JRFU Granted Additional Seat on World Rugby Council

The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to announce that following a World Rugby Board meeting today, a partial revision to World Rugby’s Bye-Laws (Article 9) was approved granting Japan an additional seat on the World Rugby Council. The change brings Japan’s total number of seats to three and follows World Rugby’s recent decision to reclassify the JRFU as a High Performance Union. This new categorisation sees Japan join the world’s ten largest national unions as the eleventh High Performance Union, in what was previously known as rugby’s Tier One nations.

Japan Rugby Football Union President Masato Tsuchida said:
“We are truly honoured that Japan has been recognised by World Rugby as a High Performance Union and that we can now stand alongside the world’s other top rugby nations. For almost 100 years, since its establishment in 1926, the JRFU has been working to promote and develop Rugby, supported by the contribution of people from all over Japan. We are proud to be included as a High Performance Union, the result of the long-standing efforts of many people, and we are determined to continue our important contribution to the development of Rugby in Japan, Asia and the rest of the world. I would like to thank all those who support the JRFU in our continued mission to make Japan the most accessible country in which to experience the wonderful sport of rugby.”

Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi said:
“We are delighted and honoured to be recognised as a High Performance Union. This major milestone in our history recognises the JRFU’s contribution to the development of the global game both on and off the field and we take great pride in being included in the same category as the SANZAAR and the Six Nations unions. This change will strengthen our presence on the World Rugby Council and further enhance our existing relationships with the other High Performance Unions. In line with our strategic plan, we will continue to raise the level of performance of our national teams, alongside the ongoing enhancement of our organisational and management structures, to ensure that we continue to make a meaningful contribution to the development of rugby in Japan, Asia and around the world. ”