bbc sportnationalities of the japanese rugby team

Leitch, star wings Kotaro Matsushima and Kenki Fukuoka, number eight Kazuki Himeno and fly-half Yu Tamura are among those exposed to some of the best rugby outside the Test arena.īut, after 2020, the Sunwolves are no more. Many of the Japan team play together at the Sunwolves.įormed in 2016, the team is part of the Super Rugby competition, taking on the elite provincial sides in the southern hemisphere.

They are growing their knowledge base and they are growing home-grown coaches to take the game forward.' Sun sets on the Sunwolves The Sunwolves celebrated a 30-15 win over the Waikato-based Chiefs in March, one of only two victories from 16 games in this year's Super Rugby

'Japan sent their people around the world to learn how to do certain skills, they import the knowledge. 'Getting into the quarter-final and to world number six on the way is an excellent achievement and there are gaps in the market all over,' said former England fly-half and BBC Radio 5 Live analyst Paul Grayson. Perhaps his successor could come from within. However, his departure paved the way for Joseph and a new set of ideas. The current England coach arrived at Twickenham after masterminding Japan's famous win over South Africa at the 2015 tournament. But they would have liked to retain Eddie Jones as well. Japan's rugby bosses would doubtless like to keep Joseph. 'I can't tell you,' said Joseph, for his part, when asked about his future in the wake of defeat by the Springboks. 'Our mentality has changed since Jamie became head coach,' added centre Ryoto Nakamura. 'The reason that this team has changed is because of Jamie Joseph, in how he led us and how he taught us rugby,' said captain Michael Leitch. The testimonies from within the camp have been glowing. Japan's well-drilled, united displays won't have harmed the credentials of head coach Jamie Joseph and his lieutenants Tony Brown and Scott Hansen should any vacancies arise. And there may yet be more upheaval elsewhere. New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Wales are all losing a head coach at the end of the tournament. So, after making their debut in the knock-out stages, how do Japan make sure they are a regular fixture at the business end of tournaments to come? The coaching question Joseph, who represented both New Zealand and Japan during his playing career, 'changed Japan's mentality' After sweeping Ireland, Scotland and all the rest before them in the Pool A, the Brave Blossoms were ultimately well beaten by South Africa in the last eight.Ī scoreline of 26-3 revealed that, for all the distance travelled, Japan still have a way to go before they are genuine contenders for a global crown.

Bbc sportnationalities of the japanese rugby team