News On Japan

Japan and Fiji to join European rugby union tournament

Aug 03 (newsonjapan.com) - Fiji and Japan will be among the teams lining up alongside the Six Nations in a hastily organized eight-team international competition that will be held this autumn.

The tournament was organized as a way to compensate for the affected European tour schedule after sports got suspended. The tournament is expected to offer the greatest rugby action in months, with punters at Betway88 happy about the prospects of wagering on the games.

According to BBC reports, the tournament will take over the end-of-year European tours by Southern hemisphere teams before the international rugby union can get a way forward. The competition will kick off on 14th November this year, barely two weeks after the completion of the postponed Six Nations tournament.

Unfortunately, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia won’t be available for test plays, as they’ll be busy with the delayed Rugby Championship scheduled for October. That means Italy and Ireland will be playing six tests, which is double their normal autumn load.

England will be starting their campaign against the Barbarians on 25th October, though World Rugby has authorized a one-off extension on the set rules on releasing the players. In the surprise tournament, England is placed in the same group as Ireland, Wales and Fiji. The other pool features Scotland, France, Japan and Italy.

In each group, the teams will play against each other until the final weekend when every team will face off against the side corresponding to their position in the other group. That means rugby punters at Betway will have plenty of opportunities to wager and enjoy competitive rugby action.

Japan has a huge disadvantage, considering that they cancelled their league earlier in February and their next season doesn’t kick off till January next year. On the other side, England’s summer series was cancelled, though they were due to play Ireland and Scotland in November.

The tournament will be held for four weekends consecutively, with the last game staged on 5th December. No venue has been unveiled yet, though the schedule will be ratified next month. Nonetheless, several countries have been considered to host, including New Zealand, for their success in containing the pandemic in the country.

Georgia was also considered for hosting due to their efforts to reach the quarter-finals during the World Cup last year. However, Japan is considered as the greater commercial attraction as the unions are in dire need of revenue. That might come off as a disadvantage for Fiji, considering that a good number of their players are based in England.

There are no official announcements on whether the games will be staged behind closed doors, or fans will be allowed to attend. Currently, not many countries are allowing fans to attend games in stadiums, though France, Italy, Ireland and England expect fans to move back to watch games in stadiums by October. However, Wales aren’t expecting fans to be back in stadiums until next year. Additionally, the stadiums will only allow limited fans.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The latest model of Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system, Michibiki, often referred to as the Japanese version of GPS, has been unveiled.

Digital human technology, set to be featured in a pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo next April, was unveiled by media artist Yoichi Ochiai.

Warner Bros. Studio Japan has announced the recall of the 'Godric Gryffindor's Sword,' a piece of merchandise sold at the Harry Potter-themed interactive facility in Nerima Ward, Tokyo.

A Japanese researcher behind the development of next-generation 'perovskite solar cells' expressed confidence that the product will be available to the public within two to three years.

A new hot spring facility, touted as the largest in Kanto, opened this autumn in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Featuring saunas, gourmet collaborations, and private relaxation spaces, the complex has already garnered attention from enthusiasts.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

Remains of what is thought to be the largest building of the late 7th century have been discovered at the Asuka Palace site in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture. It is believed to have been the residence of an emperor.

Concerns have grown around the Harumi Flag area, the former Olympic Village turned residential complex, where a series of mysterious key boxes have been found.

Toxic pufferfish were sold without removing poisonous parts in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, prompting authorities to issue a warning and request product returns.

A man in Fukuoka Prefecture who was arrested for breaking into aafter admitting to trespassing over 1,000 times, citing the adrenaline rush as the primary motivation.

Kozo Iizuka, a former senior official convicted in a 2019 car crash in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, that killed two people and injured nine others, has died at the age of 93. Iizuka passed away in October, reportedly due to natural causes.

Touchless harassment, a form of obscene behavior that does not involve physical contact, is drawing increasing attention in Japan. Last month, Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested a man for persistently sniffing a girl's hair.

The 'Itami Madan' festival promoting multicultural harmony across national boundaries was held on Saturday in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, featuring the 'janggu,' a traditional Korean drum.

A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.