9 decades of Japan Rugby

It has been nine decades of rugby in Japan. There are currently over 3,600 professional clubs in the country. Rugby is a key part of Japanese sporting culture. There is also a 55 million-strong audience watching the Brave Blossoms play rugby.

Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) is the only executive council member of World Rugby outside the six nations. Rugby was a little-known pastime for Keio University students as far back as 1899. It was organized by a central authority in 1926. JRFU is responsible for all of the national team's international activities and sponsors domestic tournaments.

Japan's first international rugby match was against Canada in January 1932. They won the match by a single point. Japan has played in the Rugby World Cup since its inception. It also hosted the tournament and made it to the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, they lost to South Africa.

Soccer and baseball enjoy the largest viewing audiences in Japan. An increase in the broadcast of domestic rugby competitions will spark more interest in rugby. Opening of betting pots with no deposit bonus and allowing fans to bet on the sport will also add a financial lure to audiences.

Rugby is an important part of the education curriculum in the top five rugby nations. Japan encourages participation in domestic tournaments and has over 5000 new players entering the fold each year.

Japan Rugby is exploring importing more foreign talent. Beauden Barrett was signed by Suntory Sungoliath. It is only a matter of time before you start seeing Japanese players in your local rugby union games.