Rugby Australia unveil new partnership with Japan Rugby Football Union

Rugby Australia (RA) announced on Friday that that they have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

The MOU will be in place until 2029 and is designed to build strong relationships between the two governing bodies while also developing the respective national teams, competitions and the rugby in general.

Great opportunity for both countries

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our two great nations to strengthen the ties that we already share – not only in Rugby, but across trade, tourism and diplomacy,” said RA chief executive Phil Waugh in a statement.

The new partnership between the two countries will include Wallabies and Australia A games against Japan in 2024 and 2025, as well as the aim to schedule Wallaroos-Japan fixtures between 2024-26.

The Wallabies last played in Japan in 2021 before their end-of-year tour, while the Wallaroos hosted Japan on the Gold Coast and Australia A claimed a 2-1 series win over a Japan XV in 2022.

The agreement will see the two countries look to formalise annual pre/post-season tours between Super Rugby and Japan Rugby League One clubs.

This has already taken place in 2022 as the Queensland Reds, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels faced Japanese clubs during the off-season.

It will cover all levels of the game as similar matches are also planned for U18, U20, and other age groups.

“We have seen tremendous growth in Japanese Rugby in recent years, and it is an exciting time for us to be more actively working within the region on growing the game in Australia and Japan,” said Waugh.

“In years to come, we will see more Australian sides playing Japan at home and away, from junior pathways to Test level across both the men’s and women’s game, as well as having our Super Rugby sides playing more games against Japan Rugby League One sides.”

JRFU chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi is delighted with the new partnership between his organisation and RA.

‘A long and friendly relationship’

“Japan Rugby and Rugby Australia have enjoyed a long and friendly relationship while developing rugby in the Asia Pacific region and we are honoured to be strengthening our partnership now, and for the future,” he said.

“We hope to further accelerate the growth of Japanese Rugby through our close association with Australian Rugby, which has one of the world’s most popular national teams in the Wallabies, and is constantly innovating in the business of sport.”

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