International Rugby Stars Flock to JRLO 2023-2024

(Following the RWC 2019 hosted in Japan, as many as seven All Blacks (including Barrett and Retallick)
played in the final Top League.

Ardie Savea will head to Kobelco Kobe Steelers in JRLO

Springboks – Now A Regular Feature in JRLO

The 2022 Springbok tour squad to Europe at the end of the 2022 season featured as many as ten players with current or recent Japan Rugby League One experience. Many playing this season also have a good chance of featuring at the RWC 2023.

• Pieter Steph du Toit (Verblitz)
• Malcolm Marx (Spears)
• Faf de Klerk (Eagles)
• Jesse Kriel (Eagles)
• Damien de Allende (Wild Knights)
• Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
• Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs)
• Franco Mostert (Mie Honda Heat)
• Francois Marais (Urayasu D-Rocks)
• Willie le Roux (XXX)

More International Rugby Stars to Join JRLO 2023-2024?

Several Wallaby stars have been playing in Japan including Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley,  Samu Kerevi, Sean McMahon, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Tom Banks, Marika Koroibete etc and that number is expected to grow.

With Eddie Jones’s strong connections to Japanese rugby, there are strong rumours suggests as the new Australian coach, he might drop the famous “Gitau Law” which could see more Australian players head to Japan and still be eligible for Wallaby selection.

The recent weekend also saw collaboration from a match official point of view – with Australians Nic Berry officiating a match between Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Toyota Verblitz, while Angus Gardiner oversaw the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars’ 27-all draw with the Shizuoka Blue Revs.

There is also a trend for more Argentine (Pablo Matera) and northern hemisphere participation (see our interview with Joe Launchbury, Greig Laidlaw and Hadleigh Parkes.)

Japan Rugby League One’s “mission to create one of the premier club competitions in world rugby is making eye-catching progress” and the League confirmed that more players from different countries are expected to be announced in the months to come.

We have not even touched on the high-calibre coaching talent currently operating in the JRLO from Directors of rugby, coaches and consultants which include Robbie Deans, Steve Hansen, Micheal Cheika, Todd Blackadder, Frans Ludeke etc.

Photo Credit: JRFU/JRLO – Australians Nic Berry (left) and Angus Gardiner officiated matches in the JRLO in 2023

Financial Stability in JRLO

Some of the key attractions for overseas players to compete in the Japan Rugby League One are the shorter seasons, but also the healthy salaries. Savea has been the bluntest of late, saying “Plain and simple – to set up my family. The money’s good, I’m not going to lie.”

It’s not been confirmed what the top players earn (with some wild numbers thrown around) – but the corporate-backed rugby union clubs in the JRLO are also meant to offer the financial security that players want (and avoid what happened to English clubs like Worcester and Wasps).

The clubs in the JRLO knew before entering the league what was required financially, and far enough some opted against joining (Coca-Cola Red Sparks).

JRLO Chief Operating Officer Hajime Shoji said at the start of the 2022-2023 season “Japan Rugby League One provides our clubs, and their parent companies, with a vehicle to help create this growth, while also rewarding their loyal corporate support with a greater company profile in the new markets we open”.

Culture – Highs and Lows

Another key attraction is the culture of Japan and the league. However, as we have seen (again) with the recent debacle surrounding the Hino Red Dolphins – this means adhering to all of the local customs and traditions, including clubs pulling out of fixtures for having their name tarnished.

This is not an isolated incident and the club suspended all activities immediately, “and it remains uncertain when, or if, the club will resume operations.”

Japanese media reported that the Hino Red Dolphins Director Tokuichi Shiga via an online press conference said, “We deeply apologise to everyone for the inconvenience”, and JRLO Executive Director Shoji Hajime  expressed concern about the impact on the League, adding, “Of course, there are various negative impacts.”

The actual incident that caused the latest issue is believed to have occurred in October 2022 but only came to light recently.

Asian Rugby Tournaments

• Asia Rugby – Partial 2023 Tournament Calendar.
• Best International 2023 Rugby Tournaments In Asia.
• Japan Rugby League One 2022-2023: JRLO Round 8 Preview.
• Japan High School Rugby Team to Tour For First Time In Four Years.