in merito alla qualita\' del rugby in Giappone, ed al fatto che e\' seriamente candidata ad ospitare la coppa del mondo di rugby 2011....posto un articolo interessante sul rugby in giappone e le possibilita\' di espansione in un 3nazioni allargato....
<BR>..purtroppo in inglese...poiche\' e\' frutto di un mio amico....
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<BR>\"A little clarification on Japanese rugby stuff. Sun, 30 May 2004 00:16
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<BR>In light of the recent Super Powers Cup, Japanese Rugby Contact, and Super 12/tri nation’s expansion threads, I thought I would mention a couple things about the game in Japan.
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<BR>Like those who know a little bit about baseball in Japan versus America, it may be the same game, with the same rules, but there are different goals and objectives in mind. An example might be in baseball in Japan, a tie game would be a good thing. Two teams went out, fought the good fight, did the best they could, no one lost, everyone saved face.
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<BR>Rugby is quite entrenched in Japanese culture. It is played on school, university, local club, and corporate levels. And yes there is the national team. But the priority for the game is always on the club level, whatever that might be. There have been many times over the years that schools have refused players into national service or training because a big interuniversity match was coming up. But that might only figure since in fact, regional rugby organizations existed long before there was an organized national union.
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<BR>The corporate stuff grew out of players who worked for a company coming together to play a game. Then came the semiprofessional/professional era we are in now, where players would come for the game, and stay for a job with the company in some capacity. This is changing now as well, as many of the ‘job for life’ programs companies ran are going by the wayside.
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<BR>Growing the game as a spectator sport is an issue. Heaps of players, heaps of former players, but to grow the game for people watching it, is something that is just happening. When it is an all Japan affair, say a university game, or a big corporate game such as a Microsoft Cup or a Top League game, attendance can widely vary anywhere from 2000 to 10000, depending on who was involved, for what, and where. Not unlike the Celtic League attendances.
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<BR>Here’s a manga covering the NEC Green Rockets victory in the Microsoft Cup. That’s Bill Gates taking the trophy back.
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<BR>Around the time of RWC 2003 Radio Australia had a little feature on the game, mostly from an ex-pats’ perspective. The audio is no longer up but the transcript still remains at:
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http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/spo ... es/s968225. htm
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<BR>The amount of import players seem to be changing. The squad from the RWC 2003 with Andy Miller and other kiwis is gone. In its place for the Super Powers Cup is an all Japanese player and coached team. Whether this will be a trend for the future remains to be seen.
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<BR>I think there is a bit of wariness on the Japanese fan to keep going out and seeing the likes of Russia, America, and Canada. Again. I believe that a test in Japan, of England vs. New Zealand would sell out the Tokyo Dome. Another game against the Americans? Ya get 6000. As the Japanese magazine Metropolis sarcastically said: \"On Thursday, May 27 and Sunday, May 30, the Japan Rugby Football Union will be hosting the Toshiba Superpowers Cup. England, France, New Zealand, South Africa? No. The teams coming to Tokyo are the real superpowers (apparently): Japan, Russia, the United States and, er, Canada.\"
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<BR>TV is only slightly better than it is in the States. They get Super 12. They get some of the corporate games. A highlight program for the Super Powers Cup will be run. University and school championships get covered on J Sport. Which again, is more than America.
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<BR>They do have their own magazine in print in Japanese as well.
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http://www.bbm-japan.com/magazine/rugby/
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<BR>Teams outside of Japan have only begun to tap into the Japanese corporate sponsorship/partnership. Saracens and Harlequins come to mind. But the economy has hit Japan hard. Sponsorships are not given out the same way they were to corporate teams in many sports. Rugby has survived because of its history in the country, but easily money could go towards soccer if something isn’t done to further the sport.
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<BR>With all this said, why should Japan host the RWC 2011? Well, if rugby is going to continue to grow in the professional era, it has to expand. Japan has the stadia, (here is the statue of a rugby ball in front of Kumagaya Rugby Grounds)
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<BR>the infrastructure, the ability to support the travelers and a history of rugby. They are ready to take a page from the soccer world, which did a one two punch of formalizing their professional league from the hands of the corporate teams (the J League) and host the soccer world cup. Half of this has been done with the development of the Top League in Japan. Nicknames and regional identities have gone onto teams that once only had corporate ones.
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<BR>Is it any wonder that Chelsea, Manchester United and the likes have now been able to sign huge TV contracts in Japan? It’s time to grow the sport. Out of the non traditional rugby hosts, Japan is the most likely, and must host the next world cup. \"
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<BR>spero che sia chiaro il significato....miky
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