Tag Archives: Michael Leitch

Witnessing History As England Play A Rugby Match In Japan For The First Time In 45 Years!

Rugby in Japan was very much a minor sport when I first saw the national team in live action back in June 2005 as they were thrashed by Ireland. Things changed a decade later though on the back of that … Continue reading

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Twists & Turns Aplenty At Japan’s Title-Deciding Rugby Play-Off Final

At the end of a long league season, it is my opinion that the team finishing top should be crowned as champions. However, some sports have some money-spinning play-off matches to decide who the champions are. Since the turn of … Continue reading

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The Good, The Bad & The Rugby! My Return To Kashiwa’s Secondary Stadium After 19 Years!

Like many people in Japan I was keen to see some domestic rugby on the back of the country hosting a successful World Cup in 2019. However, Covid_19 came along and a lot of the momentum for rugby’s growth was … Continue reading

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Japan & South Africa Meet For The First Time Since “That” Huge Shock In 2015

  It was one of the biggest upsets in sporting history and helped propel rugby into the consciousness of a nation where the game had often just been a footnote on sports bulletins. I am of course talking about Japan’s … Continue reading

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The Rise Of Rugby In Japan! The Brave Blossoms Play Scotland In Front Of A Record Crowd In Tokyo

  Japan’s Brave Blossoms late injury time win over the giants of South Africa last year was undoubtedly the greatest shock in the history of the Rugby World Cup. Not only that but it was one of the biggest giant … Continue reading

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