Japan keen to join Rugby Championship

After Japan’s heroics at the 2019 World Cup where they reached the quarter-finals of their home tournament, it has been a quiet and underwhelming period for them ever since then.

WATCH: RASSIE SETS SIGHTS ON 2023 WORLD CUP!

JRFU CEO, Kensuke Iwabuchi, has recently said Japan are in talks with both the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship as they hope to find a new tournament to be part of where they could enjoy more regular Test game time.

Japan feel time zones would suit them best in Rugby Championship

“For our national teams to have not played for the best part of two years has had a huge impact,” Iwabuchi, a former Japan international, told the JRFU website.

“We definitely need to be involved in regular international competition, otherwise we cannot expect to maintain consistently strong sides.

“Europe has the Six Nations and the Southern Hemisphere have the Rugby Championship.

“We’re in discussions with both competitions, but while Japan is technically in the Northern Hemisphere, from a time-zone perspective we’re closer to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific nations, so it probably makes sense to connect with their competitions.”

Meanwhile, with South Africa’s leading local franchises having already made the move to the northern hemisphere in the United Rugby Championship, many believe it’s time for the Boks to exit the Rugby Championship and join an expanded Six Nations.

It appears an unlikely prospect for the foreseeable future considering Sanzaar revealed last year that the Boks were part of a commitment among all the Rugby Championship partners until 2030.

However, highly-respected former Test coach Ian McGeechan is the latest high-profile pundit to add his voice in support of a possible shift in thinking.

“The obvious next step is for some sort of integrated season which sees the Springboks join the Six Nations to make it the Seven Nations,” McGeechan wrote in a column for The Telegraph towards the end of last year.

“Financially it is in the interests of everyone, and it will also be beneficial in terms of raising standards for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy.

“The example of the British & Irish Lions shows it also has the potential to be embraced by supporters as well, with fans travelling down to South Africa for a long weekend.

“I have to admit that I’m biased and that it’s a prospect which excites me. I love South African rugby, and think it brings so much to the game. I’d love to see those links grow stronger still, although I can imagine it’s not a prospect that will be greeted enthusiastically in Auckland and Sydney,” he added.

OPINION | CURWIN BOSCH SHOULD GRAB OPPORTUNITY ABROAD