Tag Archives: Michael Leitch

Allez Les Bleus! France Provide a Reality Check for Japan at the World Rugby Nations Championship in Tokyo

Posted on July 19, 2026 by tokyofox

During all my time in Japan I’ve managed to see the majority of the top test-playing international rugby teams at some point but there have been a couple of notable absentees for a while. The title of this post reveals … Continue reading →

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The Inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship Begins in Front of a Packed Tokyo Crowd as Japan Hosts Italy

Posted on July 7, 2026 by tokyofox

“The miracle of Brighton” in 2015 helped propel Japan’s national men’s rugby team towards the upper echelons of world rugby. That famous win against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in England was one of the greatest upsets in … Continue reading →

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Witnessing History As England Play A Rugby Match In Japan For The First Time In 45 Years!

Posted on June 25, 2024 by tokyofox

Rugby in Japan was very much a minor sport when I first saw the national team in live action back in June 2005 as they were thrashed by Ireland. Things changed a decade later though on the back of that … Continue reading →

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Twists & Turns Aplenty At Japan’s Title-Deciding Rugby Play-Off Final

Posted on May 29, 2024 by tokyofox

At the end of a long league season, it is my opinion that the team finishing top should be crowned as champions. However, some sports have some money-spinning play-off matches to decide who the champions are. Since the turn of … Continue reading →

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The Good, The Bad & The Rugby! My Return To Kashiwa’s Secondary Stadium After 19 Years!

Posted on March 15, 2023 by tokyofox

Like many people in Japan I was keen to see some domestic rugby on the back of the country hosting a successful World Cup in 2019. However, Covid_19 came along and a lot of the momentum for rugby’s growth was … Continue reading →

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Japan & South Africa Meet For The First Time Since “That” Huge Shock In 2015

Posted on September 8, 2019 by tokyofox

  It was one of the biggest upsets in sporting history and helped propel rugby into the consciousness of a nation where the game had often just been a footnote on sports bulletins. I am of course talking about Japan’s … Continue reading →

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The Rise Of Rugby In Japan! The Brave Blossoms Play Scotland In Front Of A Record Crowd In Tokyo

Posted on June 25, 2016 by tokyofox

  Japan’s Brave Blossoms late injury time win over the giants of South Africa last year was undoubtedly the greatest shock in the history of the Rugby World Cup. Not only that but it was one of the biggest giant … Continue reading →

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