Japan in constant battle with Top League clubs to release best players, says coach
After a tough season, Japan coach Tomohiro Segawa highlighted an inability to access the best players as a key reason behind his side's poor showing.
After a tough season, Japan coach Tomohiro Segawa highlighted an inability to access the best players as a key reason behind his side's poor showing.
Japan won their way into the elite competition with victory in last year's qualifying competition in Hong Kong, but, according to Segawa, have been handicapped in their bid to compete with the world's best.
"We couldn't get our players consistently throughout the season," Segawa said.
"We couldn't field the same players because domestic rugby clubs wouldn't release them."
The quality of rugby is getting huge [in Japan]. But we seem to be chasing [for players] all the time
Segawa said the Japanese Rugby Football Union is in the process of addressing the situation and is hopeful that, should the issue be rectified, his side would be much better placed.
The Japanese sides that have taken the field this season have been clearly off the pace, highlighted by the fact they came to Hong Kong with only one victory from the first five rounds of matches. That came against Samoa in the South African leg of the series.
