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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
That is the question fans of Shizuoka BlueRevs and Kobelco Kobe Steelers might be asking as their sides come together for the first of back-to-back meetings in Japan Rugby League One. While the result of Saturday’s examination won’t change a finishing order that requires an encore from the league’s fourth and fifth-placed participants on the opening day of the playoffs, the approach of the respective coaches, Shizuoka’s Yuichiro Fujii and Kobe’s Dave Rennie, will be fascinating.
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1 week ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith |Kubota Spears |Shizuoka BlueRevs |Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Mie Honda Heat will join Urayasu D-Rocks in the post season relegation series after they were beaten 38-30 by Toyota Verblitz in today’s crucial bottom-of-the-table clash in Japan Rugby League One. After a season punctuated by frustration, Steve Hansen’s side chose a good moment to produce one of their best halves of the season, rocking Heat with five tries in the first half to establish what proved an insurmountable 24-point lead.
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2 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
It might be the penultimate round but expect a few of the remaining details for the post-season in Japan Rugby League One to be inked in this weekend. The race for the top two could be settled, as could the identity of the sixth and final playoffs entrant. Further down the standings, Urayasu D-Rocks are already promotion/relegation series bound, but which of Toyota Verblitz or Mie Honda Heat joins them could be known by Sunday night.
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2 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
Former National Rugby League winger Valynce Te Whare continues to sparkle in Japan Rugby League One, scoring another near length-of-the-field try as Shizuoka Blue Revs’ dream run continued in today’s come-from-behind 38-28 win over Yokohama Canon Eagles.
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3 weeks ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
The perception of club rugby in Japan as a soft option might still exist, albeit in rapidly diminishing numbers, but two who would disagree are Sam Cane and Steve Hansen. Former All Black skipper Cane has had a less than satisfying introduction to Japan Rugby League One, with injury limiting the backrower’s involvement to six matches last term, and six thus far in the current campaign. Almost as disappointingly, the 33-year-old’s on-field record with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath has underwhelmed.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
TJ Perenara won the battle of the All Black scrumhalves as Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo scored a crucial 37-7 win over Toyota Verblitz to move to within four points of the playoffs positions in today’s Japan Rugby League One action. Aaron Smith’s side barely escaped the indignity of being held scoreless, with South African second rower Adre Smith crossing in 78th minute to spare their blushes in the Black Rams’ four-try-to-one victory.
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1 month ago | 
rugbypass.com | Matt McIlraith
It took 15 attempts before Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay finally beat Tokyo Sungoliath, with their historic 31-18 win two years ago, the first leg of what became a three-match wipeout of their previously invincible western Tokyo rivals. This included a 24-18 victory in the 2022-23 semi-finals, as the Frans Ludeke-coached outfit swept to a maiden national title in the second edition of Japan Rugby League One. The Spears have continued to boss Suntory in the time since.
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1 month ago | 
nit.com.au | Matt McIlraith
Wallabies Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi have added credit to their applications to play for Australia in this year's British & Irish Lions Test series with try-scoring doubles in Japan Rugby League One over the weekend. Koroibete showed his potency near the goal line with tries in each half as Saitama Wild Knights crushed Verblitz 55-17, while Kerevi's sixth and seventh of the season were both run in from near halfway during Urayasu D-Rocks' 33-22 defeat by Yokohama Eagles.
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1 month ago | 
au.news.yahoo.com | Matt McIlraith
Wallabies Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi have added credit to their applications to play for Australia in this year's British & Irish Lions Test series with try-scoring doubles in Japan Rugby League One over the weekend. Koroibete showed his potency near the goal line with tries in each half as Saitama Wild Knights crushed Verblitz 55-17, while Kerevi's sixth and seventh of the season were both run in from near halfway during Urayasu D-Rocks' 33-22 defeat by Yokohama Eagles.
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1 month ago | 
nit.com.au | Matt McIlraith
Former NRL stars Joey Manu and Marika Koroibete are set to square off in Japanese club rugby, with the stakes high for the Wallabies winger. Ex-Sydney Roosters ace Manu will start on the right wing for Verblitz, placing him in direct competition with former Melbourne Storm flyer Koroibete, who is on Saitama Wild Knights' left flank. Kiwi league international Manu has has scored nine tries in his maiden rugby union season, including one when Verblitz lost to the Wild Knights earlier in the year.
