Japan Rugby Football Union

Japan Rugby Football Union

Japan Rugby Football Union established November 30, 1926

The JRFU resulted from a merger between the Kanto Rugby Football Union (launched in 1924) and the Seibu Rugby Football Union (established in 1925), the two entities running the game in eastern and western Japan

Rugby has been thriving in Japan for over a century  and the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has been leading this Game in supporting the core values of Rugby

Two of the world’s major sporting events will be taking place in Japan over the next 4 years: The Rugby World Cup (RWC) which shall be held in 2019, and the Summer Olympics, which will again feature Rugby 7s, in Tokyo in 2020.

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Contact JRFU

Kita-Aoyama 2-8-35,
Minato Ward
Tokyo 107-0061

President: Tadashi Okamura
Established: November 30, 1926

Phone: 03-3401-3321
Fax: 03-3401-6610

Key events in JRFU history

November 30, 1926
Japan Rugby Football Union established. The JRFU resulted from a merger between the Kanto Rugby Football Union (launched in 1924) and the Seibu Rugby Football Union (established in 1925), the two entities running the game in eastern and western Japan.

1928
Yoshihiro Takagi appointed first JRFU president. First rugby game between teams representing eastern and western Japan held at Koshien Stadium. Chichibunomiya Trophy presented to winning team.

1930
Japan team goes to Canada on first overseas tour (6 wins, 1 draw).

1942
JRFU becomes the football division of Dai-Nippon Sports Association (now the Japan Sports Association).

1947
Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu named JRFU honorary president. Tokyo Rugby Stadium completed.

1949
First All-Japan Company Championship held. Fukuoka Haitan Kodan defeats Kintetsu to win title.

1953
Kumazo Tanabe appointed second president. Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu dies aged 50. Tokyo Rugby Stadium renamed Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

1956
Shigeru Kayama appointed third president.

1961
First NHK Cup match played (predecessor of All-Japan Rugby Football Championship).

1962
Chichibunomiya Stadium transferred to National Stadium.

1963
National team visits Canada on first overseas tour since end of World War II.

1964
First All-Japan Rugby Football Championship played (Doshisha University defeated Kintetsu for the title).

1965
First All-Japan University Rugby Football Championship played (Hosei defeated Waseda for the title).

1968
Masao Yukawa appointed fourth president.

1969
First Asian Rugby Championship held (Japan won title undefeated).

1970
Michio Yokoyama appointed fifth president.

1971
Japan national high school team visits Canada on first overseas tour (3 wins, 2 losses).

1972
Tokishiro Shiina appointed sixth president.

1973
First All-Japan High School East-West Selection Rugby Championship (East won).

1979
Yuzuru Abe appointed seventh president.

1982
Caps for playing in international games introduced.

1990
Ichiro Isoda appointed eighth president.

1992
Toichiro Kawagoe appointed ninth president.

1993
First Japan Sevens tournament held.

1995
Shigeru Konno appointed tenth president.

2000
Japan hosts tournament as part of IRB World Sevens Series.

2001
Tetsuo Machii appointed eleventh president.

2003
Top League launched.

2004
Vice President Hiroshi Hibino serves as acting president following Machii’s death.

2005
Yoshiro Mori appointed twelfth president.

2009
Japan hosts IRB Junior World Championship (tournament for under-20 national teams). Japan selected as host of 2019 Rugby World Cup.

2013
JRFU becomes a public interest incorporated foundation.

2015
Tadashi Okamura appointed thirteenth president.