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.

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

World Rugby to fund two Pacific Island teams’ inclusion in Super Rugby

25 March 2021 2 comments

£1.2m made available for two teams to be included in Super Rugby from Pacific Island nations

Greig Laidlaw gives his first impressions of Japan’s Top League

21 March 2021 1 comment

The former Scotland captain had the option to stay in France but opted instead for the wonders of Japan

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Fightback puts end to Chiefs misery

21 March 2021 0 comments

AFTER suffering 11 consecutive Super Rugby losses, the Chiefs ended their Aotearoa misery as Luke Jacobson’s late close-range try gave them a 35-29 away […]

Top League: Tom Savage and Suntory Sungoliath savage Toshiba

21 March 2021 0 comments

FORMER Gloucester captain Tom Savage remains unbeaten in Japan this year after Suntory Sungoliath overran Toshiba Brave Lupus 73-5 in a Top League catch up […]

Super Rugby AU: Two-try Hunter Paisami silences the Force

21 March 2021 1 comment

Hunter Paisami and code-hopper Suliasi Vunivalu impress for the Reds, as the Rebels add to the ‘Tahs woes

Franchise Cup: Dead-eye Tiaan Swanepoel puts Sharks to the sword

21 March 2021 1 comment

TIAAN Swanepoel struck a game-winning penalty in the final minute to clinch victory for the Lions in a 12-try thriller against the Sharks at Ellis […]

Super Rugby AU: Petaia’s late try completes Reds thrilling comeback

14 March 2021 0 comments

JORDAN PETAIA broke Brumbies hearts with a last-minute try securing the bragging rights for the Queensland Reds as Super Rugby AU’s two great powers collided […]

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Crusaders pile the misery on Chiefs

14 March 2021 2 comments

SCOTT Robertson’s Crusaders extended their lead at the top of Super Rugby Aotearoa with a bonus point 39-17 thrashing at home to winless Chiefs. Despite […]

Faultless Falcon leads Toyota’s nine-try blitz

14 March 2021 1 comment

TOYOTA VERBLITZ crushed the Munakata Sanix Blues 61-29 to keep up their 100 per cent record in the Top League, as the two other fixtures […]

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams announces retirement from rugby in both codes

10 March 2021 0 comments

One of few players to hit superstardom in both union and league has hung up his boots to resurrect his boxing career

McKeever aims to put Stormers back on map

7 March 2021 0 comments

THE Stormers will travel to Kimberley to take on the Griquas in the Franchise Cup on Tuesday, amid possible off-the-field changes coming to the team’s […]

Super Rugby AU: Ryan Lonergan missile torpedoes Rebels

7 March 2021 0 comments

And yet more trouble for the Waratahs…

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Jona Nareki treble sparks Highlanders win

7 March 2021 1 comment

Ben Jaycock reports on Jona Nareki inspiring the Highlanders to victory over the Chiefs, in Tony Brown’s first win since his return to the franchise

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Champions Crusaders off to bonus point flyer

28 February 2021 1 comment

TOM COVENTRY’S Blues and reigning champions Crusaders made strong starts to their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaigns with bonus point, away victories. The opening round was […]

Swanepoel’s no slouch in giving Lions a solid platform

28 February 2021 0 comments

IT WAS a mixed bag for two of South Africa’s franchise heavyweights as they began preparations for the Rainbow Cup, launching on April 17. On […]

Super Rugby AU: Penney under pressure as Tahs taken to cleaners again

28 February 2021 0 comments

The Waratahs have now suffered the heaviest-ever defeats to Australian opposition in their history within two weeks of each other

Super Rugby AU wrap – Round One: Izaia Perese card sees the Reds run free

21 February 2021 0 comments

Adam Ellis wraps up the opening round action to the 2021 Super Rugby AU kick-off

Super Rugby Aotearoa preview: Big test for Blues without Beauden

21 February 2021 0 comments

Ben Jaycock looks ahead to next weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa kick-off – can anyone stop the Crusaders?

Reds 41-7 Waratahs: Brad Thorn’s boys come out all guns blazing

19 February 2021 0 comments

Video highlights from a convincing
round 1 win for the Super Rugby AU contenders

SANZAAR say no Super Rugby competition will be broadcast in the UK

18 February 2021 0 comments

Super Rugby AU nor Super Rugby Aotearoa will be shown on UK television

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi makes switch to Sharks

17 February 2021 0 comments

Siya Kolisi will remain in South African rugby, but switch from the Stormers to the Sharks

Junior Bok star Juarno Augustus signs six-figure salary at Saints

17 February 2021 7 comments

Northampton Saints have signed Stormers back row Juarno Augustus, Neil Fissler reports

Bongi Mbonambi tells Premiership club he’s staying in Cape Town

17 February 2021 0 comments

Harlequins are looking at the South African hooker as a replacement for Scott Baldwin

Ealing Trailfinders back row Adam Korczyk inspired by Jordy’s promotion

17 February 2021 1 comment

Neale Harvey meets the Ealing Trailfinders back row who was so highly-rated Down Under within the development pathway at the Queensland Reds

Super Rugby AU preview: Brumbies warm up with tight win over the Force

14 February 2021 0 comments

The Brumbies and Reds are set to fight it out for the Super Rugby AU title once more as the two strongest sides Down Under

Stormers lock on the move to Prem?

7 February 2021 0 comments

Another giant South African lock could be on his way from Super Rugby to the Premiership this summer…

Lions prop Johannes Jonker agrees Ealing move

2 February 2021 1 comment

Director of rugby Ben Ward adds South Africa tighthead to Trailfinders’ front row options

Sharks try to lure the Du Preezes back home to Durban

2 February 2021 2 comments

Backed by new US investment, two of the Du Preez brothers are wanted back in South Africa

Leicester Tigers seal deal for player they hope will fill Taufua void

31 January 2021 0 comments

Leicester Tigers dispute Jordan Taufua’s move to Lyon, but that hasn’t stopped them drafting in a replacement

Sharks want Andre Esterhuizen back from Harlequins

27 January 2021 2 comments

The American consortium that has bought a majority share in the South African franchise is ready to finance the Quins centre’s return to Durban

Hougaard’s off, so Worcester headhunt replacement at Bath

17 January 2021 0 comments

Neil Fissler reports on Worcester’s plans at scrum-half, with Francois Hougaard destined to return home to South Africa

Gloucester hooker James Hanson hankers for Oz return

16 January 2021 1 comment

Hanson could return to Australia at the end of the season when his contract is up at Kingsholm

US consortium adds financial weight to Sharks

7 January 2021 0 comments

PRO14-bound Sharks agree takeover by US consortium MVM Holdings, who hold ties with Jay Z’s Roc Nation

Worcester secure major coaching coup in signing Crusaders coach Mark Jones

5 January 2021 2 comments

Welshman Jones was not able to return to New Zealand due to Covid-19 restrictions

PRO14 open discussions to add more South African franchises

23 September 2020 0 comments

Sharks, Lions, Bulls and Stormers could be joining at the PRO14 at the expense of the Cheetahs and Kings

Noah Lolesio stars in Brumbies Super Rugby AU triumph

21 September 2020 0 comments

The Brumbies have ended a 16-year wait for silverware with victory in the Super Rugby AU final over the Reds

Newcastle Falcons sign experienced South African scrum-half Louis Schreuder

16 September 2020 0 comments

One-time Springboks Schreuder worked with defence coach Nick Easter at the Sharks

Richard Cockerill eyes lock Andries Ferreira after semi-final heartache

9 September 2020 0 comments

A former Toulon second row has held talks with Edinburgh over a move to the PRO14

Rebels coach Geoff Parling zooms in to help hometown club Stockton

4 September 2020 0 comments

The Melbourne-based former England lock has been calling in to Stockton RFC while coaching the Rebels in Super Rugby AU

Ex-Leicester Tigers head coach Aaron Mauger leaves Highlanders

3 September 2020 0 comments

Only the Chiefs laid behind the Highlanders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings

Could Sonny Bill Williams Return to Rugby Union?

2 September 2020 0 comments

Things haven’t looked rosy of late for dual-code megastar Sonny Bill Williams. The All Black veteran of 58 caps crossed codes once more to take up […]

‘I know I can compete at Premiership level’ – Zac Guildford

20 August 2020 0 comments

Guildford’s downfall has been well-documented, but he looks to the likes of Danny Cipriani and Kurtley Beale to know your past doesn’t have to be your future