Yoshitaka Yazaki (born 12 May 2004) is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays for Waseda University and for the Japan national team.[1]
| Full name | Yoshitaka Yazaki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 12 May 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Toin Gakuen High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Waseda University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editClub
editHe plays for Waseda University playing in the Japan University Rugby Championship.[2]
International
editHe was named in the Japan under-19 squad for their tour of Ireland going on to score in the first test against Ireland under-19.[3][4][5] He went on to be called up to the Japan under-20 squad, making his debut against New Zealand Universities.[6] He went on to start in all of Japan under-20s games in the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.[7]
He featured in all of Japan XV games in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge, scoring a try against Manuma Samoa and Tonga A, going to score a brace against the Fiji Warriors. He played against the Māori All Blacks twice in 2024, starting at fullback in both matches he scored a penalty in the second match.[8] His impressive performances led him to being called up to the senior Japan squad by Eddie Jones.
He made his debut for the senior Japan side in their first match of 2024, starting at fullback in a 17–52 loss against England.[9][10]
Honors
editJapan XV
edit- World Rugby Pacific Challenge
- Champions: (1) 2024
References
edit- ^ "Yoshitaka YAZAKI - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "矢崎由高 Player Profiles". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Irish Rugby | Ireland Under-19s Lose Series Opener Against Japan". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Japan Under 19 Complete Memorable Tour of Ireland". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Le groupe U19 japonais pour la tournée en Irlande". www.asierugby.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Jpana U20 vs NZU Jpana U20 vs NZU Japan U20 vs NZU Results". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Yoshitaka YAZAKI profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ worldrugby.org. "World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Jamie George: 'Tough day' planned for Japan rookie Yoshitaka Yazaki". www.rugbypass.com. 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "England vows to go after Eddie Jones' bold new choice at Japan fullback". AP News. 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-07-13.