Japanese rugby officials roll back on proposed restrictions on certain foreign-born players

Top domestic competition Rugby League One will allow certain players with Japanese nationality, but who were born elsewhere, to qualify

Rugby officials in Japan on Friday said they had reached a settlement to allow players with Japanese nationality, but who were born elsewhere, to qualify for the top eligibility category in the domestic competition, Rugby League One.

Under proposed rules changes that were to go into effect when the league opens in December, players with Japanese passports, but who were born outside Japan and not educated there during childhood, would have had their eligibility restricted.

In a statement on Friday, Japan Rugby League One said it decided “to revise certain requirements”. It said players who acquired Japanese nationality before the end of May 2025 would be treated on a par with native-born players.

Twenty-four players affected by the proposed rules change – all with Japanese passports but born elsewhere – filed a suit in a Japanese court and pushed for the rollback. Among them was Timothy Lafaele, who starred for Japan in the 2019 World Cup, which was held in Japan.

The proposed rules had specified that players had to live in Japan for “at least six of nine years” of junior school and junior high school to qualify for the highest category of eligibility.

“League One takes seriously the feedback received regarding this system change, as well as the fact that prior explanations and communication with all relevant parties were insufficient, and will reflect this in the future management of the league,” it said in a statement.