Japan’s High League hopes to draw England stars Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje because it pursues its ambition to grow to be the world’s premier rugby competitors, its president advised AFP.

The well-heeled league has swelled its ranks of international gamers for the reason that 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, with New Zealand’s two-time World Participant of the Yr Beauden Barrett amongst them.

Australian captain Michael Hooper and former All Blacks skipper Kieran Learn are each at Toyota Verblitz, whereas New Zealand scrum-half TJ Perenara performs for NTT Docomo Purple Hurricanes.

A minimum of six of South Africa’s World Cup profitable groups play in Japan, the place the groups are funded by main firms.

However the High League, lengthy a vacation spot for Southern Hemisphere stars with profitable short-term contracts, is now turning to European gamers because it tries to climb above the High 14 of France and the highest 14. the British Premiership.

“We need to grow to be the perfect championship on the planet,” championship chairman Osamu Ota advised AFP.

“It will not occur immediately, however we have now a transparent imaginative and prescient and we’re transferring ahead step-by-step.”

England captain Farrell and second row Itoje each play for the Saracens, who had been relegated from the Premiership final season as punishment for repeated wage cap violations.

George Kruis left Saracens for Japan final 12 months, whereas fellow England worldwide Alex Goode is on mortgage from the London membership.

“I might be actually comfortable if gamers like Owen Farrell and Itoje got here right here,” Ota mentioned.

“NEC signed Alex Goode and Panasonic signed George Kruis each from Saracens, so we’re creating a very good pipeline with brokers from completely different international locations.”

In accordance with media experiences, Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones has obtained a suggestion from Japan, whereas former Scottish skipper Greig Laidlaw performs for NTT Communications Shining Arcs.

“All Blacks and Wallabies gamers have been coming right here for a very long time, and it is a pure development that gamers within the northern hemisphere are beginning to consider in Japan after the World Cup as nicely,” mentioned Ota.

The story continues

He added that the High League’s shorter season of round 5 months made it a pretty proposition and that Japan’s low crime charge, delicacies and tradition had been additionally promoting factors.

– ‘Cool and delightful’ –

Barrett definitely appears to take pleasure in enjoying in Japan, amassing 52 factors in his first three video games to guide the standings.

The higher Tokyo space is beneath a viral emergency till at the very least March 21, and participation in sporting occasions is proscribed to five,000 or half capability, whichever is much less.

However the pleasure was excessive for Barrett’s first look within the capital on Saturday, which solely lasted 12 minutes earlier than the sport was known as off as a result of a thunderstorm.

“I like him – he is an incredible participant,” Suntory fan Michiko Kuramoto advised AFP earlier than kick-off.

“I noticed him play on the World Cup, and I believed he was so cool and good wanting and an incredible participant, so I turned a fan. I used to be shocked to listen to that he was coming right here.”

The pandemic pressured the abandonment of final 12 months’s High League season after six rounds, and Japan haven’t performed since shedding to South Africa of their first Cup quarter-final of the world in 2019.

A Covid-19 outbreak has additionally delayed the beginning of the present High League season by a month.

However Ota believes it is not too late to capitalize on the momentum of the World Cup, because the partly beginner High League prepares to relaunch subsequent season with a extra skilled construction.

“The benchmark for the leagues is the High 14,” he mentioned.

“That is what we’re aiming for. We’re taking a look at the perfect elements of the High 14 and the Premiership, and we need to maintain enhancing.”

amk / kaf / th