Japan Rugby League One revises player eligibility rules after court settlement

Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) has announced a revision to its player registration categories following a legal settlement at the Tokyo District Court. The decision comes after a group of 24 to 25 players, including Timothy Lafaele, filed for a provisional injunction to halt proposed rule changes scheduled for the 2026-2027 season.

The original proposal sought to split domestic “Category A” players into two groups, A-1 and A-2, based on whether they had spent at least six years of their compulsory education in Japan. This would have restricted the eligibility of many foreign-born players who hold Japanese nationality but were raised abroad.

Under the new settlement, players who acquired Japanese nationality by the end of May 2025 will be treated on par with native-born players in the top eligibility category. Additionally, players with 30 or more caps for the Brave Blossoms national team will be reclassified from A-2 to A-1. JRLO officials acknowledged that their previous efforts to listen to the concerns of affected players were insufficient.