Il Nuovo Postiglione - Japanese rugby U-turns on limits on naturalised players

Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) planned to introduce a new rule from next season that would limit the number of players in a matchday squad who had not completed at least six years of compulsory education in Japan, even if they were naturalised citizens.

Players who were born or fully schooled in Japan, or who had a Japanese parent or grandparent, would be assigned to a different category.

A group of 24 foreign-born players, including several who played in Japan's historic run to the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals on home soil, filed a complaint with the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the Tokyo District Court in April arguing that the rule would affect their livelihoods.

JRLO said it had decided to revise its planned eligibility rules and had reached a settlement with the players over their legal action.

"League One takes seriously the feedback received regarding this system change, as well as the fact that prior explanations and communication with all relevant parties were insufficient, and will reflect this in the future management of the league," it said in a statement.

The revised rules will see naturalised players continue to be registered in the same category as Japan-born players as long as they have held Japanese citizenship since May 2025 or earlier.

Many players born in countries like Australia and New Zealand move to Japan at a young age in search of a rugby career.

The group of players mounting legal action included several who helped Japan stun Ireland and Scotland on the way to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2019.

It was the first time an Asian country had ever reached the last eight.

E.Spicuzza--INP