Japan Rugby League One’s status as one of world rugby’s premier competitions has never been stronger, after a landmark few days for it’s international players.
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The biggest statement came when Kobelco Kobe Steelers back-row Ardie Savea was confirmed as the first All Blacks captain to be selected while playing his club rugby in Japan, highlighting the league’s growing influence on New Zealand’s national team.
Savea’s appointment capped a remarkable 48-hour period for League One. Less than two days earlier, Brave Blossoms captain Warner Dearns helped guide the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby Pacific title in a decade, before a Springbok squad containing nine current League One players was announced for the inaugural Nations Championship.
A further two South Africans are also set to join the competition ahead of next season.
League One chairman Genichi Tamatsuka believes the rapid rise of the competition has exceeded even the league’s own expectations.
“It’s quite remarkable how quickly the influence of League One has grown,” said Tamatsuka. “Five years ago, when we started, one of the goals was to promote rugby in Japan to the world, but who could have believed League One’s profile as a home for the game’s elite could grow so quickly?
“It’s a credit to the clubs, the coaching staff and everyone involved in developing players, while our league staff deserve enormous recognition for building a competition that is now making its mark on the world stage.
“Players want to come and experience Japan, and our supporters want to see them. That is reflected in the fact that each of our last three finals has attracted crowds of more than 50,000.”
Dearns joins exclusive club
Dearns’ Super Rugby triumph also strengthened League One’s credentials as a genuine launching pad for elite international players. The 24-year-old became just the fourth player to win both a League One title and a Super Rugby championship, joining Kobelco teammates Ardie Savea and Brodie Retallick, as well as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo fly-half Richie Mo’unga.
It was Dearns’ third League One title in as many seasons, having already established himself as one of Japanese rugby’s standout performers.
“Watching Warner excel among the best players from New Zealand and Australia was thrilling,” Tamatsuka added. “It also reinforced the quality of League One, showing our top players can compete with anyone in the world.”
Dearns follows Tokyo Sungoliath scrum-half Naoto Saito, who became another League One success story after helping Toulouse win the 2025 Top 14 title while understudying France captain Antoine Dupont.
Strong international representation
League One’s growing standing was further reflected in this week’s international squad announcements. Alongside captain Savea, Kobelco centre Anton Lienert-Brown was selected in Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad. Their inclusion means League One had just two fewer representatives than both the Crusaders and Blues, while supplying more players than the Highlanders.
Many New Zealand pundits also suggested Dearns would almost certainly have been selected had he been eligible for the All Blacks, while Rennie admitted veteran lock Brodie Retallick would also have featured if overseas-based players were available for selection.
Meanwhile, South Africa named nine current League One players in their Nations Championship squad:
- Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
- Lood de Jager (Saitama Wild Knights)
- Franco Mostert (Mie Honda Heat)
- Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
- Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
- Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners)
- Damian de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights)
- Jesse Kriel (Yokohama Canon Eagles)
- Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath)
League One Managing Director Hajime Shoji believes the increasing number of international stars competing in Japan demonstrates the league’s growing competitiveness.
“The fact Warner has been so successful in Super Rugby, together with the All Blacks and Springboks selecting 11 players who featured in League One this season, shows just how competitive our competition has become,” Shoji said. “The next step for us is exploring some form of international cross-border competition, which we believe has enormous potential for the future.”
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