Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights' players celebrate after winning the championship of Japan Rugby League One, in Tokyo, on May 29, 2022. Leading figures in Japan’s new professional rugby competition are looking ahead with confidence after an inaugural season which wooed fans and confirmed the league’s allure to the world’s leading players. Japan Rugby League One faced early headwinds as COVID-19 forced the cancellation of matches and limited attendances.(Kyodo News via AP)