World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset has voiced his backing
for Japan's inclusion in the Southern Hemisphere Rugby
Championship competition alongside New Zealand, Australia,
South Africa and Argentina.
The sport is enjoying a surge in popularity in the country
that will host the next World Cup in 2019 and after securing
a franchise in the Super Rugby tournament, Lapasset believes
a similar deal at international level is a distinct
possibility.
Japan beat off a bid from Singapore to enter next year's
expanded 18-side tournament and will get their first taste of
Super Rugby action at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in
Tokyo on February 27 (local time) when they host the Lions of
Johannesburg.
"Japan is part of the total global vision of the rugby that
we are promoting in the world, especially in the South with
Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia," Lapasset
said.
"That's the top five - with Japan. Not just Tier 2 and Tier
1, the top five," the Frenchman added.
"We need to achieve the process that all five will be pushing
together to develop the southern competition and to promote
the best rugby ever that we can do in the south.
"We did the same in the North with the Six Nations. Now it
will be the five nations in the South."
The popularity of rugby in Japan has rocketed after the Brave
Blossoms stunned two-time world champions South Africa with a
last-gasp 34-32 win at the recent World Cup in England.
They went on to become the first team to bow out of the pool
stages with three wins but had better luck in completing a
second-half rally against hosts Hong Kong to book a berth at
the 2016 Olympic rugby sevens tournament in Rio.
Television viewing figures in Japan soared after the South
Africa game and Lapasset has fixed his sights firmly on
increasing the sport's popularity across the rest of Asia.
"The Super Rugby is a good format to promote rugby in the
South that includes some matches in Singapore. That's
important to extend the value and the quality of the game in
Asia," he said.
Tier two nations to have greater say
Tier Two rugby nations such as Japan, Georgia and the US will
have a greater say in the running of World Rugby after
wide-ranging reforms aimed at growing the sport's global
appeal.
In the wake of a successful World Cup in England in which
Tier Two sides made a huge contribution, voting rights on the
World Rugby Council will be widened.
All unions who have qualified for the last two Rugby World
Cups will have one vote and one representive on the World
Rugby Council, rising to a maximum of three votes depending
on certain criteria being met.
In addtion all six regional associations will also receive
two votes.
"We have enjoyed a very special and record-breaking Rugby
World Cup in England and rugby is experiencing record
participation growth, media interest and commercial appeal,"
Lapasset said.
"This exciting new model, developed following extensive
review and consultation, will ensure that World Rugby, and by
extension, the sport, has the governance structures and tools
to support future growth as rugby continues to inspire and
thrive."
In other reforms aimed at modernising and streamlining the
governing body, two independent skills-based directors will
be included on the 12-man Executive Committee.
"This is a great step forward for World Rugby. The World
Rugby Council will now have a wider range of voices," USA
Rugby Chairman Bob Latham said of the reforms.
"We are confident that USA Rugby will satisfy the Committee
that we meet the criteria to have our own seat on the Council
- something that has long been a goal of USA Rugby."