Play World Class Rugby (Japan) Online

World Class Rugby came out for the Super Nintendo in 1991, developed by Denton Designs. It was one of the early sports titles on the system, arriving at a time when developers were still figuring out how to translate the physicality of team sports into a 16-bit format. The game offered a straightforward take on rugby union, with international teams and a focus on simulation rather than arcade action.

You control a team of fifteen players, directing movement and initiating passes, kicks, and tackles. The main objective is to outscore the opponent by grounding the ball for a try or kicking goals. Key mechanics include setting lineouts by timing a moving cursor, engaging in scrums where pushing power is crucial, and attempting drop goals from open play. The pacing is deliberate, with matches that demand strategic positioning more than frantic button mashing; the difficulty comes from reading the field and committing to tackles at the right moment. It feels like a thoughtful, sometimes clumsy, attempt to capture the stop-start rhythm and physical struggle of an actual rugby match.