Land of the rising guns: Japanese rugby is stronger than you think and presents RA and NZR with a big opportunity
In 1986, the South Pacific championship was founded. It was the first international competition at provincial/state level in the southern hemisphere. The Otago, Waikato and Northland provinces formed their own competition in 1989. In 1993, South Africa's re-entry from apartheid-enforced political and sports isolation allowed the competition to grow into a full-blown professional entity. Super Rugby was born in 1996. It took 10 years for the game to become financially sustainable and exciting for fans. A cross-border playoff with the top clubs from Japan Rugby League One need not wait 10 more years.
