Japan Rugby League One Amends Proposed Player Categories – Outlines Updated Eligibility for 2026-2027 Season

Since the JRLO (Japan Rugby League One) announced changes to the player categories to be implemented from the 2026-2027 season back in May 2025, they have met resistance from players and fans, culminating in court cases.

Today, the JRLO has outlined the new registration categories based on the agreed settlement of negotiations that have been ongoing at the Tokyo District Courts.

The JRLO said via a statement that they have “been considering the additional registration categories (Categories A-1 and A-2) for player registration, which will be introduced from the 2026-27 season, based on various opinions received from players, fans, the media, and other parties.”

A group of players had filed a motion with the Tokyo District Court for a provisional injunction to halt the announced implementation announced in May 2025.

Among the group of 25 players who filed the court motion were Timothy Lafaele (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Jiwon Gu (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Isileli Nakajima (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Asaeli Ai Valu (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), Hendrick Tui (Urayasu D-Rocks), Lomano Lemeki (Mie Honda Heat), etc.

The legal challenge targeted a rule change splitting domestic (“Category A”) players into two new groups (A1 and A2).

We will try to explain the updates released today based on these considerations:

• There are no changes to the framework of the Category A-1 and A-2 classifications, nor to the regulations on the number of match entries and the number of players participating simultaneously.
• JRLO has revised some of the requirements for the registration categories (addition of “special measures”).
• Players with 30 or more caps for the Brave Blossoms 15-a-side Japan national team will be reclassified from A-2 to A-1 under this new system.
• Changes apply not only to the players who filed the court motion, but to all players who meet the requirements.
• Matchday squads will still be required to have a minimum of 14 Category A-1 players on the match roster and a minimum of 8 players on the field at the same time.
• Matchday squads for Category A-2 will have a maximum of 9 players and a maximum of 7 players allowed to play simultaneously.

The JRLO added again that eligibility for the Japanese national rugby team is determined by World Rugby rules, not by nationality, but by place of birth, place of birth of parents and grandparents, and registration with the affiliated association (affiliation principle).

Photo Credit – JRFU – Dylan Riley vs Maori All Blacks

These changes reflect an agreed settlement on August 27, 2026, which has now led to the Tokyo District Court and the complaint with the Japan Fair Trade Commission being withdrawn.

Japan Rugby League One Category A-1 JRLO

There has been the addition of special measures under A-1 sections iv) and v), which now allow additional players to be classified under certain criteria; notably:

1. Players who obtained special Japanese permanent residency before August 31, 2016, registered with the association as having completed compulsory education in Japan before August 31, 2017.
2. Players who were registered with the association as eligible players under the “Asian quota” before the start of the 2021 season.
3. In addition, foreign-born players who acquired Japanese citizenship by May 31, 2025.

(1) Category A-1: ​​Players who fall under any of the following categories

• i) Players who have no experience representing other associations and who have spent more than 6 years of their 9-year compulsory education period in Japan.
• ii) Players who have no prior experience representing other associations, and who were born in Japan, or whose parents or grandparents were born in Japan.
• iii) Players with 30 or more caps for the Japanese national team (limited to 15-a-side rugby)
• [Announced August 28, 2026]
• iv) Players who fall under any of the following categories in Article 11, Paragraph 1, Item 4 a to d of the current “Regulations Concerning Player Contracts and Registration”
  • a) Players who were registered with the association as Japanese nationals before November 30, 2021.
  • b) Players who were registered with the association as players who obtained special permanent residency before August 31, 2016.
  • c) Players who registered with the association as having completed compulsory education in Japan before August 31, 2017, and who continue to reside in Japan.
  • d) Players who were registered with the association as eligible players under the “Asian quota” before the start of the 2021 season.
• v) Players who are registered as Category A players under the category system until the 2025-26 season and who acquired Japanese citizenship by May 31, 2025 (including players who applied for Japanese citizenship by that date and subsequently acquired it).

2) Category A-2

• In addition to the above, players who have no experience representing other associations and have been continuously registered with the Japan Association for 48 months or more.
• Players who meet the requirements of A-2 and have 30 or more caps for the Japanese national team are classified as A-1.

It’s difficult to break this down player by player, but based on instant Japanese online reactions, it seems it means players like Timothy Lafaele, Jiwon Gu, and Lomano Lemeki would revert back to being A-1 classified players.

A player like Ben Paltridge, who has been competing in Japan for several years but will make his Thailand debut in the ARESS 2026, will drop from a Category A player to Category C, suggested one online user.

As this is a developing story, we will try to follow the news and see how it unfolds. At the end of the day,, changes were not going to accommodate every player, but this compromise seems to have been sufficient for the players who went to the courts.

Why Were Japan Rugby League One Player Categories Changes Initially Proposed?

Japan, like other rugby union competitions around the globe, want to provide opportunities to locally developed players and entice young players too.

The JRLO said it was to “provide respect for diversity in rugby team composition while considering the balance between homegrown and non-homegrown teams.” The aim was to offer young athletes (including junior high school students in Japan) the opportunity to aspire to play in the JRLO and to increase participation in the sport (where numbers have been declining).

Japan Rugby League One said, “The registration categories to be introduced from the 2026-27 season are being implemented as part of League One’s efforts to strengthen the promotion and development of rugby.”

Japan Rugby League One News

• New JRLO Player Eligibility Rules For 2026/2027 Season – What Do They Actually Mean?
• Japan Rugby League One Rising 2026 Details Confirmed.
• JRLO 2026-2027 Season Will Kick-Off On December 12.
• Kobelco Kobe Steelers Win First Japan Rugby League One Title.