Kanako Kobayashi
Date of birth (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars (0)
2021–2022 Exeter Chiefs 16 (20)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–Present  Japan 9 (10)

Kanako Kobayashi (born 13 November 1998) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays at center for Japan's women's national rugby union team.

Early career

Kobayashi started playing as a nine year old because there was a rugby pitch near her home in Fujisawa.[1] Her parents were also rugby fans and always encouraged her.[1] She had earned a coveted spot at a high school renowned for producing rugby players in Shimane Prefecture, she then joined Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo, which also happened to have the strongest women’s team in Japan.[1]

Professional career

In 2021, Kobayashi became the fourth Japanese woman to play professionally in England. She signed a one-year contract with the Exeter Chiefs, she joined them straight from the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars in Japan.[2][1] In her first season, she scored four tries in 16 appearances and helped Exeter win the Allianz Cup.[3][4] She missed the entire 2022–23 Premier 15s season due to a serious knee injury.[3][4]

Kobayashi is set to make a return to Exeter for the upcoming 2023–24 Premiership Rugby season.[3][4]

International career

Kobayashi was named in the Sakura fifteens tour of Europe in 2019, and made her test debut in the draw with Italy on 16 November.[5][6][7]

In 2021, she was named in Japan's squad for their Autumn Test series in November.[8] She was named on the bench for the test against Wales, but started in the matches against Scotland and Ireland.[9][10][11]

On 10 September 2023, Kobayashi scored a try against Fiji in the first test of the Taiyo Seimei Challenge Series; she also made an appearance in the second test.[12][13] She was then named in the Sakura fifteens side for the inaugural WXV 2 tournament that was held in South Africa in October.[14][15] She was in the starting line up in the opening match against Italy, and was moved from inside to outside-centre against Samoa for the second round.[16][17] She was then injured in the final match against Scotland in the 26th minute.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ryall, Julian (2022-04-20). "The rising stars of Japanese rugby bringing the sport to a new generation". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  2. ↑ "Kanako Kobayashi signe un contrat professionnel chez Exeter Chiefs". Asierugby (in French). 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  3. 1 2 3 "Japan centre Kobayashi to return to Exeter". BBC Sport. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Stevens, Mark (2023-07-13). "Kobayashi returning to the Chiefs". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  5. ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Tour of Europe 2019 Squad". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. ↑ "女子日本代表対女子イタリア代表の試合結果及びHC、キャプテンのコメントのお知らせ｜日本ラグビーフットボール協会｜RUGBY：FOR ALL「ノーサイドの精神」を、日本へ、世界へ。". www.rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  7. ↑ Birch, John (2019-11-16). "Italy escape from Japanese shock". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  8. ↑ Scott-Munro, Harry (2021-10-30). "Chiefs duo named in Japanese squad". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  9. ↑ Birch, John (2021-11-07). "Confidence building win for Wales". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  10. ↑ Birch, John (2021-11-14). "Experience the difference between Scotland and Japan". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  11. ↑ Walsh, Daire (2021-11-20). "Ciara Griffin claims two tries in last game as Ireland edge Japan". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  12. ↑ "Japan Sakura Fifteen Look To Close Out Taiyo Seimei Japan Rugby Challenge Series 2023 Against Fiji". RugbyAsia247. 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  13. ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Second Home Test Against Fijiana". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  14. ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Squad Announced for Inaugural WXV 2". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  15. ↑ "WXV 2: Anticipation builds for South Africa as squads named". www.world.rugby. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  16. ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Opening WXV Clash Against Italy". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  17. ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Samoa WXV Match". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  18. ↑ "WXV 2: Scotland get the job done against Japan, South Africa win". www.wxvrugby.com. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
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