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[Japan]
* In the fourth Pacific Rim Championship, a round-robin system was adopted with six new nations: Japan, the United States, Canada, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. In this championship which was held prior to the World Cup in the autumn, Japan lost to Fiji, but won against the other four countries claiming their first cup title with four wins and one loss, which provided great expectations for the RWC.
* Japan decided to have matches against South Korea every year to accelerate development rugby in both nations. In the first year, both nations had tight schedules; therefore, the match was held between selection teams from both nations. The Japan selection team won by a score of 22-15.
* The Spain national team came to Japan and had two matches. The Japan national team held their heads high as they won the test match 30−7. Spain was not energetic probably because of the hot weather. Spain also lost against the Japan selection team 71-12.
* The 4th Rugby World Cup was held in Wales, the UK, and France at the newly renovated Cardiff Millennium Stadium as the main venue. The Japan national team, which participated in the world cup four times in a row, had three consecutive losses against Samoa, Wales, and Argentina resulting in elimination in the qualifying round.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 37th Japan Rugby Championship, Kobe Steel beat TOYOTA 49−20 in the final and became the Japanese champion for the eighth time and for the first time in five years.
[University] In the 36th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Keio beat Doshisha 25−19 in the semi-final and defeated Kanto Gakuin 27−7 in the final, claiming their third championship title and for the first time in 14 years. In the 70th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Keio won all their seven matches claiming their eighth tournament title and for the first time in 15 years. In the 33rd Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin had six wins and one loss, the same result with Ryutsu Keizai, then won the final against Ryutsu Keizai claiming their fourth league title and for the first time in two years. In the 71st Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches and got the title back, becoming the champion for the 41st time and for the first time in three years. In the 7th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka won all their seven matches and claimed their fourth consecutive title.
[Company] In the final of the 52nd Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Kobe Steel won the Kobe final against World 35−26 claiming their eighth championship title and for the first time in five years.
[International] In April, NZU came to Japan for the eighth time with two wins and two losses. In July, the Waikato team from New Zealand came to Japan and defeated the Japan selection team (Aomori) 70−32. In June, the Kanto team toured Australia with two wins and two losses. In June, the Kansai company selection team toured Chinese Taipei with one win. In the 2nd UK-Japan University Matches in September, Cambridge had one win and two losses: All-Kanto Gakuin 45-19 Cambridge, All-Doshisha 40−33 Cambridge, and All Keio 42-21 Cambridge. In March 2000, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 25th time to Wales and France with one win and four losses.
[Japan]
* In the fourth Pacific Rim Championship, a round-robin system was adopted with six new nations: Japan, the United States, Canada, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. In this championship which was held prior to the World Cup in the autumn, Japan lost to Fiji, but won against the other four countries claiming their first cup title with four wins and one loss, which provided great expectations for the RWC.
* Japan decided to have matches against South Korea every year to accelerate development rugby in both nations. In the first year, both nations had tight schedules; therefore, the match was held between selection teams from both nations. The Japan selection team won by a score of 22-15.
* The Spain national team came to Japan and had two matches. The Japan national team held their heads high as they won the test match 30−7. Spain was not energetic probably because of the hot weather. Spain also lost against the Japan selection team 71-12.
* The 4th Rugby World Cup was held in Wales, the UK, and France at the newly renovated Cardiff Millennium Stadium as the main venue. The Japan national team, which participated in the world cup four times in a row, had three consecutive losses against Samoa, Wales, and Argentina resulting in elimination in the qualifying round.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 37th Japan Rugby Championship, Kobe Steel beat TOYOTA 49−20 in the final and became the Japanese champion for the eighth time and for the first time in five years.
[University] In the 36th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Keio beat Doshisha 25−19 in the semi-final and defeated Kanto Gakuin 27−7 in the final, claiming their third championship title and for the first time in 14 years. In the 70th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Keio won all their seven matches claiming their eighth tournament title and for the first time in 15 years. In the 33rd Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin had six wins and one loss, the same result with Ryutsu Keizai, then won the final against Ryutsu Keizai claiming their fourth league title and for the first time in two years. In the 71st Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches and got the title back, becoming the champion for the 41st time and for the first time in three years. In the 7th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka won all their seven matches and claimed their fourth consecutive title.
[Company] In the final of the 52nd Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Kobe Steel won the Kobe final against World 35−26 claiming their eighth championship title and for the first time in five years.
[International] In April, NZU came to Japan for the eighth time with two wins and two losses. In July, the Waikato team from New Zealand came to Japan and defeated the Japan selection team (Aomori) 70−32. In June, the Kanto team toured Australia with two wins and two losses. In June, the Kansai company selection team toured Chinese Taipei with one win. In the 2nd UK-Japan University Matches in September, Cambridge had one win and two losses: All-Kanto Gakuin 45-19 Cambridge, All-Doshisha 40−33 Cambridge, and All Keio 42-21 Cambridge. In March 2000, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 25th time to Wales and France with one win and four losses.