Tokyo (AFP)

The Japanese Top League, which already has the All Black Beauden Barrett and other big names from the southern hemisphere in its ranks, now wants to attract European stars in order to become the most successful championship in the world.

The boss of the Japanese championship, Osamu Ota, wants in particular to bring the English Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje to the land of the rising sun to compete with the French Top 14 and the English Premiership.

"We want to become the best championship in the world," he told AFP.

"It will not happen right away, but we have a clear vision and we are moving step by step."

The recruitment of headliners like Barrett, Australian Michael Hooper and former All Blacks captain Kieran Read is at the heart of this vision.

Twice elected player of the year by World Rugby (2016 and 2017), Barrett, much courted, signed up with the Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath for a lucrative one-season contract.

"I was probably not quite ready to go to France and I really like Tokyo and Japan. So I really wanted to come and discover life and rugby here," said the neo opener in January. -Zeeland.

Hooper has also joined Japan on a short-term contract that will see him play for Australia this summer.

And no less than six players from the South African team winning the last World Cup are playing in the Top League, whose season started in February.

- "Natural progression" -

The departure of stars from the southern hemisphere for Japan is nothing new, the Australians George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, then the New Zealanders Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter having notably paved the way.

But the growing influence of the Japanese elite, with a generous checkbook, more recently caused the arrival of European players, confirmed internationals, such as the Englishman George Kruis or the Scottish Greig Laidlaw.

And according to some media reports, charismatic Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has received an offer to join them.

Osamu Ota would also like to debauch some Saracens stars, taking advantage of their relegation to the English second division for breaking the rules of the salary cap.

"I would be really happy if players like Owen Farrell and Itoje came here," said the former Japan international.

According to him, "All Blacks and Wallabies players have been coming here for a long time and it is a natural progression that players from the northern hemisphere are also starting to think of in Japan after the World Cup" which was successfully held. in the archipelago in 2019.

Osamu Ota believes that the shorter Top League season - which typically lasts five months - makes the championship attractive, and that Japan's safety, cuisine and culture are major arguments.

- Love at first sight -

At 29, Barrett (88 caps) seems in any case to appreciate his new playing field since he scored 52 points in his first three matches, which places him at the top of the ranking of the best scorers.

For Barrett's first appearance in Tokyo on Saturday, the Kiwi had fans in the stands, despite the high winds and the health-related limitation of attendance to 5,000 people or half of the stadium's capacity, whichever is greater. low.

"I love him, he's an amazing player," Suntory supporter Michiko Kuramoto told AFP before kick-off.

"I saw him play at the World Cup and I found him so cool and beautiful and so good that I became a fan. I was surprised when I heard he was coming here", she explained.

Unfortunately for the fans, the spectacle was short-lived as the match was interrupted after just 12 minutes due to lightning.

A new slight setback for Japanese professional rugby, hit by the Covid-19 pandemic which caused the end of the previous season, without discouraging his boss.

"The benchmark in terms of championships is the Top 14", assures Osamu Ota.

"This is the goal we are aiming for."

© 2021 AFP