men’s rugby
japan rugby league one
Former Rugby World Cup champion and recently appointed Kobelco Kobe Steelers head coach Andy Ellis is set to make his professional coaching debut against Toyota Verblitz, led by ex-All Blacks head coach Ian Foster, during the opening round of the sixth Japan Rugby League One season on December 12.
The newly appointed coach takes over from Dave Rennie at the reigning titleholders, collaborating with Wayne Smith, the former director of rugby who is stepping into an advisory role for the club’s new leader.
This pairing revives the highly successful partnership that guided Kobe to glory in 2018, when Smith oversaw the campaign and Ellis served as team captain in a season capped by a dominant 55-5 victory over Tokyo Sungoliath in the championship match.
Brodie Retallick, honored as the League One Player of the Year last season, is set to lead the squad once more as captain.
While key All Blacks players Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown will not be back, Kobe have bolstered their roster with valuable acquisitions, including Springboks halfback Grant Williams and former All Blacks outside back George Bridge.
South Africa
New Zealand
Williams stands among ten Springboks from rugby’s most iconic rivalry scheduled to play in Japan, alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit—who marked his milestone 100th international appearance during South Africa’s 33-26 triumph over New Zealand in Cape Town—as he heads back to Verblitz.
The All Blacks duo of scrum-half Aaron Smith and winger Mark Telea will stay with Toyota as the franchise targets its maiden postseason berth since the inception of League One.
Exciting Australian talent Mark Nawaqanitawase is poised to make his first appearance when the Saitama Wild Knights face Jasper Wiese’s Urayasu D-Rocks, a team that delivered a major shock last season by defeating the competition’s first-ever champions.
Prior to arriving in Japan, Nawaqanitawase is focused on securing a Premiership title during the National Rugby League playoffs with the Sydney Roosters.
Keisuke Sawake, who previously coached the Sunwolves and Yokohama Canon Eagles, has made his return to Sungoliath, the team he led to their last championship triumph back in 2017.
The Fuchu-based outfit, having secured the services of Ireland international winger James Lowe, will kick off their campaign against a resurgent BlackRams Tokyo side featuring TJ Perenara.
With All Blacks Samipeni Finau and Stephen Perofeta arriving to fill the void left by Faf de Klerk and Liam Coltman, the Eagles are set to start their season in a Kanagawa derby clash with the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars.
Sagamihara are set to welcome back Springboks winger Kurt-lee Arendse, following his impressive seven-try stint on loan with the team two seasons back.
Last year’s finalists, the Kubota Spears, have bolstered their forward pack with Springbok lock Ruan Nortje and will play their first match against the Shizuoka BlueRevs, who have brought in Wallabies center Hunter Paisami to replace Charles Piutau.
Major transitions define both the Tochigi Honda Heat and Toshiba Brave Lupus ahead of their encounter, with the Heat relocating to Tochigi under new leadership, as South African coach Marius Goosen takes over from Kieran Crowley.
For the first time in four seasons, Brave Lupus will be missing Todd Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga; the head coaching duties have been assumed by former assistant Josh Symes, who will be supported by Harlequins icon Nick Evans.
In addition, Springbok outside back Aphelele Fassi, Scotland loose forward Jack Dempsey, and versatile All Black David Havili have arrived to join the competition.
However, the most significant lift comes from the return of Brave Blossoms captain Warner Dearns, who is chasing his fourth consecutive trophy after securing a Super Rugby title with the Hurricanes alongside Toshiba’s consecutive League One championships.
The tournament features 18 rounds, including four rest weeks, comprising a total of 206 matches before the three-week postseason begins, culminating in the championship final scheduled for June 6.
