The Japan Rugby Football Union is changing eligibility rules that will limit opportunities for foreign-born players even if they hold a Japanese passport. The new regulations, effective December, require players to have resided in Japan for at least 6 of the 9 years of elementary and middle school.
Timothy Lafaele, who earned 28 caps for Japan and starred at the 2019 World Cup, is among 24 players affected by the new rules. A lawyer represents the players in a lawsuit pending before several Japanese courts, challenging the retroactivity of the new regulations.
The measure risks having a significant impact on Japanese rugby, potentially depriving the national team of key naturalized players.