Win over Scotland boosts Japan's push to form pro rugby league

Twelve teams planned for 2021, tapping excitement over Brave Blossoms

Katsuyuki Kiyomiya, a vice president of the Japan Rugby Football Union aims to set up a dozen professional teams based in 12 cities across Japan and place a corporate league under the professional league.

MASAKI ABE, Nikkei deputy editor and MAKOTO TANIGUCHI, Nikkei staff writer

October 13, 2019 16:00 JST

Updated on October 14, 2019 02:20 JST

TOKYO -- When the Brave Blossoms beat Ireland 19-12 in the Rugby World Cup in late September, the Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka Prefecture exploded in euphoria. Once again, Japan was gripped by rugby fever.

With that win, Japan has risen to eighth position in world rankings, the highest it has ever achieved in this sport. The team advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time with a 28-21 victory over Scotland at Yokohama on Sunday.