World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 Won By Japan XV

The Japan XV were excellent value for their first World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 title in some years as they beat all three Pacific island teams convincingly in Apia, Samoa to lift the title.

The Japan XV ended the tournament with an emphatic 11-try, 65-15 win over Tonga A over the weekend with winger Kohaku Ebisawa scoring a hat-trick inside the first half an hour.

The win followed up consecutive bonus-point wins over Manuma Samoa 48-5 and defending champions Fiji Warriors 45-43 to claim the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024.

Fiji Warriors were runners-up in the Pacific Challenger 2024 after beating rivals Samoa A 43-18 over the weekend and Japan will face the side later this year in the World Rugby Trophy 2024.

Japan XV captain Yoshiaki Taian said via the JRFU: “Our team has grown stronger during our time together in Samoa, and I believe we are well prepared for the World Rugby Trophy.” That tournament will be played in Scotland from 2-17 July 2024, and Japan are pooled with Scotland, Hong Kong China and the Oceania qualifier – Fiji.

Japan XV Head Coach Naoya Okubo said after his team’s victory, “Im ecstatic that we achieved what we set out to do – winning the tournament undefeated. It was a tough tournament in a challenging environment… Looking ahead, the biggest goal of the year will be winning the World Rugby Trophy.”

Photo Credit: JRFU -World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024

New Senior Team Coaches Look On

Coaches from the participating nations’ senior test teams were present at the World Rugby-funded tournament, which features predominantly under-23 players as they look to unearth test stars of the future and throughout they witnessed some superb attacking rugby.

Head coaches from Tonga, Fiji, Japan and hosts, Samoa watched on as the teams featured predominantly under-23 players.

Japan’s senior side and 2024-appointed coach, Eddie Jones, has a number of tests to prepare for this year with the Brave Blossoms.

Fiji only recently announced that Drua Head Coach, Mick Byrne, will switch later this year from his current role in charge of the Fijian Drua Super Rugby team to take on the national side role.

In April 2024, Mase Mahonri Schwalger was also appointed as the new head coach of Manu Samoa, succeeding Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua, and Tonga announced early in 2024 that it had started looking for a new ‘Ikale Tahi head coach position which now has been filled by Tevita Tu’ifua, with former XVs captain, Nili Latu, as assistant coach.

Photo Credit: JRFU -World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024

Japan Rugby News 2024

• Japan XV Squad Confirmed For World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024.
• Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2024 Dates & Venues Locked In.
• Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Explained.
• JRFU Fixtures 2024 – Brave Blossoms, Japan XV, Sakura XV.