Michael Leitch rugby player
Michael Leitch rugby player

Michael Leitch

7th Oct 1988 1.88m/115kg Blindside Flanker

Rugby World Cup 2023 Match Preview: England v Japan

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Veteran Michael Leitch will become Japan’s most capped Rugby World Cup player when he runs onto the pitch at Stade de Nice for his 15th tournament match on Sunday.   He is one of 13 survivors...

Michael Leitch sets Brave Blossoms record

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his match-day squad to face England in Pool D at Stade de Nice on Sunday, 17 September, with back-row Michael Leitch on course to make his 15th Rugby World Cup appearance. 1...

Rugby World Cup 2023 round one review

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Eight matches down, another 40 to come – and Rugby World Cup 2023 is already setting a high bar. France and New Zealand defied energy-sapping temperatures at Stade de France to put on...

Japan score six tries to beat Chile in Toulouse

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Second-row Amato Fakatava scored two tries as Japan defeated Chile 42-12 with a bonus-point performance at the Stadium de Toulouse in Pool D on Sunday.Fly-half Rodrigo Fernandez scored Chile's first ever...

Japan v Chile: Match Preview

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Chile, the lowest-ranked side to qualify the 2023 tournament, make their Rugby World Cup debut against a Japan side that sit eight places above them in World Rugby's rankings. The South Americans have...

Japan name team to play Chile

11 months ago by Ultimate Rugby

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his match-day 23 to face Chile in Toulouse on Sunday. 1 Keita Inagaki 2 Atsushi Sakate 3 Jiwon Gu 4 Jack Cornelsen 5 Amato Fakatava 6 Michael...

Match Day Programme: Italy v Japan

1 year ago by Ultimate Rugby

The Azzurri will take on The Brave Blossoms in their final match of the Summer Nation Series. The game will be played at the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo, in Treviso on August 26th, 2023. Both teams will...

Brave Blossoms named to Take on Italy Ahead of RWC

1 year ago by Ultimate Rugby

With only two weeks remaining until Rugby World Cup 2023 kicks off in France, Japan Head Coach, Jamie Joseph has today named his Brave Blossoms side to take on Italy in Treviso, this Saturday, 26 August...

Japan 2023 World Cup Squad Announced

1 year ago by Ultimate Rugby

With just 24 days to go until Rugby World Cup kicks off in France, the Japan Rugby Football Union has announced the Brave Blossoms 2023 World Cup squad.   Revealed today by Head Coach Jamie...

Updated Men's World Rankings

1 year ago by Ultimate Rugby

Japan are at their lowest position in almost eight years after their loss this weekend. Saturday’s 35-12 defeat to Fiji in Tokyo will see them fall two places to 14th, a position they...