Stephen Varney, the Italian rugby player, is open to the idea of playing in Japan's Rugby League One competition in the future. This comes after his impressive performance at the sold-out Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, where Italy faced Japan in the Nations Championship. Varney, a fluent Welsh speaker who qualifies for the Six Nations side through his Italian mother, played a full 60 minutes in Italy's 27-10 defeat to Japan. Despite the loss, Varney was impressed by the Japanese team's speed, accuracy, and physicality, and he can see why Japan's League One is attracting top talent. He believes the competition is on the rise and that it offers an exciting brand of rugby. Varney's admiration for Japan's rugby scene is evident, as he praises the country's polite and respectful people, and the thrilling atmosphere of the games. He also mentions the presence of star players like Aaron Smith and Faf de Klerk in Japan, further highlighting the league's appeal. Varney's contract with Exeter Chiefs, a PREM Rugby runner-up, is currently active, but he expressed a potential interest in playing in Japan's League One in the future. He stated that it would be a great honor to play in Japan and that he could be tempted by an offer to join the ever-improving competition. Varney's comments come as Italy faces a challenging assignment against the All Blacks in Wellington, having lost all 17 of their previous encounters with New Zealand. He emphasizes the importance of recovery and learning from the Japan game to prepare for the upcoming match against the All Blacks. Varney's openness to playing in Japan's League One adds to the growing interest in the competition, which is rapidly gaining recognition in the rugby world.
