New Japan Rugby president named

Ex-Japanese rugby captain Shigetaka Mori was named the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) president.

In an article by Kyoto News, they confirmed Mori is now the president of the JRFU. He was previously the Vice President of the JRFU and a former national team captain. He replaces Tadashi Okamura.

Mori told the website: “I am determined to lead the sport in Japan. I hope the national team will move up one spot at a time in the world rankings, as Japanese rugby undergoes a baptism of fire at the professional level…I hope that in a few decades from now, the Japanese national team will compete for victory against powerhouses at a World Cup held again in Japan.”

Among the newly appointed vice presidents are Katsuyuki Kiyomiya, a former coach from Waseda University, Suntory Sungoliath and Yamaha Jubilo. The Japan men’s sevens coach Kensuke Iwabuchi is the new chairman.

JRFU problems in 2019

2019 has not been easy for Japan rugby. Honorary President Yoshiro Mori resigned in April and called for urgent reforms within the governing body. Yoshiro Mori was also Japan’s former Prime Minister and also cited health reasons in April. Age was one concern, however, the new president of the JRFU is 67 years old and was the only previous JRFU vice president under the age of 70.

We have previously mentioned some of the issues the JRFU has faced this year, including the Sunwolves being axed from Super Rugby, the recent drug busts of Toyota Verblitz players as well as the 7s team not retaining its core status in the HSBC World Sevens Series.

The Rugby World Cup 2019 kicks off in Japan this September.