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Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph
By Sean Miyaguchi, KYODO NEWS - 8 minutes ago - 16:51 | Sports, Rugby, All As the final siren signaled an end to this year's Japan Rugby League One final, victorious man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga immediately looked for one Brave Lupus Tokyo teammate. The former All Black wanted to share the moment at Tokyo's National Stadium with captain Michael Leitch, who Mo'unga credited with helping him find his way in Japan over the past two seasons, culminating in back-to-back titles with Sunday's 18-13 win over the Kubota Spears. Mo'unga, who was visibly emotional at the end of the match in front of 51,009, likened the Brave Lupus No. 8 and Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup skipper to a "big brother" whose influence was felt throughout the Toshiba-owned club, based in the western Tokyo city of Fuchu. "The first person I sort of looked for was Leitchy," said the 31-year-old Mo'unga, after playing through a broken hand in the final. "I'm so proud of him and just in awe of what he does for this club and the man that he is, and what he stands for." While foreign stars have tended to play in Japan on short-term contracts toward the ends of their careers, Mo'unga arrived during his prime on a three-year deal at the start of last season, giving up the opportunity to play internationally for New Zealand during that time. He described New Zealand-born Leitch, who moved to Japan in high school, as both an inspirational leader and the glue that held together the home-grown and overseas-born players comprising the Brave Lupus squad. "I sort of speak on behalf of a lot of foreign players that come to Toshiba (Brave Lupus), where he just makes life so much easier for us," he said. "He's like a big brother and to see him have the success, for him to captain and lead the side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him." The pair had one-on-one time in the week leading up to the final as they undertook injury recovery therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. "I tried to have a conversation with him, but as soon as he gets in there he just sleeps," Mo'unga laughed. Head coach Todd Blackadder said the joint leadership provided by Mo'unga and the 36-year-old Leitch had been the bedrock for Brave Lupus as they became the first two-time champions in the League One era. "Him and Leitchy together are a great combination," Blackadder said. "Together they really lead our team and in different areas -- one could be tactically, once could be mindset, they feed off each other really, really well." Lauding Mo'unga as an "incredible player," Leitch said the star playmaker had embraced life in Fuchu among his new Brave Lupus teammates. "He loves where we live. He loves the club. He showed that through his performance," Leitch said. Related coverage: Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style Rugby: Spears hold off Sungoliath to reach League One semis
CNA
4 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Broken hand no bar as Mo'unga scoops another Japan club title
TOKYO :Former All Black flyhalf Richie Mo'unga fired Brave Lupus Tokyo to back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles with an 18-13 win over Kubota Spears at the weekend, afterwards revealing that he had played with a fractured hand. The 31-year-old playmaker suffered the injury in the semi-final against Kobe Steelers and did not train all week but scored a try and kicked eight points in a Player of the Match performance on Sunday. "I broke my hand against Kobe," Mo'unga explained after adding a second Japanese title to the seven successive Super Rugby titles he won as a Canterbury Crusader. "This is the third time I've broken this hand. I knew it wasn't impossible to play. I really wanted to play and be a part of something special. "There's a lot of relief. I'm so proud of the team and our efforts. To win this competition again is really special." Brave Lupus coach Todd Blackadder, who handed Mo'unga his Crusaders debut in 2016, said he had been uncertain whether his flyhalf would be able to play. "Richie's hand wasn't great but it shows how tough he is," said the former All Blacks lock. "He turned up and played very well. He's so committed and what a player he is." After the final played out in front of 50,009 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium, Mo'unga paid tribute to Brave Lupus skipper Michael Leitch, who finished the season as the league's top tackler. "I'm just in awe of what he does for this club, and the man that he is, and what he stands for," he said of the 36-year-old former Japan captain. "I speak on behalf of a lot of foreigners that come to (the club), he just makes life so much easier for us, he's like a big brother. "To see him to have the success, and captain and lead this side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him."
Reuters
4 hours ago
- General
- Reuters
Broken hand no bar as Mo'unga scoops another Japan club title
TOKYO, June 2 (Reuters) - Former All Black flyhalf Richie Mo'unga fired Brave Lupus Tokyo to back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles with an 18-13 win over Kubota Spears at the weekend, afterwards revealing that he had played with a fractured hand. The 31-year-old playmaker suffered the injury in the semi-final against Kobe Steelers and did not train all week but scored a try and kicked eight points in a Player of the Match performance on Sunday. "I broke my hand against Kobe," Mo'unga explained after adding a second Japanese title to the seven successive Super Rugby titles he won as a Canterbury Crusader. "This is the third time I've broken this hand. I knew it wasn't impossible to play. I really wanted to play and be a part of something special. "There's a lot of relief. I'm so proud of the team and our efforts. To win this competition again is really special." Brave Lupus coach Todd Blackadder, who handed Mo'unga his Crusaders debut in 2016, said he had been uncertain whether his flyhalf would be able to play. "Richie's hand wasn't great but it shows how tough he is," said the former All Blacks lock. "He turned up and played very well. He's so committed and what a player he is." After the final played out in front of 50,009 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium, Mo'unga paid tribute to Brave Lupus skipper Michael Leitch, who finished the season as the league's top tackler. "I'm just in awe of what he does for this club, and the man that he is, and what he stands for," he said of the 36-year-old former Japan captain. "I speak on behalf of a lot of foreigners that come to (the club), he just makes life so much easier for us, he's like a big brother. "To see him to have the success, and captain and lead this side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him."
Kyodo News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles
KYODO NEWS - 19 hours ago - 19:57 | Sports, Rugby, All Former All Black star Richie Mo'unga led Brave Lupus Tokyo to back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles in a tightly fought 18-13 win against the Kubota Spears in Sunday's championship decider. The 31-year-old flyhalf scored the opening try and set up his team's second, while adding eight points with the boot in front of 51,009 at Tokyo's National Stadium. Brave Lupus head coach Todd Blackadder revealed after the game that Mo'unga had delivered his man-of-the-match performance with a fractured hand that prevented him training throughout the preceding week. "At the start of the week we weren't sure (if he could play)," Blackadder said. "He turned up and played very well and you wouldn't have known that he had a fractured hand. That just shows how committed he is to this team and what a player he is." Blackadder's men went into the final as favorites after finishing the regular season on top of the table and cruising past the Kobe Steelers in last weekend's semifinals. As third-place finishers, head coach Frans Ludeke's Spears were coming off an extra round of playoff rugby, followed by a grueling semifinal win against the Saitama Wild Knights. Mo'unga opened the scoring in the eighth minute, creating space with a clever dummy and stepping across in the corner. The playmaking maestro missed the conversion, allowing Kubota to cut the lead to a single kick on Bernard Foley's penalty nine minutes later. Another penalty each from Mo'unga and Foley saw Brave Lupus lead 8-6 at the break after a defensive arm wrestle in the first half. Brave Lupus ran in their second try from a scrum inside their own half, with Mo'unga breaking the line and sending over center Yuto Mori, then kicking the extras for a 15-6 lead in the 48th minute. Kubota's defense held firm as winger Halatoa Vailea sat in the sin bin, before veteran center Harumichi Tatekawa scored the first try for the 2022-2023 champions, cutting the lead to five points at 18-13 with Foley's conversion in the 73rd minute. Brave Lupus were able to soak up the defensive pressure in the final minutes under dark and cloudy skies before heavy rain began soaking the Tokyo Olympic venue. Mo'unga said preparing for the match had been a "big challenge" because of his injury, sustained late in the semi against Kobe, but playing in the final was a "no-brainer." "I think you take away the injury, and my mindset is to compete and to try and win, and try to have influence, and that's what I knew I had to do today," he said. Related coverage: Japan Rugby League One to give domestic players more time on pitch
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Former All Black Richie Mo'unga plays with broken hand, leads Brave Lupus to Japan League One title
Former All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga has played through the pain of a broken hand to help the Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo defend their Japan Rugby League One title. The 31-year-old produced a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a try and setting up their other as they beat the Kubota Spears Funabashi
