Raising Rugby's Popularity in Japan

There's a friendly conspiracy taking place in the sporting world of Japan. In the future Rugby could well be the sport that regularly graces the newspapers, is played and replayed on television and is talked about at the local izakaya.

The JRFU (Japan rugby football union) would like rugby to become the fourth most popular sport in Japan after baseball, football and sumo. While rugby does not and most likely will not (for a while, at least) attract the level of attention given to the other popular sports, things are happening to raise rugby's profile here.

In December of last year the JRFU decided to put forward a bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the outcome of which will be known next year. Should Japan be successful it will be the first time a Rugby World Cup is held in Asia. In this part of the globe Japan is the best choice as host. She is, after all, the leading Asian rugby country and the focal point of rugby in Asia. JRFU hopes the international rugby board (IRB) will be influenced by a number of things when deciding on the host country for 2011.

Namely, Japan has the 4th largest number of registered rugby players on the planet (125,508), the Japanese government endorse and support the 2011 cup bid, commercially, Japan offers significant opportunities through established relationships with major corporations based here. Other countries vying to be host include South Africa and New Zealand, which are countries with strong rugby traditions.

You may think Japan doesn't have much of a chance against countries like these. However, JRFU spokesperson Akane Kawaga offers this for consideration “… the international board is looking to stage the event outside the traditional rugby countries to help internationalise the sport".

Rugby in Japan reached new heights last year with the introduction of Top League. Top League involves 12 company teams which are the best teams from around the country (see side bar). A fair amount of promotion and marketing was involved in launching Top League to the nation and there are some big-name sponsors involved. Add to this the inclusion of professional rugby players and coaches from countries where rugby thrives, bought here to boost the domestic game. Building rugby's fan base is a task J Sports have put their hand up for. J sports will show the opening game of the Tri Nations tournament 2005 with a “Beginners guide to rugby in Japanese” replacing the English commentary.

It will be some time before kids are replacing baseball bat and glove for rugby ball and boots to mimic their favourite sporting heroes. There's still a lot to be done to boost rugby's popularity in Japan. But know that work is in progress. Even internati-onal coaches want Japan to excel on the international stage. Eddie Jones, Coach of the Australian rugby side, says “it's got enormous potential … While they will always be the smallest side in the world … I think they have the potential to go forward …”

Text & Photos: Renee Karena