2024 was a bumper year for watching rugby by my standards as I attended twice as many  matches as I’ve ever seen in any previous year.

More importantly, it now gives me the opportunity for my first ever top 10 compilation post for rugby matches but before we get into the rankings list let me give a little shout-out to the two NEC Green Rockets players I met at the St. Patrick’s Day event in Yoyogi Park.

A few of these have had their own blog posts but the majority of them weren’t really considered to be worthy of a solitary post so I have collated them into this rankings list. As with my football compilation posts, it’s certainly not one to be taken too seriously as it’s based on a mixture of occasion, weather, people I met, and maybe even the rugby itself! Unlike the football compilations, the stadia won’t play too much of a part as they all took place at just four different stadiums!

10. Mie Honda Heat 21-50 Yokohama Canon Eagles @ Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Minato-ku (Tokyo), March 1st.

My first match of 2024, and therefore the one furthest back in my memory which may explain why it’s last! This was a rather one-sided match which was done and dusted far too early for my liking.

9. Teikyo University 48-28 Meiji University @ Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Minato-ku (Tokyo), November 17th.

It may have been mid-November but it was brutally sunny and I even got sunburned as I watched my first ever University rugby match. I knew such rugby was quite popular but really wasn’t expecting a huge crowd to be present which was more than for many of the professional matches seen at this ground.

8. Fiji 22-3 USA @ Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Minato-ku (Tokyo), September 14th.

International rugby is what it’s all about for me and eventual Pacific Nations Cup champions showed their class here in the first semi-final against the USA on an incredibly hot and sweaty summer evening.

7. Tokyo Sungoliath 31-31 Shizuoka Blue Revs @ Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Minato-ku (Tokyo), April 19th.

Tied matches in rugby are quite rare and this was my first time to witness such a draw. The process of getting there was pretty exciting too but as a neutral it felt a bit strange to walk away from this match without a winner.

6. Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks 41-33 Kyuden Voltex @ Yumenoshima Athletic Stadium,  Koto-ku (Tokyo), December 28th.

It was a long wait to finally see a match at this stadium, and it didn’t take long to see a try in the first minute; the quickest I’ve ever witnessed in person. A free bobble hat was included in the ticket and I got to meet (and have a long chat) wih former Leicester Tigers player Terrence Hepetema pre-match which was wonderful.

5. Waseda University 27-24 Meiji University @ Japan National Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), 1st December.

40,000 fans packed into the stadium for the 100th clash between these universities. Meiji were so close to winning it in the final play of the game but a wonderful tackle saved the day for Waseda.

4. Yokohama Canon Eagle 26-29 Kubota Spears @ Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Minato-ku (Tokyo), March 15th.

A fantastic climax to this occasion as Spears nicked it right at the death having once trailed by 18 points around the midway point of the second half. An unbelievable turnaround when it seemed like curtains for the 2023 league champions.

3. Japan 17-52 England @ Japan National Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), 22nd June.

It has long been my dream to see these two teams face off, and I was joined by two good friends for a wonderful day. The match wasn’t so amazing and was rather one-way traffic but small matters like that won’t stop me placing this one quite high in the rankings. More details here.

2. Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 24-20 Saitama Wild Knights @ Japan National Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), 26th May.

Going into this match, Saitama Wild Knights had a 100% record. Brave Lupus had only lost once, and that was of course to the Wild Knights but they got their revenge but you have to feel for a side that won every single match but failed to win the title! There were twists and turns aplenty at this fantastic play-off final match. More details here.

1. NEC Green Rockets vs. Toyota Shuttles @ Kashiwanoha Park, Kashiwa (Chiba Prefecture), 24th March.

A second tier match at number one but that had nothing to do with the on-the-field action although that was pretty good too, and indeed it was an explosive start before the home team took control.

After the match I waited around for about half an hour, and was the very last person in the main stand and absolutely desperate for the toilet when I met one of my rugby heroes. Freddie Burns is a Leicester Tigers rugby legend having scored the last minute drop-goal in the 2022 Premiership rugby final in England but is now plying his trade in Japan. This match certainly wasn’t his finest but to his credit he put on a brave face after the match and gave me about ten minutes of his time which he really didn’t need to. I will forever be grateful. More details here.

Click here to read ‘Rugby Fans Should “Try” & Visit This Themed Shrine In Kyoto!’

Click here to read ‘Witnessing History As England Play A Rugby Match In Japan For The First Time In 45 Years!’

Click here to read ‘Twists & Turns Aplenty At Japan’s Title-Deciding Rugby Play-Off Final’

Click here  to read ‘I Met A Leicester Tigers & England Rugby Union Legend’