The Japan national rugby union team, also known as the Cherry Blossoms, the Brave Blossoms, or simply Sakura, represents Japan in men's international rugby union. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), which was founded in 1926. They compete annually in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC). They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup (RWC) since the tournament began in 1987, and hosted the event in 2019.
The United States men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States of America Rugby Football Union in men's international rugby union. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States, and is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
The Japan national rugby league team, nicknamed the Samurais, represents Japan in rugby league football. Japan have played some international competition since 1994. The Japanese National Cup, the JRL domestic club competition, was founded in 1998. In 2021 the season was restarted after a break for COVID with five teams in two divisions, three clubs in East Japan, the Abiko Ducks, Mitaka Spartans and South Ikebukuro Rabbitohs; and two clubs in West Japan, the Kamisenryu Sea Turtles and The Kansai Kaminari.
The Portugal national rugby league team is the national rugby league team of Portugal. The captain of the team is Parramatta Eels' hooker, Isaac de Gois and their coach is Mal Speers.
Kieran James Crowley is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who is the former head coach of Italy. He has also coached the New Zealand Under-19s in the 2007 World Championships as well as coaching provincial side Taranaki. He previously served as head coach of Canada. He also spent five seasons coaching Benetton Rugby.
Tsukuba International School is a private, non-profit school for English-speaking children in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It was established by the foreign community in 1992 in response to the need for an English education option for foreign students in the area. The school currently includes a preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school. As of September 2017, the school had 235 students in 14 grades, with 32 full-time staff and 7 part-time staff.
Schalk Burger Brits is a South African former professional rugby union player who last played for the South Africa national team and the Bulls in Super Rugby. He primarily played as a hooker. He was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning team. Brits holds the international record for oldest player to win a Rugby World Cup aged 38 years, 170 days in the final against England in 2019 a game in which he didn't play in.
Siyamthanda "Siya" Kolisi, is a South African professional rugby union player who currently captains the South Africa national team. Having formerly played for the Stormers and Sharks in South Africa, he currently plays for Racing 92 in the French Top 14. He generally plays as a flanker and a loose forward. In 2018, Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming the first black man to hold the position and eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England.
François de Klerk known by his nickname Faf, is a South African professional rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Japan Rugby League One club Yokohama Canon Eagles and the South Africa national team. He was a member of the South Africa teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023.
Taylor Flavio Paris is a Canadian rugby union player. He is currently signed with the Castres Olympique and also regularly plays for the Canadian Men's 15's and 7's teams. Previously Paris had played with Markham Irish Canadians, James Bay Athletic Association, Ontario Blues, Glasgow Warriors, Agen and also had a brief stint with Northampton Saints Academy.
Lolagi Visinia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or fullback for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented both New Zealand and Manu Samoa internationally.
Christopher Robert Eric Farrell is an Irish rugby union player for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax. He plays as a centre.
Alistair William Price is a professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh. Born in England, he represents Scotland at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Kazuki Himeno is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and captains the Japan national team.
Dylan Thor Richardson is a South African-Scottish international rugby union player. He plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. He is a utility forward that can play as a loose forward or a hooker.
Kirill Gotovtsev is a Russian rugby union player who generally plays as a prop represents Russia internationally. Previously a freestyle wrestler, bronze medallist of the 2010 Russian Championship, as well as an brakeman in bobsleigh.
Juan Diego Ormaechea is an Uruguayan rugby union player who generally plays as a number eight represents Uruguay internationally. He was included in the Uruguayan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup which is held in Japan for the first time and also marks his first World Cup appearance.
The 2021 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were rugby union test matches during October and November 2021, mainly involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. These international games counted towards World Rugby's ranking system, with teams typically playing from two to four matches in this period.
Tanya Jane Dearns is a New Zealand netball coach and former netball player. She played 31 international matches for the New Zealand team between 1990 and 1998, including at the 1991 World Netball Championships.
Giacomo Da Re is an Italian rugby union player. His preferred position is fly-half and fullback. He currently plays Zebre Parma in United Rugby Championship.
