for Aussie return

14 April 2024 0 comments

England centre Guy Porter looks set to return to Australia this summer with the view to representing the Wallabies. Porter, who won his sixth England […]

Leaders Knights stretch winning run to 13

14 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Wild Knights extended their perfect record to 13 wins with a 50-26 win away to the Tokyo Black […]

Hurricanes make it a magnificent seven

14 April 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Clark Laidlaw’s unbeaten Hurricanes continued to solidify themselves at the top of Super Rugby Pacific with an impressive […]

Grayson now has Japan in his sights

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The demise of Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish has left just 10 starting fly-half spots across a congested Premiership, leaving the […]

Deans’ unbeaten Knights charge on at summit

7 April 2024 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Unbeaten Wild Knights extended their lead at the top by defeating Dynaboars 53-12. Robbie Deans’ side went into […]

Blues move top after putting 50 past Force

7 April 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK It was a weekend of one-sided blowouts in Super Rugby Pacific as the Blues moved top of the […]

McNicholl at double as Crusaders break duck

1 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Former Wales wing Johnny McNicholl scored a try in each half to help Crusaders coach Rob Penny secure his long-awaited first win […]

Rebel life is just the thing for Maunder

1 April 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Jack Maunder had always been a name synonymous with Exeter Chiefs. Born and raised in the heart of Devon, rugby ran through […]

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

31 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ardie Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two sides’ first ever meeting in Tokyo this […]

Beware this move to 15-a-side Rollerball

24 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IF THE Six Nations failed to meet expectations, it was in a good way. Italy’s knee-clenching World Cup humiliation turned out […]

Hurricanes fly high as Crusaders flop again

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Jordie Barrett bagged two tries as the Hurricanes thumped the Melbourne Rebels 54-28 to maintain their 100 per cent record at the […]

Global 20-minute red card

17 March 2024 0 comments

SANZAAR want the 20-minute red card to be introduced worldwide with the motion set to be voted on in May. Chief executive Brendan Morris attended […]

Aussies battling to keep Petaia

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Australian utility back Jordan Petaia is being chased by the country’s leading rugby league clubs. Reds flyer Petaia is out of contract […]

Nightmare just gets worse for Crusaders

17 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Panic has set in for the Crusaders with the seven-time defending champions suffering their worst ever start to […]

Saitama make it a perfect 10 against Steelers

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Saitama Wild Knights underscored their status as title favourites with an impressive 28-18 win over Kobe Steelers. Robbie […]

McNicholl goes home

10 March 2024 0 comments

Wales back Johnny McNicholl has rejoined Crusaders for the remainder of the season after leaving Scarlets to return to New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, who has […]

Slick Drua continue Penney’s nightmare

10 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By TOM JEFFREYS Crusaders’ miserable start to their new era continued with a third straight defeat as Fijian Drua picked up […]

Waratahs prove too strong for Crusaders

3 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Crusaders suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their title defence after the impressive Waratahs secured a stunning 37-24 […]

Rugby’s stuck in the ice age. It needs to open up

25 February 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock talks to Freddie Burns about life in Japan and what he thinks the sport must do to attract the youngsters FREDDIE Burns is […]

Chiefs on a mission to down Crusaders

25 February 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby Pacific started with a bang as a repeat of last year’s final saw the Chiefs overcome […]

Hendrickson enjoying his new life in Japan

18 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Tom Hendrickson is settling well to life in the Far East having swapped the Premiership for that of Japanese Rugby League One. […]

Crusaders aiming for six of the best

18 February 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Preview Ben Jaycock looks forward to the new Super Rugby season with the Melbourne Rebels fighting to survive THE last time an Australian […]

Riley scores again as Wild Knights march on

18 February 2024 0 comments

Japan League One The gap between the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and the rest is widening at the top of the table but the Chiefs’ […]

Crusaders captain Heinz catches up with his old pals

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Willi Heinz led the Crusaders against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday night and used his week in England to catch up […]

Crusaders make it tough for Bears as lively crowd enjoy fright night

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By ROGER PANTING Bristol……………………… 14pts Tries: Davies 27, Marmion 56 Conversions: MacGinty 27, 56 Crusaders……………….. 31pts Tries: Springer 39, 51; Aumua 62, 66; Hotham […]

Cotter off to winning opener with Blues

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby’s Blues demolished Tokyo Sungoliath 43-7 in the first of four games in the inaugural Cross-Border Rugby series between teams from […]

Esterhuizen says no to Toulon

28 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen is on the shopping list for several clubs in Japan after appearing to have rejected […]

Savea keen to take on Hurricanes

14 January 2024 0 comments

Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has signed for Moana Pasifika from the Hurricanes. The World Cup winner is “looking forward to the challenge” with […]

Tigers are braced for Porter departure

14 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester Tigers are looking for an outside centre, with Super Rugby sides spying on a move for England international Guy Porter, below, who has a […]

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