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Rugby is a collective name for the family of team sports of rugby union and rugby league, as well as the earlier forms of football from which both games, as well as Australian rules football and gridiron football, evolved.
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated in England in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends.
The Japan national rugby union team, often known as the Cherry Blossoms, Sakura, and more recently The Brave Blossoms 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 and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987.
Sir John James Patrick Kirwan is a New Zealand mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.
Craig Wing, also known by the nickname of "Wingy", is an Australian-born former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He began his career in rugby league, playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, representing Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin. He switched to rugby union, playing in Japan for the NTT Communications Shining Arcs and the Kobelco Steelers, earning selection for the Japanese national team after completing three years residency.
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in men's international rugby union competitions and it is governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and white. Canada is classified by World Rugby as a tier two rugby nation. Canada competes in competitions such as the Americas Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup.
The Hong Kong national rugby union team, nicknamed the Dragons, is one of the better rugby sides in Asia outside Japan, and has consistently made the repechages of the Rugby World Cup qualifying. Rugby union in Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong Rugby Union since 1952, and competes annually in the Asia Rugby Championship.
Rugby union in Japan is a moderately popular sport. Japan has the fourth largest population of rugby union players in the world and the sport has been played there for over a century. There are 125,000 Japanese rugby players, 3,631 official rugby clubs, and the Japan national team is ranked 7th in the world.
Sanchez William Genia, commonly referred to as Will Genia, is an Australian rugby union player, currently playing scrum-half for the Kintetsu Liners in Japan. He had previously played Super Rugby for the Queensland Reds (2007-2015) and Melbourne Rebels (2018-2019) and for Australia (2009-2019). He also had previously played for Stade Français in France's Top 14 Comp during 2015-2017.
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.
Willem Jacobus le Roux is a South African rugby union player. He is a versatile back-line player who generally plays as a fullback or wing, though earlier in his career he played mostly as a fly-half. He plays for the South Africa national team and for Toyota Verblitz in the Top League. He was born in Stellenbosch.
Pieter Hermias Cornelius 'Lappies' Labuschagné is a South African rugby union footballer who regularly plays as a flanker. He currently plays in the Japanese Top League with Kubota Spears and is currently playing for the Sunwolves. He represents Japan at international level having satisfied residency requirements.
Ruan Jacobus Combrinck is a South African rugby union player. He plays mostly as a wing. He plays for Stade Français in the Top14 in France. He previously played for the Lions in Super Rugby, the Golden Lions and Western Province domestically and Kintetsu Liners in the Japanese Top League.
Petrus Willem van der Walt is a South African rugby union player who represents Japan at international level and is currently playing with NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League. His regular position is lock or flanker.
Willem Stephanus Britz is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Japanese sides the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and NTT Communications Shining Arcs in the Top League.
Warwick John Tecklenburg is a former South African rugby union player, who played first class rugby between 2011 and 2016. He playing in Super Rugby for the Lions and domestically for the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls. He also played for Kamaishi Seawaves in the Japanese Top League East. His usual position is flanker.
Shota Horie is a Japanese rugby union player. His preferred position is hooker although he can also play in the back row. He represents Japan at the international level. He has played for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the domestic Japanese Top League competition, and in 2013 began playing Super Rugby with the Melbourne Rebels in Australia, but has since gone back to Japan to play for the Sunwolves.
Albertus Stephanus "Kwagga" Smith is a South African rugby union player for the South Africa national team, the Lions in Super Rugby and Yamaha Júbilo in the Japanese Top League. His regular position is flanker.
Matsushima Kotaro is a South African-born Japanese international rugby union player, currently playing for Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne and for the Japan national team. He is a utility back who can play as a winger, fullback or outside centre.
Amanaki Lelei Mafi is a Tongan-born, Japanese professional rugby union player who currently plays as a number 8 for the Japanese Sunwolves, Japan national rugby union team and the Bath Rugby Union team for a short period of time.
