All Blacks might have to choose between the black jersey and the riches available in Japan if the Rugby World Cup hosts press ahead with new plans to set up a professional domestic competition that runs from August to January.
Japan Rugby Football Union vice-president Katsuyuki Kiyomiya told Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei that he wanted to leverage the success of the Japanese team at the Rugby World Cup to launch the 12-team new competition in the second half of 2021.
He says this World Cup is a big event Japanese rugby has not experienced before and they are tested on how they take the excitement and enthusiasm created by this event to the next level.
He adds this is the chance to start a professional league, which enables Japanese spectators to see star players in the World Cup 2019 playing at first hand, right in front of their eyes.
Kiyomiya’s plan is to recruit players from the southern hemisphere to give the competition star power and tee up a broadcasting deal with streaming giant DAZN, which already holds the rights to Japan’s J-League football competition.
