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[JRFU] On 8 August, the JRFU executive director Takayori Tsuboi suddenly passed away, the treasurer Noboru Mashimo assumed the post of the executive director, and an executive board member Hiroaki Shukuzawa assumed the post of the treasurer. On 1 April, the Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation officially joined the JRFU.
[Rules] A new rule revision defined that “all kick-offs must be drop kicks”. This revision also defined that “a red card results in an ejection, and a yellow card results in a temporal ejection”.
[Japan] * The Japan national team had test matches during the international month of May, inviting the Russia and Tonga national teams, won against Russia, and lost to Tonga.
* In the Asian Three Nations Tournament, the Japan national team had a big win. The three-nation tournament was held, in which the top three nations of the Asia Rugby Championship had matches at home and away, and the third nation switched places with the top of the lower group. Japan claimed the title, beating South Korea and Chinese Taipei.
* The Japan national team played in the 14th Asian Games held in Ulsan, South Korea, and lost to South Korea 45-34 failing to get the gold medal again.
* Japan sent the Japan selection team as the national team to the 18th Asia Rugby Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand, because of their tight schedule. The Japan selection team fought hard all through the championship; however, they lost the final against South Korea by a narrow margin of 20−22.
* The JRFU sent the Japan national team to Australia to strengthen the team for the 5th World Cup. Even while test matches were not set up, the Japan national team won the first match against the Reds but lost badly in the second match 52-22, followed by their losses against the ACT Brumbies Runners 89-22, and the Sydney team 80-47.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 40th Japan Rugby Championship, NEC led by head coach Osamu Ota beat Suntory 36−26 claiming their first championship title.
[University] In the 39th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Waseda defeated Kanto Gakuin 27−22 claiming their 11th championship title and for the first time in 13 years. In the 73th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Waseda won all their seven matches claiming their 27th tournament title for two years in a row. In the 36th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their seventh league title for four consecutive years. In the 74th Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches claiming their 43rd league title and for the first time in two years. In the 10th Kyushu University Rugby League, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya met Fukuoka University in the final after both teams won all their matches. Kanoya achieved a dramatic win against Fukuoka University 31-29, winning all their seven matches, and claimed their first title in the 19th year since the club foundation.
[Company] In the 55th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, which was the last season since companies transitioned to the Top League from the next season, Suntory beat Toshiba Fuchu 38−25 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[Women's Rugby] In the 4th Women's RWC in May, the Japan women's national team won against Netherlands 37−3, and lost to Spain, Italy, and Ireland having one win and three losses. They finally finished in 14th place out of 16 teams. The Canterbury Women's team from New Zealand came to Japan with two wins.
[International] In April, the Japan A team toured New Zealand with three wins and one loss. In May, the Japan national team Squad toured New Zealand for a training camp with one win and one loss. In August, the UK Saracens came to Japan and had matches, beating Fukuoka Sanix 66−17 and Suntory 61−42. In June, the Japan U21 national team played in the 1st U21 RWC and finished in 9th place with three wins and two losses. In the 5th UK-Japan University Matches in September, Oxford University had two wins and one draw: Oxford 23-23 Waseda, Oxford 38−30 Keio, and Oxford 41-33 Kanto Gakuin. In January, the Japan U19 national team played in the 7th U19 Asia Rugby Championship and lost to South Korea 14-10 finishing in second. In February, Keio toured the UK and France with one win and two losses. In March 2003, the Japan U18 national team tour, which was supposed to be the 28th time, was canceled due to the influence of the Iraqi war by the United States and the United Kingdom.
[JRFU] On 8 August, the JRFU executive director Takayori Tsuboi suddenly passed away, the treasurer Noboru Mashimo assumed the post of the executive director, and an executive board member Hiroaki Shukuzawa assumed the post of the treasurer. On 1 April, the Japan Women's Rugby Football Federation officially joined the JRFU.
[Rules] A new rule revision defined that “all kick-offs must be drop kicks”. This revision also defined that “a red card results in an ejection, and a yellow card results in a temporal ejection”.
[Japan] * The Japan national team had test matches during the international month of May, inviting the Russia and Tonga national teams, won against Russia, and lost to Tonga.
* In the Asian Three Nations Tournament, the Japan national team had a big win. The three-nation tournament was held, in which the top three nations of the Asia Rugby Championship had matches at home and away, and the third nation switched places with the top of the lower group. Japan claimed the title, beating South Korea and Chinese Taipei.
* The Japan national team played in the 14th Asian Games held in Ulsan, South Korea, and lost to South Korea 45-34 failing to get the gold medal again.
* Japan sent the Japan selection team as the national team to the 18th Asia Rugby Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand, because of their tight schedule. The Japan selection team fought hard all through the championship; however, they lost the final against South Korea by a narrow margin of 20−22.
* The JRFU sent the Japan national team to Australia to strengthen the team for the 5th World Cup. Even while test matches were not set up, the Japan national team won the first match against the Reds but lost badly in the second match 52-22, followed by their losses against the ACT Brumbies Runners 89-22, and the Sydney team 80-47.
[Japan Rugby Championship] In the 40th Japan Rugby Championship, NEC led by head coach Osamu Ota beat Suntory 36−26 claiming their first championship title.
[University] In the 39th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Waseda defeated Kanto Gakuin 27−22 claiming their 11th championship title and for the first time in 13 years. In the 73th Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, Waseda won all their seven matches claiming their 27th tournament title for two years in a row. In the 36th Kanto University Rugby League, Kanto Gakuin won all their seven matches claiming their seventh league title for four consecutive years. In the 74th Kansai University Rugby League, Doshisha won all their seven matches claiming their 43rd league title and for the first time in two years. In the 10th Kyushu University Rugby League, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya met Fukuoka University in the final after both teams won all their matches. Kanoya achieved a dramatic win against Fukuoka University 31-29, winning all their seven matches, and claimed their first title in the 19th year since the club foundation.
[Company] In the 55th Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, which was the last season since companies transitioned to the Top League from the next season, Suntory beat Toshiba Fuchu 38−25 claiming their third championship title for two years in a row.
[Women's Rugby] In the 4th Women's RWC in May, the Japan women's national team won against Netherlands 37−3, and lost to Spain, Italy, and Ireland having one win and three losses. They finally finished in 14th place out of 16 teams. The Canterbury Women's team from New Zealand came to Japan with two wins.
[International] In April, the Japan A team toured New Zealand with three wins and one loss. In May, the Japan national team Squad toured New Zealand for a training camp with one win and one loss. In August, the UK Saracens came to Japan and had matches, beating Fukuoka Sanix 66−17 and Suntory 61−42. In June, the Japan U21 national team played in the 1st U21 RWC and finished in 9th place with three wins and two losses. In the 5th UK-Japan University Matches in September, Oxford University had two wins and one draw: Oxford 23-23 Waseda, Oxford 38−30 Keio, and Oxford 41-33 Kanto Gakuin. In January, the Japan U19 national team played in the 7th U19 Asia Rugby Championship and lost to South Korea 14-10 finishing in second. In February, Keio toured the UK and France with one win and two losses. In March 2003, the Japan U18 national team tour, which was supposed to be the 28th time, was canceled due to the influence of the Iraqi war by the United States and the United Kingdom.