Japan qualifiers as Asia 1 RWC 2011

Japan are regulars at Rugby World Cups. Ever present since the first in 1987, they have so far recorded only one match win, that coming in 1991, though they did manage a draw against Canada last time out 12-12.

You'd think that rugby wouldn't be an ideal sport for the generally diminutive race, but as you were probably told many times as a child "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" and Japan love putting that to the test.

Relying still on some imports, especially to fill back row positions and the 10 slot, Japan is now bringing some exciting new blood through,with the bulk of the home grown squad having 15 caps or less.

Ranked 13th in the world, Japan had to qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2011 and did so with ease, they had a 100% record in the Asian 5 Nations the new qualifying group, scoring heavily in all their games.

Japan's Rugby World Cup shirt Japan will launched a new shirt for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and we will bring it to you as soon as it is launched. We expect it will hold true to the red and white colours normally associated with Japan, though the styling will subtly change again. The Japan Home Rugby Shirt is made by Canterbury but does not have the high level of sophistication applied to Australia and the other top tier nations. To place your order and view other Japanese shirts visit the Japan Shirts page.

Japan Feature In Pool 'A'

With their solitary rugby world cup win in six tournaments, the Japanese are under no illusions when it comes to their chances in New Zealand 2011. As they line up in pool A against Canada, France, hosts New Zealand and Tonga. Where they will do very well to win any games, their best chance probably being Canada.

Japan News

Asia 5 Nations Champions Japan - Japan 94-5 Hong Kong - Japan win the Asia 5 Nations and qualify as Asia One for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand by beating Hong Kong 94-5

Fiji last gasp win - Fiji 40 Japan 39 - Fiji and Japan put on a masterclass of adventurous running rugby at the National Stadium in Suva to bring a thrilling end to the 2009 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup

Japan enters Rugby World Cup race for 2015/19 - Japan has officially submitted a bid to host the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup

Japanese U20 Squad for Wales in June - We bring you here the U20 Japan squad named by manager Takashi Hasunuma: Masataka Mikami, Koichi Nitta, Shinsuke Ono, Keiichi Tanaka, Ryuhei Arita, Motoki Yamazaki, Takaya Kato, Pohiva Lotoahea, Keisuke Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Murata, Eiri Nakada, Michael Leitch, Shohei Maekawa, Hiraoki Sugimoto, Shuhei Oshima, Mizuki Yanagihara, Ryohei Yamanaka, Shingo Yoshida, Aisea Havea, Takuya Nakajima, Katsuyuki Sakai, Yasutaka Sasakura, Kanzo Nakahama, Takamasa Okubo, Tsuyoshi Iguchi and Daisuke

Canada team versus Japan - Canada head coach Ric Suggitt has announced his team to play Japan in the IRB Rugby World Cup Pool B match at Chaban Delmas Stadium, Bordeaux on Tuesday