Japan Rugby League One rule change threatens foreign‑born players with Japanese passports

A new eligibility rule for Japan Rugby League One, set to take effect when the season opens in December, will classify players who hold Japanese passports but were educated abroad as foreigners. The rule requires at least six of nine years of elementary and junior‑high schooling in Japan to qualify for the top player category.

The change directly affects 24 foreign‑born athletes, including Samoan‑born Timothy Lafaele, who has earned 28 caps for Japan and helped the national team defeat Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Lawyer Seiji Makino is representing the players in court, arguing that the passport and national team affiliation should guarantee domestic eligibility. The proposal coincides with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s broader push for stricter immigration policies in Japan.