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3 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
Different methods, same goal. James Harrington’s excellent description on RugbyPass recently of the changes the LNR leadership are seeking for the Top 14 in France, by pulling back salary cap credits that give the superclubs who stockpile internationals a huge advantage, is a different approach to the recent eligibility changes announced by Japan Rugby League One, but the intent is the same. Levelling the playing field while encouraging club’s to further develop and promote local talent.
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3 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
And so, in a season where Richie Mo’unga has won just about everything, he’s won something else. Or two things, with the fly-half named as both the Most Valuable Player in Division One, and Player’s Player at Monday’s Japan Rugby League One awards ceremony. The accolades are not new to the All Black. This time last year, they were also being bestowed on him, 24 hours after collecting his maiden League One title with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
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3 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo have held off a fast-finishing Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay 18-13 in today’s decider to become the first side to win two titles in Japan Rugby League One. Led by another accomplished performance from All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga, who largely controlled proceedings, Brave Lupus dominated much of the game but were unable to completely break free thanks to a resolute Spears’ defence.
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4 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
Samu Kerevi has been the key man for Urayasu D-Rocks all season, so it was no surprise that he stepped up again when it mattered by scoring two tries to help his side retain Division One status after a nervous 27-21 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi today. Following a thrilling 43-42 win in the opening leg last week, the Division Two side made a great start, jumping to a 14-0 advantage after the first quarter, but the supremacy didn’t last.
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4 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
This time twelve months ago, former Tasman, Crusaders, Bath and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo coach Todd Blackadder had never won a title as a professional coach. On Sunday the ex-All Black captain is in great shape to win a second, with his side poised to become the first in Japan Rugby League One to go back-to-back. Standing in the way are their title predecessors, Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
There was a time in Japan Rugby League One when Richie Mo’unga appeared immortal. After arriving last year with seven Super Rugby titles already on his CV, and announcinghimself to excited Japanese crowds with a further championship, fans were probably entitledto start thinking: ?? guy ???????????????? (“Does this guy ever lose”?)Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka BlueRevs answered that question when they dominatedMo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 34-28 in January.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
All Black flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx were the toast of Tokyo after they led their sides into the Japan Rugby League One decider following inspirational semi-final performances over the weekend. Mo’unga, who will be looking to add a second League One title to his seven in Super Rugby, appeared to have the ball on a string at times as he orchestrated Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo’s 31-3 demolition of Kobelco Kobe Steelers yesterday.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
There might be other business at hand, but Wallabies-hopefuls Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete are also running out of time to impress Joe Schmidt as Japan Rugby League One enters its penultimate weekend. Kerevi, who has been one of the players of the season across the league, will suit up for Urayasu D-Rocks on Saturday as they seek to avoid relegation in the first leg of their series against Division Two champions, Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
Collectively, there are nine Super Rugby titles and seven in Japan Rugby League One amongst the four coaches going head-to-head in this weekend’s semi-finals in Tokyo. But which man will have added another to their CV in two weeks’ time? Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights mentor Robbie Deans leads the way for silverware won, with five Super Rugby titles at the Crusaders, and five in Japan, but his South African opponent in Sunday’s semi-final has also succeeded in both competitions.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
The fairlytale is over for Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka BlueRevs after they were felled 35-20 by Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the opening quarter final of Japan Rugby League One. The competition’s Cinderella story, the BlueRevs won 14 games in qualifying to finish the regular season fourth, but the tone was set for yesterday’s elimination contest from the kick off when Kobe forced a turnover by denying Shizuoka the opportunity to clear the ball from a maul.
