Rugby Australia has confirmed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japan Rugby Football Union.
The MOU will be in place until 2029, designed to build strong relationships between the two unions along with developing the respective national teams, competitions and the sport.
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“This is a wonderful opportunity for our two great nations to strengthen the ties that we already share – not only in Rugby, but across trade, tourism and diplomacy," RA CEO Phil Waugh said in a statement.
This will include planned Wallabies and Australia A matches with Japan in 2024 and 2025, along with the aim to schedule Wallaroos-Japan fixtures between 2024-26.
The Wallabies played in Japan in 2021 before their Spring Tour, with the Wallaroos facing Japan on the Gold Coast and Australia A taking a 2-1 series win over a Japan XV the following year.
The agreement will see the two nations look to formalise annual pre/post-season tours between Super Rugby and Japan Rugby League One clubs.
This has already been seen in 2022 with the Queensland Reds, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels taking on Japanese clubs in the off-season
It will cover all levels of Rugby, with similar fixtures planned for U18, U20, and other age grades.
We have seen tremendous growth in Japanese Rugby in recent years, and it is an exciting time for us to be more actively working within the region on growing the game in Australia and Japan," Waugh believes.
"In years to come, we will see more Australian sides playing Japan at home and away, from junior pathways to Test level across both the men’s and women’s game, as well as having our Super Rugby sides playing more games against Japan Rugby League One sides.”
“Japan Rugby and Rugby Australia have enjoyed a long and friendly relationship while developing rugby in the Asia Pacific region and we are honoured to be strengthening our partnership now, and for the future," JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi added.
"We hope to further accelerate the growth of Japanese Rugby through our close association with Australian Rugby, which has one of the world's most popular national teams in the Wallabies, and is constantly innovating in the business of sport.”
