The tournament kicks off on December 9 with newly promoted Mie Honda Heat travelling to face 2018 Japanese champions, Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
Both teams have ex-international coaches in charge, with former Wallaby boss Dave Rennie having arrived to take the reins at Kobe, while Heat now have the recent Italian mentor, another New Zealander, Kieran Crowley.
A new champion was crowned last season as Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay edged the defending champion Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights by two points in a thrilling final played in front of 42,000 people.
The Spears, who have replaced their injured star South African Malcolm Marx, with All Black hooker Dane Coles, will start their title defence as one of the favourites, especially as they have added Wales fullback Liam Williams to an electric backline that includes last year’s breakout star, 17-try winger Haruto Kida.
The 2023/24 season is headlined by World Rug by Player of the Year Ardie Savea joining Kobelco Kobe Steelers, with the All-Black joined in Japan by six of his teammates, alongside seven South African world champions.
Denne historien er fra December 03, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 03, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Brough is so Hungary to build on early adventure
BIRMINGHAM Moseley winger Daniel Brough says his love for rugby was solidified when he spent two years playing for Portuguese team Lousa alongside Chile international Pablo Casas in what he describes as a \"boy to a man experience\".
There's more to come from this England pack
ENGLAND'S win over France last weekend was a huge confidence booster ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland because of the way the team gave themselves an opportunity to win - and the players seized the moment.
Ellis was a rock that we'll never forget, vows Old Reds' Dan
NATIONAL League rugby was rocked last week when Old Redcliffians prop Ellis Joseph passed away aged 27, and captain Dan Fry says the club's focus is to honour his legacy.
Coach hails his King for the day
REDRUTH had to dig deep to see off a physical Cinderford side who deservedly took a losing bonus point back home.
Flying Falcons hoping to make it six out of six
SON of a pig farmer, Freddie Lockwood has been a headline-hogging act for Newcastle this season.
England need to be more consistent
THOSE who believe England have turned a big corner following their last-minute fireworks against France are optimists, simply because their record so far under head coach Steve Borthwick suggests there will be more boom-and-bust.
Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby
Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game
Bears on top but Bath go through
BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.
Great that we found a way to win, says Sleightholme
OLLIE Sleightholme insists England have finally broken their glass ceiling but urged them to take a leaf out his club Northampton's book.
Diamond's war chest for relegation play-off
STEVE Diamond has built up a war chest as insurance should Newcastle find themselves in an end-ofseason relegation play-off with key players injured, but he does not anticipate dipping into it.
