Latest news with #MichaelLeitch
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Back-to-back League One champion Richie Mo'unga repeats as MVP
KYODO NEWS - 9 hours ago - 23:18 | Sports, Rugby, All Brave Lupus Tokyo flyhalf Richie Mo'unga collected his second straight Japan Rugby League One most valuable player award Monday, a day after leading the club to back-to-back championships. The 31-year-old former All Black excelled throughout a 2024-2025 season, culminating in a man-of-the-match performance Sunday as Brave Lupus secured the title with an 18-13 win against the Kubota Spears at Tokyo's National Stadium. He was among a league-best six Brave Lupus players who earned selection to the League One team of the season, joining the likes of No. 8 Michael Leitch and fullback Takuro Matsunaga. South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx and Tongan-born prop Opeti Helu were selected from runners-up Kubota. Shizuoka BlueRevs scrumhalf Shuntaro Kitamura received the rookie of the year award. Related coverage: Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Back-to-back League One champion Richie Mo'unga repeats as MVP
KYODO NEWS - 10 minutes ago - 23:18 | Sports, Rugby, All Brave Lupus Tokyo flyhalf Richie Mo'unga collected his second straight Japan Rugby League One most valuable player award Monday, a day after leading the club to back-to-back championships. The 31-year-old former All Black excelled throughout a 2024-2025 season, culminating in a man-of-the-match performance Sunday as Brave Lupus secured the title with an 18-13 win against the Kubota Spears at Tokyo's National Stadium. He was among a league-best six Brave Lupus players who earned selection to the League One team of the season, joining the likes of No. 8 Michael Leitch and fullback Takuro Matsunaga. South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx and Tongan-born prop Opeti Helu were selected from runners-up Kubota. Shizuoka BlueRevs scrumhalf Shuntaro Kitamura received the rookie of the year award. Related coverage: Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style
CNA
4 days 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 days 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."
Japan Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Japan rugby tightens eligibility rules on foreign-born players
Rugby player Warner Dearns was born in New Zealand but represents the Japan national team rugby union Japanese rugby chiefs on Tuesday announced a shake-up of eligibility rules aiming to give local players more time on the pitch but casting doubt over the future of naturalized internationals. Foreign-born players have played a prominent role for Japan's national team, who stunned South Africa at the 2015 World Cup and reached the quarterfinals on home soil four years later. But Japan Rugby League One said domestic clubs will have to field at least eight players who were raised in the country from the 2026-27 season. Exceptions will be made for players who have more than 30 caps for Japan. The league said the change was needed to encourage more Japan-born players to pursue professional careers. More than half of the players who started last season's Japanese championship final were born overseas. They included former Japan captain Michael Leitch, who has won 87 caps since making his international debut in 2008. Leitch was born in New Zealand but moved to Japan at the age of 15 to attend high school as part of an exchange program. Under the current rules, Japanese clubs must field at least 11 players eligible to be selected for the country's national team. This group can include foreign-born players who have been continuously registered with a Japanese club for four years. Under the new rules, a new category will be created for players who spent at least six years in the Japanese education system before going to high school. Teams must field at least eight of these players at any one time, squeezing out foreign-born Japan internationals who do not meet the criteria. Were the rule to come into force today, several current Japan internationals including center Dylan Riley and lock Warner Dearns would miss out. © 2025 AFP
