Japan Rugby News

Harry Wilson holds no grudges against their coach Eddie Jones with the Wallabies skipper saying his omission from the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad was a turning point for his career

Wales' first win in 644 days ended a horror run of 18 straight Test losses and gave their next permanent coach a fighting chance of success at the 2027 World Cup. At last, the long, long wait is over for Welsh fans.

As a former Wales player, I couldn't have previously admitted this, but I loved watching Eddie Jones's press conferences. They were the highlight of my week.

NIK SIMON AT TWICKENHAM: The Japan coach was involved in a bust-up at half-time of England's 59-14 victory, immediately reporting the abuse to stadium staff.

NIK SIMON: He hopped off the Japan team bus he didn't look like someone who wanted to stop and reflect: there were no wistful looks around the cold, empty stands.

CHRIS FOY: England can't lose against Japan and they won't lose, but the predicament they find themselves in appears to have left Steve Borthwick reluctant to experiment, when he could have done.

England's summer Test matches have arrived and it begins with The Red Roses travelling to Tokyo for their first international fixture since the Six Nations. Here is what you need to know.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: The national coach will have caught his former Red Rose boss, Eddie Jones, off-guard with the unprecedented ploy to reveal his hand four days before the showdown.

CHRIS FOY IN TOKYO: In an unprecedented move, the national coach has opted to announce his line-up 48 hours before the usual Thursday slot ahead of a Saturday fixture.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The similarities between the two teams are striking. Both are packed with exciting young players blessed with brilliant, natural ability.

ALEX BYWATER: New plans for a World Club Cup to begin in 2028 should be welcomed by rugby fans on the proviso it does not place further demands on the players in terms of game time and welfare.

ALEX BYWATER: England have been warned they will face a revitalised and even better Ardie Savea this summer when they take on New Zealand in a mouthwatering two-Test series.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: It has been a decidedly murky process, but while anyone selling Eddie Jones voodoo dolls in Australia will be doing a roaring trade, he is back in charge of Japan.

Unsurprisingly, Wallabies fans are not impressed with the conduct of the coach who quit in October after overseeing their embarrassing campaign at the Rugby World Cup in France.

The Japanese rugby federation confirmed the sport's worst kept secret on Wednesday in announcing Jones's return to the position he flourished in between 2012 and 2015.

Eddie Jones will face a mouthwatering showdown with his former side England next year after he was finally confirmed as the new head coach of Japan.

Despite vehemently denying speculation that he was interested in returning to the Brave Blossoms , Jones is expected to be confirmed as the new coach after resigning from Australia.

EXCLUSIVE BY ALEX BYWATER: He will also take in the historic European Challenge Cup match between Georgia's domestic side Black Lion and English side Gloucester on Saturday.

Taking on the Pumas will ensure that the four-nation touring team will have some meaningful, competitive game-time before making the trip to Australia.

Eddie Jones is in line for a 2024 reunion with former side England after he admitted for the first time he would be interested in coaching Japan again.

Jones, 63, denied reports claiming he had held talks with Japan rugby bosses ahead of the World Cup in France, with the Australian in charge of the Wallabies at the time.

Eddie Jones has revealed he will be back in rugby 'very shortly' after his second spell in charge of Australia came to a disastrous end last month.

Jones, 63, resigned from his post on Sunday, admitting he 'got the timing wrong' and 'had to eat s***' during a turbulent 10 months in charge in which he won just two games.

The Wallabies coach oversaw a disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign in which the Wallabies were dumped out at the pool stage, with Wales and Fiji advancing to the knockout rounds.

A number of Wallabies staff have been let go by Rugby Australia following the team's disastrous World Cup campaign, including highly-respected team manager Chris Webb.

Eddie Jones has confirmed that he's staying on as coach of the Wallabies and has committed to taking the side to the next World Cup amid speculation about his future.

The 63-year-old reportedly held talks with the Brave Blossoms before the World Cup and reports in Japan suggest he is expected to take over, despite becoming Wallabies coach earlier this year.

Jones reportedly underwent a secret interview before the tournament kicked off, while Japanese media claim that he is expected to ditch the Wallabies for the Brave Blossoms.

Jones strenuously denied the rumours, labelling them 'bulls*** and gossip', but now Japanese sports website Sponichi claims Jones is expected to takeover and leave Australia.

CHRIS FOY: Everyone with an interest in Australian rugby and others within the sport want to know, definitively, what Eddie Jones 's plans are - and he is adamant that he is not moving on.

Prior to Australia's chastening 40-6 defeat by Wales, reports questioning Jones' loyalty to his nation emerged amid allegations that he was interviewed for the top job with Japan before the tournament.

Jamie Joseph's side lost nine of ten matches heading into this year's tournament but could make the knockout stages in an overseas competition for the first time if they overcome Argentina.

England have officially qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals as Japan's victory here means Steve Borthwick's side are guaranteed to finish top of Pool D.

The big hits just keep coming for Eddie Jones and his team as their 40-6 drubbing by Wales sees them hit new depths. Australia need a miracle to avoid setting an unwanted World Cup record.

IAN HERBERT: When Eddie Jones' devastated young Australian players formed a huddle after the World Cup annihilation by Wales on Sunday night, he was not there.

It has been revealed that under-fire Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was secretly interviewed by Japanese rugby officials just days before the start of the Rugby World Cup in France.

Marler posted a tongue-in-cheek TikTok comparing his headed exploits to Cristiano Ronaldo's famous header, and in his post-match conference he claimed to draw inspiration from Brighton.

With England 13-12 to the good, Marler played a key role in assisting Courtney Lawes' score, with George Ford's pass flying through Will Stuart's hands and cannoning forward off the prop 's head.

NIK SIMON IN NICE: Steve Borthwick's side are now two wins from two in France but this was not a performance that will strike fear into their heavyweight rivals.

Recap Mail Sport's live blog for all the latest as England face Japan in their second game of the Rugby World Cup .

MIKE BROWN: This could be a stroll in the park for the Springboks . They've rotated their team but they've got so much strength in depth.

NIK SIMON - RUGBY CORRESPONDENT IN NICE: With the thump of tennis balls providing a steady beat in the background, George Ford is talking about Roger Federer.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I'm a huge fan of Farrell and have argued for him to start at No 10, but the most important aspect you have to master when coaching at international level is selection.

The side got off to the perfect start last weekend against Argentina, with George Ford stealing the show for the Red Roses.

CHRIS FOY: Victory in their second Pool D fixture will effectively clinch a place in the last eight, as the result against Chile in Lille six days later is a foregone conclusion.

Should England clinch victory in Nice, they'll look a foregone conclusion for the knockout rounds with only Chile left to swat aside en route to the quarter finals with three wins.

CHRIS FOY IN NICE: Steve Borthwick's national team were propelled towards victory in their World Cup opener against Argentina by a salvo of three deadly drops by George Ford.

The fact England are significant underdogs for their World Cup pool opener with Argentina shows just how far the national team has fallen.

This year's tournament is scheduled to take place in France, with South Africa looking to successfully retain the trophy.

CHRIS FOY: Japan are England's second opponents in the round-robin phase, in Nice on September 17, and in theory they are regarded as a significant threat.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: They have not only let their women's team down, but also women's sport by not choosing a female successor to Middleton. Once again, it shows the RFU's lack of vision.

England have confirmed their former men's assistant coach John Mitchell will take charge of their hugely successful women's side as successor to Simon Middleton.

Eddie Jones has checked in with his Japan-based Wallabies and says Quade Cooper is on target for the Rugby World Cup, with the veteran playmaker back in action as soon as this weekend.

Powerful No 8 Hughes won 22 Test caps in the white shirt and had club stints at Wasps, Bristol and Bath before joining Japan Rugby League One side Ricoh Black Rams last year.

Damian McKenzie is the latest world star to decide to ply his trade in Japanese rugby and he certainly won't be the last with the Far East now the go-to destination for the globe's best players.

Stuart Hogg's first-half touchdown against the Brave Blossoms took him clear on his own on a day when he also became the Scots' fourth most capped player.

IRELAND 60-5 JAPAN: Andy Farrell's men were in dominant mood in Dublin and warmed up for next weekend's showdown against New Zealand by producing some scintillating rugby.

Glasgow's 25-year-old tighthead had been due to start against the Brave Blossoms at his national stadium, but he has been withdrawn from the pre-tour fixture as a precaution.

Eddie Jones was in Tokyo on Tuesday when he discovered that his hunch was right. The national coach claimed to have predicted the prospect of his current team taking on his previous one.

CHRIS FOY: Eddie Jones won't have any complaints about Monday's World Cup draw as England have been given a promising pathway towards the later stages of the 2023 tournament.

Eddie Jones' sidewere handed a dream draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, paired with Japan and Argentina as hosts France will face the All Blacks. South Africa will face Scotland and Ireland.

Premiership clubs will begrudgingly agree to the emergency 'Eight Nations' plan for the autumn on the proviso it never is played again.

EXCLUSIVE BY WILL KELLEHER: Eddie Jones' men were set to take on New Zealand, Argentina, Australia and Tonga in November, but cross-hemisphere matches are not possible.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It is as if some clubs have not noticed that the pandemic has had a more debilitating effect on this country than any event since World War II.

A player exodus from Britain to Japan is in prospect, after former England fly-half Freddie Burns announced a move to the Far East and other high-profile names are set to follow him.

EXCLUSIVE BY WILL KELLEHER: Wayne Pivac's side were due to play Japan in Shizuoka on June 27 before jetting down to New Zealand for a two-Test series shortly afterwards.

Jamie Joseph guided Japan to the quarterfinals of the recent Rugby World Cup, which made him a favorite among a field of 26 candidates to take over from Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach.

The SRU was reprimanded following comments made by chief executive Mark Dodson during the World Cup in reference to a match against Japan potentially being cancelled.

The Scottish Rugby Union has been formally reprimanded and fined £70,000 for comments made by chief executive Mark Dodson (pictured) during the World Cup.

EXCLUSIVE: Japan could receive a shock invitation to join the Six Nations, following their success as hosts of the Rugby World Cup, which could see tournament expand beyond Europe.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES IN TOKYO: England are set to play Japan's World Cup heroes at Twickenham next year with the RFU in talks about staging an additional autumn international.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: We can only thank Japan for everything they have brought to the tournament: their handling skills, passing and pace. It was like watching rugby for the first time again.

MARTIN SAMUEL IN TOKYO: Handre Pollard turned to his left and hoofed the ball into the crowd. He did not allow the narrative to breathe one second longer than was necessary.

Rugby World Cup hosts Japan take on South Africa today in the quarter-final as they look to progress to semi-finals to take on Wales or France. Follow LIVE ACTION RIGHT HERE.

On the office wall of the Japan Rugby Federation in Kita-Aoyama, there is a photograph of their now president, Shigetaka Mori, skipping around the then England captain Bill Beaumont.

NIK SIMON IN TOKYO: With his face lit up by the flash of cameras, Japan coach Jamie Joseph began to explain how his team are writing their own story. They face South Africa on Sunday.

The Rugby World Cup kicked off four weeks ago today and now, via 50 pool stage matches, we are down to eight teams. Sportsmail tells you all need to know about the quarter-finals.

CHRIS FOY IN BEPPU: BSteve Borthwick helped orchestrate Japan's 'miracle' win over South Africa four years ago and now he is savouring the hosts' emergence as a force at this World Cup.

NIK SIMON IN TOKYO - SPECIAL REPORT: Wherever the Brave Blossoms travel, a samurai warrior goes with them to serve as a reminder of what they set out to achieve.