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 Rugby League One Preview: Round Eight

17 February 2023 1 comment

Springbok star Faf de Klerk is back in business as Yokohama Canon Eagles host Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in the most intriguing clash of Match […]

Nadolo’s late score clinches victory for Waratahs

12 February 2023 2 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Former Leicester winger Nemani Nadolo scored a late try for Waratahs as they beat bitter rivals Queensland Reds 33-32 for their first […]

Spears point the way with victory at Verblitz

5 February 2023 0 comments

JAPAN ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Kubota Spears moved top of Japan Rugby League One with a 44-34 victory away to Toyota Verblitz. Tries from Haruto […]

Burns bids farewell to Tigers and joins Highlanders

29 January 2023 0 comments

Fly-half Freddie Burns made his 115th and final appearance for Leicester in yesterday’s East Midlands derby at Northampton. Burns, who has had two stints with […]

Launchbury: I won’t ever lose the desire to play for England

29 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ambitious: Joe Launchbury in action for Wasps PICTURES: Getty Images Harlequins-bound lock Joe Launchbury claims the desire to represent England is something […]

Knights are riding high after downing Eagles

29 January 2023 0 comments

JAPAN ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Asaeli Ai Valu dotted down on the stroke of full time and Rikiya Matsuda nailed the conversion as Saitama Wild […]

Hat-trick star Mafi shines for Eagles to soar

22 January 2023 0 comments

JAPAN ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Amanaki Mafi scored a hat-trick of tries for the second straight match as Yokohama Eagles shot down Green Rockets Tokatsu […]

Japan Rugby League One: Round Five Preview

19 January 2023 0 comments

The return of a fresh Springbok Malcolm Marx is probably the last thing a bruised Kobelco Kobe Steelers need as the Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo […]

Japan League One Preview: Round Four

13 January 2023 0 comments

Four of the modern game’s greatest coaches will match wills this weekend as Japan Rugby League One brings together Eddie Jones, Wayne Smith, Steve Hansen, […]

Japanese League One round-up: Champions fight for opening win

18 December 2022 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Champions Saitama Wild Knights kicked off their title defence with a gritty 22-19 comeback win over Brave Lupus Tokyo courtesy of Takuya […]

Whiffin steps up for Highlanders

9 October 2022 2 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Richard Whiffin is hugely excited at the prospect of becoming the first Englishman to coach a New Zealand franchise in Super […]

Northampton Saints sign James Raam

28 April 2022 1 comment

Northampton Saints have signed Australian winger James Raam from the Waratahs for next season. Ramm, 23, joins Saints from Super Rugby side New South Wales […]

Rugby’s new Superstar is Japanese, meet Kazuki Himeno

13 November 2021 0 comments

There’s no question that Japan is becoming more well-known for its amazing Japanese rugby players that seem to burst out of nowhere. More recently, a […]

Exclusive: Ex-Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney gets job in Japan

19 September 2021 0 comments

GLENN Delaney has landed a job in Japan, four months after leaving his position as head coach of Scarlets. The 47-year-old New Zealander is currently […]

Josh Matavesi all set for switch to Japan

12 September 2021 2 comments

JOSH Matavesi is set to complete a move to Japan to join Freddie Burns’ former club Shokki Shuttles as The Rugby Paper predicted last month. Bath […]

Munster coach Stephen Larkham is wanted back by Brumbies

29 August 2021 2 comments

Larkham is under contract at Thomond Park until the end of the coming season

London Irish announce surprise departure of Blair Cowan

13 August 2021 0 comments

The Exiles co-captain will leave the Premiership to pursue opportunities in Japan

Harlequins announce capture of Viliami Taulani from Chiefs

11 August 2021 0 comments

Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson has recruited a player he coached at former club Waikato Chiefs

Exeter boss Rob Baxter keen on Aussie giant McCauley

8 August 2021 0 comments

Rob Baxter goes hunting for Aussie lock to join Chiefs

Harry Mallinder set to take Goode’s place in Japan

1 August 2021 0 comments

Where will Harry Mallinder be playing after announcing he will leave Saints for the Top League?

Scott Robertson sticks by Crusaders beyond 2023

9 July 2021 2 comments

Scott Robertson has committed to New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders by signing a new contract through to the end of 2024. The much sought-after […]

Harlequins conclude six-month search for new head coach with Tabai Matson

2 July 2021 0 comments

Harlequins will have a new head coach oversee the team’s defence of their Premiership title, after confirming Tabai Matson as the person who will succeed […]

Wales fear more will follow Cory Hill to Japan

20 June 2021 0 comments

WALES run the risk of more senior players sacrificing their Test careers for pots of Japanese gold. Cory Hill’s abrupt removal from the national squad […]

Super Rugby TT: Blues and Highlanders book final showdown

13 June 2021 1 comment

THE Blues and the Highlanders secured their places in next Saturday’s showpiece final with victories in another week dominated by New Zealand side who won […]

Super Rugby TT: Highlanders head for final with record points tally

6 June 2021 1 comment

Ben Jaycock wraps up the latest round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman action, with the Brumbies flying the flag for Australia

Scene is set for more top stars to head for Far East

30 May 2021 0 comments

Matt McIlraith reflects on how the status of Japan’s Top League has grown over the last season

Highlanders ‘unsung hero’ Michael Collins hopes to star at Ospreys

23 May 2021 1 comment

Steffan Thomas talks to the Wales-qualified back who will be playing at the Liberty Stadium next season

Super Rugby TT: Hurricanes blow hot for Savea to break the record

23 May 2021 0 comments

NEW Zealand’s Aotearoa sides continued to dominate as they whitewashed the AU sides for the second week. The Kiwis are ten from ten and outscored […]

James O’Connor signs new Reds deal after Super Rugby AU triumph

21 May 2021 0 comments

The Queensland Reds captain has signed up until 2023 at the Super Rugby AU champions

Scott Robertson is set to decide on his future at the Crusaders

19 May 2021 0 comments

The Crusaders have made an offer to in-demand head coach Scott Robertson

Stade Francais sign All Blacks star Ngani Laumape

11 May 2021 0 comments

Laumape steps in for the Top 14 club who have lost their two first-choice centres in Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty

Kiwi prop Josh Iosefa-Scott signs for Exeter Chiefs

9 May 2021 2 comments

A player released by the Highlanders prior to the Super Rugby Aotearoa season

Top League: Panasonic Wild Knights Kruis through

9 May 2021 0 comments

GEORGE Kruis’ Panasonic Wild Knights brought down the Canon Eagles 32-17 in yesterday’s quarter-final, extending their unbeaten run to 14 matches since losing to Suntory […]

Reds 19-16 Brumbies: James O’Connor has the final say

9 May 2021 0 comments

James O’Connor stole the show in the Super Rugby AU final at the Suncorp with a last-minute try to sink Brumbies hearts

Super League AU: Brumbies race clear after Pulu sees red

2 May 2021 0 comments

Michael Cheika strongly disagreed with the red card to given to Force wing Toni Pulu, as the Brumbies booked their place in the final against the Reds

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Laumape makes his All Blacks case

2 May 2021 1 comment

Ngani Laumape was simply unstoppable for the Hurricanes in their 41-22 win over the Highlanders

Top League: Suntory Sungoliath in semis with Rams out of running

2 May 2021 0 comments

Matt McIlraith wraps up the action from the Top League with semi-final places up for grabs

Les Kiss interested in swapping London Irish for Super Rugby move – report

29 April 2021 1 comment

The Exiles head coach could have his name added to the Waratahs head coach shortlist

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Last-gasp McKenzie is match-winner

25 April 2021 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK DAMIAN McKenzie’s 83rd minute match winning penalty put Chiefs into pole position to make the Aotearoa final with a 26-24 win at […]

Top League: Rocket man Alex Goode burns off Freddie

18 April 2021 1 comment

Matt McIlraith reports on the elimination play-offs in Japan’s Top League, as Goode’s NEC Green Rockets advance over Freddie Burns’ Shokki Shuttles

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Hodgman red card helps Highlanders

18 April 2021 1 comment

Ben Jaycock reports on Round 8 of Super Rugby Aotearoa, as the Highlanders clinched victory at the Forsyth Barr Stadium

Super Rugby AU: Last-gasp Miotti on target for the Force

18 April 2021 1 comment

DOMINGO MIOTTI rescued victory for the Force with the final kick of the game to sour the Waratahs’ hopes of winning for the first time […]

Japan is the Top League now, Quade Cooper tells Sanzaar

11 April 2021 0 comments

WALLABIES maverick Quade Cooper sees Super Rugby being turned on its head in the years to come as the growth of rugby in Japan heralds […]

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Damian McKenzie’s golden boot decides clash in Dunedin

11 April 2021 0 comments

DAMIAN McKenzie’s ‘golden point’ penalty dramatically secured three straight wins for the Chiefs to keep their Aotearoa final hopes alive. McKenzie said after the 26-23 […]

Super Rugby AU: Tongan Thor puts hammer on Rebels

4 April 2021 1 comment

TANIELA Tupou’s two tries inspired the Reds to victory over the Rebels to set up a mouth-watering showdown with the Brumbies next week. After coming […]

Top League: Brilliant Beauden Barrett spears Kubota

4 April 2021 1 comment

BEAUDEN Barrett proved the match winner for the second week running as Suntory became the last unbeaten team in the red section of the Top […]

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Brown’s boys confound Crusaders

4 April 2021 0 comments

TONY Brown’s Highlanders inflicted leaders Crusaders’ first loss of the season and got their own campaign back on track after a tough week for the […]

Highlanders drop All Black and five others following team protocols breach

31 March 2021 0 comments

Reports in New Zealand claim players attended a gathering which has seen six players stood down for their clash against Crusaders

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Jordie Barrett full house sparks Hurricanes

28 March 2021 0 comments

A Jordie Barrett hat-trick pushed the Hurricanes past the Highlanders in round five of Super Rugby Aotearoa

How the Crusaders built greatness to conquer Super Rugby

28 March 2021 1 comment

The Crusaders are approaching the 25th anniversary of their foundation, with silverware rarely eluding their grasp in their trials of combat in Super Rugby

Super Rugby Pacific and Japanese Division One

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