Paea starts at number eight - Tonga announce team to play South Africa
6 months ago by Ultimate RugbyTonga head coach Toutai Kefu has named his match-day 23 to face South Africa in Stade de Marseille on Sunday 1 October, with Semisi Paea starting at number eight in place of the suspended Vaea Fifita, following...
Japan reaction (head coach Joseph, captain Himeno, Lemeki, Leitch, Cornelsen, Naoto, Fukuda)
6 months ago by Ultimate RugbyMIXED ZONE Michael Leitch, back rowOn how Japan are progressing:“Building up to the World Cup, we lost five games, against some quality opposition. But as the World Cup has gone on, we have grown...
Match Preview: Japan v Samoa
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyThere’s a lot at stake when Japan face Samoa at Stadium de Toulouse on Thursday. Two sides’ quarter-final hopes are on the line in a ferociously tight Pool D, in which a single point separates...
Riley starts at centre - Japan name team to play Samoa
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyJapan head coach Jamie Joseph has announced his match-day 23 for his team's Pool D match against Samoa on Thursday, 28 September. Dylan Riley starts at outside-centre in place of Tomoki Osada and Lomano...
England get a heads up to beat Japan
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyEngland are top of Pool D after beating Japan 34-12 at Stade de Nice on Sunday.The teams went into the break with England 13-9 ahead courtesy of Lewis Ludlam’s early score and the boot of Mastercard...
Rugby World Cup 2023 Match Preview: England v Japan
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyVeteran Michael Leitch will become Japan’s most capped Rugby World Cup player when he runs onto the pitch at Stade de Nice for his 15th tournament match on Sunday. He is one of 13 survivors...
Michael Leitch sets Brave Blossoms record
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyJapan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his match-day squad to face England in Pool D at Stade de Nice on Sunday, 17 September, with back-row Michael Leitch on course to make his 15th Rugby World Cup appearance. 1...
Japan v Chile: Match Preview
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyChile, the lowest-ranked side to qualify the 2023 tournament, make their Rugby World Cup debut against a Japan side that sit eight places above them in World Rugby's rankings. The South Americans have...
Japan name team to play Chile
7 months ago by Ultimate RugbyJapan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his match-day 23 to face Chile in Toulouse on Sunday. 1 Keita Inagaki 2 Atsushi Sakate 3 Jiwon Gu 4 Jack Cornelsen 5 Amato Fakatava 6 Michael...
Brave Blossoms named to Take on Italy Ahead of RWC
8 months ago by Ultimate RugbyWith only two weeks remaining until Rugby World Cup 2023 kicks off in France, Japan Head Coach, Jamie Joseph has today named his Brave Blossoms side to take on Italy in Treviso, this Saturday, 26 August...
