The Japan Rugby League One (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Genichi Tamatsuka; hereinafter 'League One') has, together with its member clubs, continued to review the additional player registration categories (Categories A-1 and A-2) announced on 13 May 2025 for introduction from the 2026-27 season, taking into account the various views received from players, fans, the media and others. As a result of that review, League One has decided to make a partial amendment (addition) to the requirements of these categories, as set out below. In addition, a settlement has been reached in the discussions held at the Tokyo District Court in relation to this system.

1. Details of the Partial Amendment (Addition)

The present revision adds new provisions to the requirements for Category A-1 (corresponding to (1) iv) and v) below). There is no change to the framework of Categories A-1 and A-2, nor to the provisions governing the number of players permitted in the matchday squad or on the field at the same time.

• [Requirements for the additional categories, including the latest revision]
• Category A-1: players who meet any of the following
  • [Announced on 13 May 2025]
  • i) Players with no international representative history for another union who spent six years or more in Japan during the nine years of compulsory education (primary and junior high school)
  • ii) Players with no international representative history for another union who were born in Japan, or who have at least one parent or grandparent born in Japan
  • iii) Players with 30 or more caps for the Japan national team (fifteen-a-side only)
  • [Announced on 18 August 2026]
  • iv) Players falling under any of items a) to d) of Article 11, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the current Player Contract and Registration Regulations
    • a) Players registered with the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) as players who had acquired Japanese nationality on or before 30 November 2021
    • b) Players registered with the JRFU as holders of special permanent residency on or before 31 August 2016
    • c) Players registered with the JRFU as having completed compulsory education in Japan on or before 31 August 2017, and continue to reside in Japan
    • d) Players registered with the JRFU under the 'Asian Player' provision on or before the start of the 2021 season
  • v) Among players registered as Category A under the category system up to the 2025-26 season, those who acquired Japanese nationality on or before 31 May 2025 (including those who applied for Japanese nationality on or before that date and subsequently acquired it)
• (2) Category A-2:
  • Players other than the above who have no international representative history for another union and who have been continuously registered with the JRFU for 48 months or more

2. Background of the Partial Amendment (Addition)

Eligibility to represent Japan in rugby is determined under World Rugby regulations not by nationality, but on the basis of place of birth, the place of birth of a parent or grandparent, and registration with a union, among other factors (the union-based principle). Since its inception in 2021, League One has likewise operated a system based on this union-based principle and has in principle not determined player categories by nationality.

On the other hand, under the Japan Rugby Top League, which preceded League One, the acquisition of Japanese nationality (naturalisation) was among the requirements for playing without any limit on matchday squad entry or on simultaneous participation on the pitch. In light of this background, League One has continued to apply an additional measure treating players falling under items a) to d) of Article 11, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Player Contract and Registration Regulations as Category A players.

At the time of the announcement in May 2025, in view of the union-based principle as the governing rule, these players were also to be classified as Category A-2 from the 2026-27 season. Subsequently, however, League One received various views from the players affected, from fans and from the media, and conducted a further review together with its clubs. As a result, in light of the continuity of the system from the Top League era, League One concluded that it is appropriate for players who have not been subject to limits on matchday squad entry or on simultaneous participation on the pitch by reason of the acquisition of Japanese nationality and other requirements presented at that time to continue to be treated as Category A-1, without such limits, following the latest change to the system.

In addition, as the treatment of the acquisition of Japanese nationality was not necessarily clear at the time of the May 2025 announcement, the scope of the above measure includes players who acquired Japanese nationality on or before 31 May 2025 (including those who applied for Japanese nationality on or before that date and subsequently acquired it).

This is a special measure that takes into account the effects of the transition to the new system. Since its inception in 2021, League One has adopted the union-based principle in accordance with World Rugby regulations, and the design of the latest system clearly reflects that principle. Accordingly, players who applied for Japanese nationality after 31 May 2025 are not covered by this special measure.

3. Regarding the Settlement

In relation to this system, certain players had filed a petition with the Tokyo District Court seeking an interim injunction to suspend its implementation. Following discussions between the parties and the necessary adjustments, a settlement was reached on 27 August 2026. Accordingly, the petition filed with the Tokyo District Court and the report filed with the Japan Fair Trade Commission have been withdrawn.

The revision described in section 1 above applies to all players who meet the requirements, irrespective of whether they were party to the petition.

4. Overview of the System (Reference)

The following sets out once again an overview of the additional category system, based on the information announced to date.

Background to the introduction of the additional categories
From the beginning, League One has upheld the values and vision of ‘FOR ALL’ and ‘Let’s create the world’s best, starting from your town’, whilst respecting diversity and striving to expand the number of people who play, watch and support rugby. All those involved with League One share the belief that these initiatives will contribute to the development of rugby in Japan.

Since its inception in 2021, League One has operated a system based on the union-based principle, and has in principle not determined categories by nationality. Under this principle, League One's player categories are not, as a rule, determined by nationality.

As a principal category criterion, players with no international representative history for another union who have been affiliated with the JRFU for 48 months or more are classified as Category A, regardless of nationality, and may play without any limit on matchday squad entry or on simultaneous participation on the pitch.

Purpose of the introduction of the additional categories
In these circumstances, League One and its clubs have discussed how to maintain respect for diversity in team composition while giving consideration to the balance between home-grown players and other players. As a result, League One decided to introduce additional registration categories from the 2026-27 season, so that young players in Japan, including those of primary and junior high school age, may more clearly regard playing in League One as a concrete goal, thereby raising participation in the game, increasing the playing population in Japan, and contributing to the growth and development of Japanese rugby as a whole. There is no change to the approach based on the union-based principle, and due regard will continue to be given, within the system, to maintaining respect for diversity.

Outline of the additional categories
The additional categories classified players previously placed as Category A into Category A-1, comprising those who meet certain criteria, and Category A-2, comprising the remaining players, and require a minimum of 14 Category A-1 players in the matchday squad and a minimum of 8 on the pitch at the same time. For the requirements including the latest revision, please refer to section 1 above.

The criterion of six years or more out of the nine years of compulsory education was determined through discussion between the League and the clubs, on the basis that, in order to achieve the purpose described above, it is effective for players who spent much of their primary and junior high school years in Japan to be active in League One. Linking activity and residence during a player's developmental years to regulations on team composition is an approach adopted as a 'home-grown' system in other leagues and other sports.

An overview of League One's category system, including the additional categories, is as follows;

Effects of the introduction of the additional categories
Under the revised system, a minimum of 14 Category A-1 players must be included in the matchday squad and a minimum of 8 must be on the pitch at the same time. Category A-2 players (including the portion overlapping with Categories B and C) are subject to a maximum of 9 in the matchday squad and a maximum of 7 on the pitch at the same time. As with Category A-1, there is no upper limit on the number of Category A-2 players a club may register.

In Division 1, based on estimates using a sample from during the 2024-25 season (at the time of consideration), the average composition of a 23-player matchday squad was 12.2 Category A-1 players, 5.8 Category A-2, 2.6 Category B and 2.4 Category C. As the new system requires 14 or more Category A-1 players, the composition would be 14, 4, 2.6 and 2.4 respectively if that requirement were met and the other categories remained unchanged.

As set out above, the change to the system is in no way intended to discriminate against players on grounds of nationality or to deprive them of opportunities to play. League One will continue to maintain an environment in which a diverse range of players, including those in Categories B and C, can flourish.

Other considerations: treatment of players with Japan national team caps
League One holds in high regard, and is grateful for, the significant contribution that players selected for the Japan national team have made, together with all other players, to the development of Japanese rugby. Players with 30 or more caps for the fifteen-a-side Japan national team will be reclassified from Category A-2 to Category A-1 under the new system. This cap figure is not intended to draw distinctions between the contributions of individual players; it was arrived at through discussion balancing players' contributions and fairness between clubs, considering any imbalance in the number of players affected across clubs. Caps were adopted as the criterion because they can be verified officially and provide objectivity in practical operation. Consideration was also given to the fact that opportunities to gain caps are expected to increase, with events such as the Nations Championship leading to a greater number of Japan national team fixtures.

League One will continue to monitor the effects of the system following its introduction and will carry out further verification as necessary.

5. Future Initiatives: Promotion and Development of rugby and Ongoing Review of the System

The registration categories to be introduced from the 2026-27 season form part of League One's initiatives to strengthen the development of the sport. Each club is currently engaged in developing rugby through the operation of rugby schools and academies and through support for community rugby, including local rugby schools. League One will introduce rules and support measures for these activities in order to strengthen and accelerate the development of the game. Together with its clubs, League One will also consider and implement measures for the development of players that extend beyond the latest change to the system.

Under the current rules, the principal criterion for Category A-1 is residence in Japan for six years or more out of the nine years of compulsory education. League One considers this criterion appropriate at present in light of the purpose of the system; if it is not, however, will be fixed. Should school and academy systems become further established through the activities described above, League One will consider revising this criterion as appropriate.

League One will also continue to consider the shape of its category system through discussion between the League and the clubs, taking into account the wide range of views received on this occasion. That consideration will cover the category system as a whole, and not only the additional categories introduced on this occasion. Should any revision to the system be decided upon, League One will provide a further explanation.

League One takes seriously the views received in relation to the recent change to the system, as well as the fact that its prior explanation and communication with those concerned were not sufficient, and will reflect this in its future operation of the League.