This Japanese Rugby World Cup result by Japan may change some things within the union, or the power the tier 1, exercises. Japan is already busy starting a second league, one above the Top League, which will have international participants. This result may lure in Japanese, Northern and Southern Hemisphere as well as other places Asia, enterprises or other parties, as stakeholders.
Something gives me an idea, that Japan going through to the quarters have kickstarted the Asian rugby market. This may very well also accelerate the tier 2 nations who may participate therein, but it may also place pressure on the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship as well as the top 14 and Super Rugby competitions as broadcasters may now have more opportunities.
In order to turn this around, I believe Japan, and or the Sunwolves, may be invited into (or maybe back) into a current competition. The Southern Hemisphere will have to invite Japan onto the SANZAAR board… which Japan maybe won’t accept since a certain union blocked them out, so negotiations are probably already happening. This doesn’t mean that the Sunwolves will go back to Super Rugby in 2021 as I am sure they will play in the new competition Japan is establishing, but that Japan may get onboard with the Rugby Championship. Europe will look at, maybe, getting teams in the new Japanese competition. I believe things like these are happening.
Many are calling this the worst Rugby World Cup in history, due to the match cancellation and the non-existent contingency plan, but this may be the World Cup which will bring in the most money and opportunities to develop the sport globally which will accelerate the growth which is needed for the global game for the next 8 years for emerging more nations. The more nations emerging, the better the sport will be funded.
To be honest, though, there are tier 1 nations who treat rugby as an elitist sport, and this should change. I also don't hope that if Japan is taking a position amongst these nations that they themselves don't get consumed in elitism. Japan has money, it is their rugby union who is without money.
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