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.

Chiefs ace Tom set for Hanazono

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Tom Hendrickson has signed a deal with Osaka-based Japanese League One side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners after leaving Exeter Chiefs […]

Spears turn up the heat on new boys Mie

17 December 2023 0 comments

JAPAN RUGBY By BEN JAYCOCK Reigning champions Kubota Spears steamrolled past Division 1 newcomers Mie Heat 75-0 to secure their first win of the season […]

Cane and Kolbe link up for Japan opener

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Just over a month since the Rugby World Cup final, 14 of the players who featured in the showpiece match will suit […]

Evans loving life at flying Fijian Drua

10 November 2023 0 comments

Former Harlequins CEO Mark Evans is loving his time in the same role at Super Rugby Pacific side Fijian Drua, who he believes had a […]

Jones heads to Moana Pasifika

8 October 2023 0 comments

Former Wales fly-half and assistant coach Stephen Jones is set to head to New Zealand to link up with Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika, coached […]

Retired? No, I’m available, says Cipriani

10 September 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Danny Cipriani will consider any offers to continue his playing career despite not pulling on his boots for the last 10 months. […]

London Irish trio reunite in Brisbane

3 September 2023 0 comments

Former London Irish boss Les Kiss is getting the band back together in Brisbane after taking two of the Exiles’ coaching staff with him to […]

Davis likely to join Kiss after Wallaby exit

20 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former Bath, Wasps and London Irish defence coach Brad Davis is being tipped to […]

Super Rugby fixtures: Crusaders begin title defence with a repeat of last year’s final

17 August 2023 0 comments

Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on February […]

Burns has his eye on media

6 August 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Freddie Burns says he would love to move into the media if he calls time on his career when his second spell […]

Anscombe the latest to head for Japan

23 July 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is the latest Wales player to head to Japan by signing for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath after the 2023 World […]

Kiss agrees terms with Reds

16 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former London Irish head coach Les Kiss will be working in Super Rugby next season after agreeing terms with […]

Patchell’s switch

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell who was thought to be heading to France after being released by The Scarlets could now be on […]

Kiss favourite for Reds

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE NEIL FISSLER Former London Irish boss Les Kiss has emerged as the clear favourite to replace former All Blacks star Brad Thorn […]

Blair joins Rennie at Japan’s Kobe Steelers

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former Edinburgh boss Mike Blair is to join Japanese side Kobe Steelers as attack coach. The 42-year-old, who made 85 appearances for Scotland at scrumhalf, […]

Kiss weighing up his options

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former London Irish boss Les Kiss appears to be in demand after speaking to clubs in Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship about making a […]

Ex-Tiger Burns making his way back to Japan

2 July 2023 0 comments

Former England fly-half Freddie Burns is heading back to Japan next season after a spell playing in Super Rugby for the Highlanders in New Zealand […]

Crusaders to the fore in Team of the Season

2 July 2023 0 comments

Ben Jaycock selects his best XV from this season’s Super Rugby Pacific championship The Crusaders’ incredible dynasty continued as they lifted their seventh consecutive Super […]

Heavenly finish as Crusaders snatch title

25 June 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific Final Chiefs ……………… 20pts Tries: Stevenson 22, Narawa 42 Conversions: McKenzie 24, 44 Penalties: McKenzie 19, 49 Crusaders………..25pts Tries: […]

McKenzie makes the difference for Chiefs

18 June 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAMERON STEPHENS The Chiefs will host the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final next week after edging past a resilient […]

Heroic Brumbies fly the flag for Australia

11 June 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific round-up The Brumbies produced a heroic goal line stand to book their place in this week’s semi-finals as Luke […]

Fijians on a roll as they race past Reds

4 June 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAMERON STEPHENS Fijian Drua created history as they booked their spot in the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time […]

Western Force move for Potter

28 May 2023 0 comments

Western Force are poised to announce that they have signed former Leicester Tigers winger Harry Potter who was released early from his contract by the […]

Wallaby lock heads for Rebels

28 May 2023 0 comments

Wallaby lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has signed a deal with Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels after only spending a season playing in the Premiership for Northampton […]

Fakatava the star as Highlanders steal it

28 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Folau Fakatava kept the Highlanders play-off hopes alive and sent the club’s inspiration leader Aaron Smith out on […]

Chiefs bounce back to tame Hurricanes

21 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Tupou Vaa’i scored two tries as the Chiefs bounced back from their first loss of the season to […]

Spears secure their first championship

21 May 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay caused a major upset by winning their first ever piece of silverware and became the second team […]

Lynagh’s late strike ends Reds hoodoo

14 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Queensland Reds broke their New Zealand hoodoo to end the Chiefs‘ unbeaten start to the season. New-found composure […]

Koroibete hat-trick downs the Eagles

14 May 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up Saitama Wild Knights will defend their crown next week after winning their semi-final 51-20 against Yokohama Eagles. A second-half hat-trick from […]

Valetini’s late double stuns the Hurricanes

7 May 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS Two months after their shock win over the Crusaders, Fijian Drua slayed their second Kiwi powerhouse of the […]

Japan League One round-up

7 May 2023 0 comments

It’s advantage to Mitsubishi Dynaboars and Honda Heat in the Japan Rugby League One relegation play-offs as both sides were victorious in the first legs […]

Magical McKenzie puts Chiefs on top

30 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS A late surge saw the Chiefs edge the Crusaders 34-24 in a thrilling contest to extend their unbeaten […]

Chiefs hit 50 ahead of Crusaders showdown

23 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Chiefs‘ unbeaten streak continues as they secured another bonus point victory to strengthen their grip on top […]

Spears put down marker for play-off rematch

23 April 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK A flurry of late tries propelled Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay to a 39-24 victory over Tokyo Sungoliath in […]

Japan League One: Wild Knights looking to bounce back from shock loss

21 April 2023 0 comments

There would have been a strange feeling at the Kumagaya training base of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on Monday as players and coaching staff […]

Ruthless Chiefs slay Canes to stay on top

16 April 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Super Rugby Pacific round-up The Chiefs maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they overturned a nine-point half-time deficit to beat […]

Shizuoka end Wild Knights’ long win streak

16 April 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Japan League One round-up In a shock result, previously undefeated league leaders Saitama Wild Knights lost 44-25 to Shizuoka Blue Revs, snapping […]

Toole try completes Brumbies fightback

2 April 2023 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By CAM STEPHENS The Brumbies stole an unforgettable, high-octane Australian derby as Corey Toole’s 77th-minute try completed an astonishing 40-36 comeback […]

Holders Knights secure play-off place

26 March 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Defending champions Saitama Wild Knights held off Toyota Verblitz 19-10 to clinch a Japan Rugby League One play-off berth with their 13th […]

High-flying Chiefs remain team to beat

26 March 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS The Chiefs stand alone as the only unbeaten team left in Super Rugby after grinding out a 24-14 victory over the Waratahs. […]

Japan Rugby League One: Round 13

23 March 2023 1 comment

The prize of top of the table for the end of the regular season in Division Two goes on the line when Israel Folau’s Urayasu […]

Marx on the mark to put Spears in charge

19 March 2023 1 comment

JAPAN RUGBY – League One Round-up By CAMERON STEPHENS The Kubota Spears recorded an important 15-5 victory at home over fellow title hopefuls Yokohama Canon […]

Whitelock makes sure for Crusaders

19 March 2023 1 comment

SUPER RUGBY ROUND-UP By CAMERON STEPHENS The Crusaders outlasted the Blues 34-28 in an electric re-match of last year’s final as the two powerhouse sides […]

Japan Rugby League One: Round 11

10 March 2023 0 comments

Two of the traditional titans of the Japanese domestic game meet when Match Day 11 of Japan Rugby League One kicks off in Tokyo this […]

Dominant Knights make it 43 games unbeaten League One round-up

5 March 2023 1 comment

JAPAN ROUND-UP The Panasonic Wild Knights increased their incredible 43-match unbeaten run with a 30-15 victory over Kubota Spears. Robbie Deans’ side haven’t lost in […]

Savea faces ban after throat-slitting gesture

5 March 2023 0 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Ardie Savea was at the centre of controversy in the Hurricanes‘ fiery 39-33 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific […]

Chiefs on rampage to shock Crusaders

26 February 2023 0 comments

By CAM STEPHENS Disbelief enveloped Orangetheory stadium as the Chiefs opened the season by stunning the Crusaders 31-10 to hand them their fifth-biggest home loss […]

Another double for super Kida

26 February 2023 1 comment

Haruto Kida crossed twice and Bernard Foley kicked 11 points as Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay remained unbeaten nine games into the season with a 46-27 […]