rugby union

Price tag weighing heavily on Sonny Bill Williams in Japan

8 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

8 Comments
Login to comment

Instead of paying someone $100,000 per game(10,000,000 yen per game) why don't they invest that money into fixing up the grounds at the grassroots level instead of having them play on cement-like dirt. Is it any wonder Japanese rugby players can't tackle.....at the grassroots level they never ever learn the correct skill......the only skill they learn on the cow paddocks they play on here (at school) is how to tackle without ripping the skin off your legs.....and thats to stand and grope at the player.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Jeez, I choked on my coffee on that one! Fact: Rugby League is a way more boring game than Rugby Union.

jeez.......I nearly choked on my coffee on that one!!!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Give it a little more time,it was a big gamble but if he can't lift the face of rugby here no one can...how much Per game do you think the roosters are paying him ?Hows that different to this ? I love the NRL too Probie,but Refereeing is a major,major source of disillusionment right now.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japanese rugby is broken, the structure is an anachronism.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Jeez, I choked on my coffee on that one! Fact: Rugby League is a way more boring game than Rugby Union.

Union is dull. The continuous rucks and dumb lineouts spoil it.

League is faster, more aggressive and more fun to watch than a bunch or guys piling on top of each other every 10 seconds.

The problem is how much passion can you come up with to support companies. University rugby is way more popular because people have allegiances.

Great point. The Japanese need to put the name of the company in the name of the team is annoying too.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Rugby Union is BORING!!! Rugby League is a million times better in every way, and even that is just about unknown here.

Jeez, I choked on my coffee on that one! Fact: Rugby League is a way more boring game than Rugby Union.

Rugby Union is BORING!!! Rugby League is a million times better in every way, and even that is just about unknown here.

Actually many people care about the sport in Japan and they will host the RWC in seven years. Rugby has a very old tradition in Japan. The problem is how much passion can you come up with to support companies. University rugby is way more popular because people have allegiances.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Williams left the world champion All Blacks and Waikato Chiefs for a 12-match deal worth an estimated $100,000 per game but Panasonic have yet to see much return.

I can't believe they would pay that amount of money for a sport that no-one cares about in this country.

Gosper told Reuters that Williams could have David Beckham-like effect on the game in Japan, but there still appears to be a lot to work on for Panasonic after their latest setback.

No, he won't. Because 1) Rugby Union is a minority sport here; and 2) Rugby Union is BORING!!! Rugby League is a million times better in every way, and even that is just about unknown here.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Told yah! NRL training in 16 weeks?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites