日本語 Español
[JRFU] The JRFU reorganised itself by appointing Tetsuro Machii as the 11th chairperson, Hiroshi Hibino as the vice chairperson, and Takayori Tsuboi as the executive director. The JRFU decided to launch the Top League. To achieve their vision, the JRFU decided to restructure company rugby in order to launch an across-the-nation rugby league, the Top League, in 2003. Accordingly, this restructuring discontinued the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, which had been supported by Asahi Shimbun, with the 55th championship as the final championship. The participants in the Top League, 12 teams, would be determined by their results during the 2002 season.
[Japan] The Asian Three Nations Tournament sponsored by IRB was held, also as the preliminary qualifying round for the 5th RWC, and Japan claimed the title by beating South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Results: Japan 27-19 South Korea and Japan 65-15 Chinese Taipei.
* In the first match, Suntory won against the Wales national team which was invited by the JRFU by a score of 45−41. This was the only match ever in which a Japanese team won against the Wales national team. The Japan national team was not able to beat Wales. Wales had a match also against the Japan selection team 33−22.
* The 6th Pacific Rim Championship changed its main system into a tournament method where the four nations of Japan, Canada, Samoa, and Fiji competed as a tournament. In the final, Fiji won against Samoa and claimed the title. The Japan national team lost to Samoa and won against Canada finishing in third place.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 39th Japan Rugby Championship, Suntory beat Kobe Steel 28−17 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[University] In the 38th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin held off Waseda 21−16 claiming their fourth championship title for two years in a row. In the 72nd Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Waseda won all of their seven matches claiming their 26th tournament title and for the first time in 11 years. In the 35th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their sixth league title for three years in a row. In the 73rd Kansai University Rugby League, even while Ritsumeikan and Doshisha tied with six wins and one loss before the final, Ritsumeikan won the match between both of them and claimed their second league title and for the first time in 55 years. In the 9th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka University won all their seven matches and claimed the league title.
[Company] In the 54th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Suntory beat Kobe Steel 50−31 claiming their second championship title and for the first time in six years.
[Women Rugby] In August, the Japan women's national team toured New Zealand with two losses, and in March, they toured Canada with one win and one loss.
[International] In April, the New Zealand University selection team (NZU) came to Japan for the ninth time with three wins and one loss. In April, the Canterbury University team from New Zealand came to Japan with one win and three losses. In September, the Auckland selection team from New Zealand came to Japan with one win and two losses. In the 4th UK-Japan University Matches, Cambridge had two wins and one loss: Cambridge 32-20 Keio in September, Cambridge 24-19 Hosei, Kanto Gakuin 30-18 Cambridge. In November, the Australia national high-school team came to Japan with one win. In December, the 6th U19 Asia Rugby Championship was held. The Japan U19 national team lost to South Korea in the final by a score of 5−13. In February, All Waseda toured England and Ireland with three wins and three losses.
In March, the Japan U19 national team played in the 34th Junior Rugby World Championship (Italy), and finished 13th place. In March 2002, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 27th time to Tonga and came back with one win due to the local abnormal weather, high-temperature, and humidity.
[JRFU] The JRFU reorganised itself by appointing Tetsuro Machii as the 11th chairperson, Hiroshi Hibino as the vice chairperson, and Takayori Tsuboi as the executive director. The JRFU decided to launch the Top League. To achieve their vision, the JRFU decided to restructure company rugby in order to launch an across-the-nation rugby league, the Top League, in 2003. Accordingly, this restructuring discontinued the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, which had been supported by Asahi Shimbun, with the 55th championship as the final championship. The participants in the Top League, 12 teams, would be determined by their results during the 2002 season.
[Japan] The Asian Three Nations Tournament sponsored by IRB was held, also as the preliminary qualifying round for the 5th RWC, and Japan claimed the title by beating South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Results: Japan 27-19 South Korea and Japan 65-15 Chinese Taipei.
* In the first match, Suntory won against the Wales national team which was invited by the JRFU by a score of 45−41. This was the only match ever in which a Japanese team won against the Wales national team. The Japan national team was not able to beat Wales. Wales had a match also against the Japan selection team 33−22.
* The 6th Pacific Rim Championship changed its main system into a tournament method where the four nations of Japan, Canada, Samoa, and Fiji competed as a tournament. In the final, Fiji won against Samoa and claimed the title. The Japan national team lost to Samoa and won against Canada finishing in third place.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 39th Japan Rugby Championship, Suntory beat Kobe Steel 28−17 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[University] In the 38th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Kanto Gakuin held off Waseda 21−16 claiming their fourth championship title for two years in a row. In the 72nd Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Waseda won all of their seven matches claiming their 26th tournament title and for the first time in 11 years. In the 35th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their sixth league title for three years in a row. In the 73rd Kansai University Rugby League, even while Ritsumeikan and Doshisha tied with six wins and one loss before the final, Ritsumeikan won the match between both of them and claimed their second league title and for the first time in 55 years. In the 9th Kyushu University Rugby League, Fukuoka University won all their seven matches and claimed the league title.
[Company] In the 54th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, Suntory beat Kobe Steel 50−31 claiming their second championship title and for the first time in six years.
[Women Rugby] In August, the Japan women's national team toured New Zealand with two losses, and in March, they toured Canada with one win and one loss.
[International] In April, the New Zealand University selection team (NZU) came to Japan for the ninth time with three wins and one loss. In April, the Canterbury University team from New Zealand came to Japan with one win and three losses. In September, the Auckland selection team from New Zealand came to Japan with one win and two losses. In the 4th UK-Japan University Matches, Cambridge had two wins and one loss: Cambridge 32-20 Keio in September, Cambridge 24-19 Hosei, Kanto Gakuin 30-18 Cambridge. In November, the Australia national high-school team came to Japan with one win. In December, the 6th U19 Asia Rugby Championship was held. The Japan U19 national team lost to South Korea in the final by a score of 5−13. In February, All Waseda toured England and Ireland with three wins and three losses.
In March, the Japan U19 national team played in the 34th Junior Rugby World Championship (Italy), and finished 13th place. In March 2002, the Japan U18 national team toured abroad for the 27th time to Tonga and came back with one win due to the local abnormal weather, high-temperature, and humidity.