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[JRFU]
* The RWC 2019 Organising Committee started full-fledged activities as a general incorporated foundation.
* Yoshihiro Sakata (capped 16 times) became the 51st player inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame.
* The board meeting conducted on July 28 determined the nominees for the Distinguished Service Award (Yoshio Ryu and Yojiro Narita), the Award for Distinguished Service of Dissemination and Education (Seishiki Kidokoro), and the JRFU Award for Excellent Dissemination Activity (Ibaraki Pref., Oita Pref., Kyoto Pref., and Miyazaki Pref.).
[Japan]
Japan Gets Stronger through a European Tour
* April to May 2012: The Japan national team claimed their fifth consecutive title at the HSBC Asian Five Nations. Results: Japan 87-0 Kazakhstan, Japan 106-3 UAE, Japan 52-8 South Korea, and Japan 67-0 Hong Kong.
* June 2012 - IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012: The Japan national team finished losing all three matches with the results, Fiji 25-19 Japan, Tonga 24-20 Japan, and Samoa 27-26 Japan.
* Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2012: Japan XV suffered two losses to the French Barbarians with the results of 40-21 and 51-18.
Eddie Jones HC said: “This result shows us the reality as to where we are now. We have to move forward. Our target two years later is to defeat such teams as we met in this cup.”
* November 2011 - European Tour: Japan defeated Romania 34-23 and Georgia 25-22. Japan XV was defeated by Basque Selection Team 19-3 and by the French Barbarians 65-41. While the Japan national team defeated Romania and Georgia consecutively, Japan XV lost two matches. However, this tour provided fruitful experience.
[Rules]
* On April 20, the U15 Junior Rugby Competition Rules were revised, with the newly added safety standard and the dress code.
* On June 4, there was a notification about the experimental rules that would be implemented on a global scale by the IRB.
* The number of players registered for the National Athletic Festival was changed from 35 to 50.
[Japan Rugby Championship]
Suntory Claims the Third Consecutive Title: In the 50th Japan Rugby Championship, Suntory Sungoliath defeated the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers 36-20, and claimed their third consecutive title. The Kobelco Steelers advanced to the final for the first time in nine years, but Suntory Sungoliath ran away with the match with their precise attacks.
[Top League]
Suntory Sweeps All the Games: The Top League was launched on August 31, where 16 teams participated based on the two-pool and two-stage system. Suntory Sungoliath held Toshiba try-less (19-3) and claimed the league title by sweeping all games. While struggling with Toshiba's tenacious defence, Suntory Sungoliath did not allow Toshiba to make any try and defeated Toshiba with three tries made by WTB Daishi Murata and other players. George Smith was selected as the MVP for two consecutive years, and Kohei Yoshida (TOYOTA) was named the Rookie of the Year.
[University]
Teikyo Claims Four Consecutive Titles: In the 49th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Teikyo overwhelmed and defeated Tsukuba 39-22 by gaining complete control over the ball. Teikyo set an unprecedented record by claiming their fourth consecutive championship title. Teikyo, the champion, held off Waseda 38-10 in the semi-finals, whereas Tsukuba defeated Tokai by a hair, 28-26. Teikyo's head coach, Iwaide, said: “All the players were able to maintain ball control by constantly keeping it moving only because of building up their team skills.” Uchida, the captain of Tsukuba defeated by Teikyo, said: “It was totally frustrating, because our goal was to be the champion. Teikyo must have improved their contact strength since last December.” In the Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, A, all three universities, Tsukuba, Teikyo, and Meiji finished even with six wins and one loss. On goal differential, Tsukuba placed first, Teikyo placed second, and Meiji placed third. In the 1st section of the Kanto University Rugby League, Tokai claimed the league title while Ryutsu Keizai placed second. In Kansai, Tenri claimed the league title by defeating Doshisha 32-29. Fukuoka Institute of Technology became the Kyushu champion. Fukuoka University claimed the tournament title at the 63rd Regional Inter-University Rugby Tournament for the first time in nine years.
[Rugby Sevens]
* September 1 and 2: At the HSBC Asia Rugby Sevens Series held in Borneo, Japan claimed the title by defeating Hong Kong, 33-22, in the final.
* September - The Asia-Pacific Rugby Women’s Sevens Championship: Japan came up with a remarkable accomplishment by defeating Australia in the qualification round, finishing in 2nd place after losing to Australia in the final, 36-17.
* October 6 and 7 - The Women’s Rugby Sevens World Cup 2013 Asian Qualifier: Japan defeated Kazakhstan in the 3rd-place match and qualified for the World Cup.
* November 2 and 3: The Japan men’s national rugby sevens team defeated Hong Kong, 14-12, qualifying for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
* March 30 and 31, 2013 - The Tokyo Sevens of HSBC Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens Series: Japan finished in 2nd place in the shield tournament.
[Women's Rugby]
* May 19 - A test match: Japan 61-5 Hong Kong
* December 2: To prepare for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2014 in France, the Japan women's national team participated in the women's rugby three-nation matches held as the selection matches toward the Asian qualifying round.
[International]
* June: The Japan national team participated in the US round (Salt Lake City) of the Junior World Trophy 2012, finishing with three wins and one loss.
* July 11-13: In the 5th World University Championship in France, the Japan men's national rugby sevens team placed fifth in the cup tournament, while the Japan women's national rugby sevens team placed fourth in the same cup tournament.
[Other]
In the 92nd National High School Rugby Tournament, Josho Gakuen High School defeated Gose Jitsugyo High School 17-14 in the final and claimed their first-ever tournament title. They became the champion for the first time since they changed the school name from the High School of Osaka Institute of Technology. In the semi-finals, Josho Gakuen defeated Kokugakuin University Kugayama Senior High School 57-0, and Gose Jitsugo held off Meikei High School 48-17. In the 5th U18 East-West Rugby Tournament, the west defeated the east 64-7. Kobe City College of Technology won the 43rd All-Japan College Rugby Tournament, claiming their ninth tournament title for two consecutive years. The 14th National High School Invitational Rugby Tournament was held in Kumagaya between 30 March and 7 April 2013. Osaka Toin High School became the champion, and Tokai University Gyosei High School placed second. In the 67th National Athletic Festival held in Gifu, Mie Prefecture won the adult class by defeating Hiroshima Prefecture 41-21, while Osaka Prefecture won the juvenile class by defeating Fukuoka Prefecture 29-24. Rokko Fighting Bull won the 20th All-Japan Club Rugby Football Championship by shutting out the Hokkaido Barbarians 49-0.
[JRFU]
* The RWC 2019 Organising Committee started full-fledged activities as a general incorporated foundation.
* Yoshihiro Sakata (capped 16 times) became the 51st player inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame.
* The board meeting conducted on July 28 determined the nominees for the Distinguished Service Award (Yoshio Ryu and Yojiro Narita), the Award for Distinguished Service of Dissemination and Education (Seishiki Kidokoro), and the JRFU Award for Excellent Dissemination Activity (Ibaraki Pref., Oita Pref., Kyoto Pref., and Miyazaki Pref.).
[Japan]
Japan Gets Stronger through a European Tour
* April to May 2012: The Japan national team claimed their fifth consecutive title at the HSBC Asian Five Nations. Results: Japan 87-0 Kazakhstan, Japan 106-3 UAE, Japan 52-8 South Korea, and Japan 67-0 Hong Kong.
* June 2012 - IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012: The Japan national team finished losing all three matches with the results, Fiji 25-19 Japan, Tonga 24-20 Japan, and Samoa 27-26 Japan.
* Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2012: Japan XV suffered two losses to the French Barbarians with the results of 40-21 and 51-18.
Eddie Jones HC said: “This result shows us the reality as to where we are now. We have to move forward. Our target two years later is to defeat such teams as we met in this cup.”
* November 2011 - European Tour: Japan defeated Romania 34-23 and Georgia 25-22. Japan XV was defeated by Basque Selection Team 19-3 and by the French Barbarians 65-41. While the Japan national team defeated Romania and Georgia consecutively, Japan XV lost two matches. However, this tour provided fruitful experience.
[Rules]
* On April 20, the U15 Junior Rugby Competition Rules were revised, with the newly added safety standard and the dress code.
* On June 4, there was a notification about the experimental rules that would be implemented on a global scale by the IRB.
* The number of players registered for the National Athletic Festival was changed from 35 to 50.
[Japan Rugby Championship]
Suntory Claims the Third Consecutive Title: In the 50th Japan Rugby Championship, Suntory Sungoliath defeated the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers 36-20, and claimed their third consecutive title. The Kobelco Steelers advanced to the final for the first time in nine years, but Suntory Sungoliath ran away with the match with their precise attacks.
[Top League]
Suntory Sweeps All the Games: The Top League was launched on August 31, where 16 teams participated based on the two-pool and two-stage system. Suntory Sungoliath held Toshiba try-less (19-3) and claimed the league title by sweeping all games. While struggling with Toshiba's tenacious defence, Suntory Sungoliath did not allow Toshiba to make any try and defeated Toshiba with three tries made by WTB Daishi Murata and other players. George Smith was selected as the MVP for two consecutive years, and Kohei Yoshida (TOYOTA) was named the Rookie of the Year.
[University]
Teikyo Claims Four Consecutive Titles: In the 49th All-Japan University Rugby Championship, Teikyo overwhelmed and defeated Tsukuba 39-22 by gaining complete control over the ball. Teikyo set an unprecedented record by claiming their fourth consecutive championship title. Teikyo, the champion, held off Waseda 38-10 in the semi-finals, whereas Tsukuba defeated Tokai by a hair, 28-26. Teikyo's head coach, Iwaide, said: “All the players were able to maintain ball control by constantly keeping it moving only because of building up their team skills.” Uchida, the captain of Tsukuba defeated by Teikyo, said: “It was totally frustrating, because our goal was to be the champion. Teikyo must have improved their contact strength since last December.” In the Kanto Inter-University Rugby Tournament, A, all three universities, Tsukuba, Teikyo, and Meiji finished even with six wins and one loss. On goal differential, Tsukuba placed first, Teikyo placed second, and Meiji placed third. In the 1st section of the Kanto University Rugby League, Tokai claimed the league title while Ryutsu Keizai placed second. In Kansai, Tenri claimed the league title by defeating Doshisha 32-29. Fukuoka Institute of Technology became the Kyushu champion. Fukuoka University claimed the tournament title at the 63rd Regional Inter-University Rugby Tournament for the first time in nine years.
[Rugby Sevens]
* September 1 and 2: At the HSBC Asia Rugby Sevens Series held in Borneo, Japan claimed the title by defeating Hong Kong, 33-22, in the final.
* September - The Asia-Pacific Rugby Women’s Sevens Championship: Japan came up with a remarkable accomplishment by defeating Australia in the qualification round, finishing in 2nd place after losing to Australia in the final, 36-17.
* October 6 and 7 - The Women’s Rugby Sevens World Cup 2013 Asian Qualifier: Japan defeated Kazakhstan in the 3rd-place match and qualified for the World Cup.
* November 2 and 3: The Japan men’s national rugby sevens team defeated Hong Kong, 14-12, qualifying for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
* March 30 and 31, 2013 - The Tokyo Sevens of HSBC Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens Series: Japan finished in 2nd place in the shield tournament.
[Women's Rugby]
* May 19 - A test match: Japan 61-5 Hong Kong
* December 2: To prepare for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2014 in France, the Japan women's national team participated in the women's rugby three-nation matches held as the selection matches toward the Asian qualifying round.
[International]
* June: The Japan national team participated in the US round (Salt Lake City) of the Junior World Trophy 2012, finishing with three wins and one loss.
* July 11-13: In the 5th World University Championship in France, the Japan men's national rugby sevens team placed fifth in the cup tournament, while the Japan women's national rugby sevens team placed fourth in the same cup tournament.
[Other]
In the 92nd National High School Rugby Tournament, Josho Gakuen High School defeated Gose Jitsugyo High School 17-14 in the final and claimed their first-ever tournament title. They became the champion for the first time since they changed the school name from the High School of Osaka Institute of Technology. In the semi-finals, Josho Gakuen defeated Kokugakuin University Kugayama Senior High School 57-0, and Gose Jitsugo held off Meikei High School 48-17. In the 5th U18 East-West Rugby Tournament, the west defeated the east 64-7. Kobe City College of Technology won the 43rd All-Japan College Rugby Tournament, claiming their ninth tournament title for two consecutive years. The 14th National High School Invitational Rugby Tournament was held in Kumagaya between 30 March and 7 April 2013. Osaka Toin High School became the champion, and Tokai University Gyosei High School placed second. In the 67th National Athletic Festival held in Gifu, Mie Prefecture won the adult class by defeating Hiroshima Prefecture 41-21, while Osaka Prefecture won the juvenile class by defeating Fukuoka Prefecture 29-24. Rokko Fighting Bull won the 20th All-Japan Club Rugby Football Championship by shutting out the Hokkaido Barbarians 49-0.