Will anyone claim a hat-trick of Mastercard Player of the Match awards?
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyWe take a look at which players, and positions, have dominated the Mastercard Player of the Match awards at Rugby World Cup 2023. Five players have won multiple Mastercard Player of the Match awards at...
Japan: Rugby World Cup 2023 review
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyThe legacy, culture and dreams will be carried on - the Brave Blossoms’ dream of “getting to the top of the Everest” continues after losing their final pool match to Argentina. Abiding...
Match Preview: Japan v Argentina
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyThe equation is simple for both sides at Nantes on Saturday. Victory equals quarter-final qualification and a match next Saturday against the winner of Pool C in Marseille. The consequences of a defeat...
Fifita in for Naikabula on the wing - Japan name team to play Argentina
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyJapan head coach Jamie Joseph has announced his squad to face Argentina in Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Sunday 8 October. Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his matchday 23 to face Argentina...
Head coach Cheika, Bogado, Sclavi (ARG) - 'Players enjoy these situations'
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyComments from Argentina coach Michael Cheika, full-back Martín Bogado and prop Joel Sclavi on Tuesday ahead of their Pool D game against Japan on Sunday, 8 October. Michael Cheika, head coach On...
Japan reaction (head coach Joseph, captain Himeno, Lemeki, Leitch, Cornelsen, Naoto, Fukuda)
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyMIXED ZONE Michael Leitch, back rowOn how Japan are progressing:“Building up to the World Cup, we lost five games, against some quality opposition. But as the World Cup has gone on, we have grown...
Match Preview: Japan v Samoa
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyThere’s a lot at stake when Japan face Samoa at Stadium de Toulouse on Thursday. Two sides’ quarter-final hopes are on the line in a ferociously tight Pool D, in which a single point separates...
Riley starts at centre - Japan name team to play Samoa
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyJapan head coach Jamie Joseph has announced his match-day 23 for his team's Pool D match against Samoa on Thursday, 28 September. Dylan Riley starts at outside-centre in place of Tomoki Osada and Lomano...
Japan reaction (head coach Joseph, captain Himeno, Matsushima, Lemeki)
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyMIXED ZONE REACTION Kotaro Matsushima, winger On the Courtney Lawes try: "At that time we stopped playing, we thought it was a knock-on. We should have just kept playing. "That definitely changed the...
Rugby World Cup 2023 Match Preview: England v Japan
1 year ago by Ultimate RugbyVeteran Michael Leitch will become Japan’s most capped Rugby World Cup player when he runs onto the pitch at Stade de Nice for his 15th tournament match on Sunday. He is one of 13 survivors...
