TOKYO (March 12) – Japan Rugby Top League Rookies of the Year Keita Inagaki and Kyosuke Horie were among the seven uncapped players named Wednesday in a 40-man squad for the Asian 5 Nations.

TOKYO (March 9) – Panasonic Wild Knights added the Japan National Championship to the Japan Rugby Top League title they won earlier this season as the Japanese domestic rugby season came to a close.

TOKYO (March 1) – The finale of the Japan domestic rugby season will see Panasonic Wild Knights take on Toshiba Brave Lupus for the Japan National Championship following Saturday’s two semifinals in Tokyo and Osaka.

TOKYO (Feb. 23) – Kobe Kobelco Steelers and Toshiba Brave Lupus advanced to the last four of the Japan National Championship on Sunday on a day the Emperor and Empress of Japan graced the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

TOKYO (FEB. 22 ) – The 2013-14 Japan Rugby Top League season formally came to an end Saturday with NTT Communications Shining Arcs winning the final promotion/relegation playoff game of the season.

TOKYO (Feb.16) – Kobe Kobelco Steelers were the day’s biggest winners as the Japan National Championship got underway Sunday with four first-round games in Tokyo and Osaka.

OSAKA (Feb. 15) – NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes beat Honda Heat 41-29 Saturday in a promotion/relegation playoff game to ensure they remain in the Japan Rugby Top League.

TOKYO (Feb. 12) – Panasonic Wild Knights flyhalf Berrick Barnes was named Japan Rugby Top League MVP on Wednesday, a day after helping his side to the league title.

TOKYO (Feb. 11) – Panasonic Wild Knights won the Japan Rugby Top League final Tuesday beating Suntory Sungoliath 45-22 in front of 10,217 fans at a cold and windy Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

OSAKA (Feb. 8) – Yamaha Jubilo and Toyota Verblitz advanced to the All-Japan Championship on Saturday as the second round of the wild card tournament for the season-ending competition avoided the blizzard that caused the cancellation of Sunday’s Japan Rugby Top League final.