JRFU Launches 2025 Programme To Grow New Generation of Analysts and Coaches

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) launched a new programme aimed at developing Japan’s next generation of professional rugby analysts and coaches with the programme conceived by two young analysts from the JRFU.

In March 2024, the JRFU hosted sessions to bring together student analysts and coaches from across Japan’s university rugby competition who participated in collaborative workshop environments and gained insights into the high-performance structures of Japan’s national teams and League One (JRLO).

In total, 42 participants from 24 universities were involved across two sessions, one held at the JRFU headquarters in Tokyo for students from the Kanto region, and another online for those from Kansai and Japan’s southern island of Kyushu.

The JRFU said that the programme was conceived by JRFU analysts Shumpei Hamano from the JRFU’s High Performance Division and Kenichi Murakami, Assistant Analyst for the Japan Men’s National Rugby Team after they identified an opportunity “to support and upskill analysts and coaches coming from the same environment.”

Shumpei Hamano said via the JRFU, “In the national team setup, we already work with some analysts from university rugby. Last year, the men’s Under-20s had two student analysts, and currently, two are supporting the Sakura Fifteens. Their involvement in national team environments is invaluable, both for their development and for us. While some university teams operate at a level comparable to League One sides, there are clear gaps in knowledge, experience, and resources, including equipment and technology, across different university teams.”

Photo Credit – JRFU

Long-term Impacts

Hamano of JRFU’s High Performance Division said, “University rugby is where most of our elite players come from, and it’s also the starting point for most analysts and coaches. While a lot of focus is placed on developing players, there has never been a structured programme dedicated to university team staff.

By supporting them, we not only enhance their capabilities but also directly contribute to raising the overall standard of university rugby. A stronger university competition ultimately means a deeper talent pool for League One and our national teams to draw from.”

The JRFU said the sessions held thus far had received positive responses from participants and that due to the university rugby serving as a foundation for Japan’s rugby, “strengthening the analytical and coaching support systems will play an important role in rugby’s continued growth.”

They are looking at making the programme an ongoing feature and that by “investing in the development of university analysts and coaches, Japanese rugby can build a stronger pipeline of talented analysts and coaches.

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