Michael Leitch
Leitch representing Japan during the June Internationals
Full nameMichael Geoffrey Leitch
Date of birth (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988
Place of birthChristchurch, New Zealand
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb)
SchoolSapporo Yamanote High School
UniversityTokai University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
Current team Toshiba Brave Lupus
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011– Toshiba Brave Lupus 135 (145)
2015–2017 Chiefs 34 (35)
2013 Sunwolves 8 (5)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 Japan U20 5 (5)
2008– Japan 80 (100)
2023 Japan XV 2 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2009 Japan 1
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Michael Geoffrey Leitch (リーチ マイケル, Rīchi Maikeru, born 7 October 1988) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Born in New Zealand, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

Early life

Leitch was born in Burwood, Christchurch, New Zealand,[1] to a European New Zealander father and a Fijian mother. He was raised in Christchurch where he attended St Bede's College.[1] In 2004, at the age of 15, he went to Sapporo Yamanote High School in Sapporo, Japan, as part of St Bede's school exchange program.[1][2]

After finishing school he attended Tokai University and in 2008 captained the Japan U20 team at the Junior World Championship. He became a Japanese national in 2013[3][4] and officially inverted his name in Japanese from Michael Leitch to Leitch Michael.

Club career

After the World Cup he joined the Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League. In his first season he was named in the league's team of the season and given the award of "revelation of the season" at the end of the season awards.[5] He followed this up by being named in the team of the season for a second season in 2012/2013.[6]

He moved back to New Zealand after being named in the Hamilton-based Chiefs wider training squad for 2013,[7] but was denied the chance to play after breaking an arm. He got a second chance with the Chiefs, signing a contract with the side for the 2015 Super Rugby season.[8]

International career

He made his test match debut for Japan in 2008 against the USA in Nagoya aged 20, receiving a yellow card in that game for a dangerous tackle. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the national side. His first try came against Kazakhstan in April 2009.[9]

He impressed in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and was praised as one of Japan's best forwards,[10] winning 'man of the match' in the loss to Tonga,[11] where he scored a try and made a try-saving tackle on Siale Piutau.[12]

In his first match back from injury, playing for Japan against Fiji in June, he broke a leg. He was appointed Japan captain by coach Eddie Jones in April 2014, becoming the second New Zealand-born player to lead the Brave Blossoms after Andrew McCormick in the 1990s.[9] Leitch has spoken highly of Jones, saying in a 2019 interview that "Eddie helped me realise I am not Japanese... he is the one that reminded me I am from New Zealand and New Zealanders are not nice people... we're rough... That's probably the biggest piece of advice he has given me to take me from a good player to a better player."[13] Jones returned the compliment, praising him as a "good player and a great man"[14]

He captained the Japan national team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, famously defeating South Africa in one of the biggest upsets ever.[15] This victory is the core of the film The Brighton Miracle, in which he is played by Lasarus Ratuere; but also appears as himself.

For the 2018 season, Leitch moved to the Sunwolves, the Japanese Super Rugby team. In November of that year, he scored against England at Twickenham Stadium. His side led 15-10 at half-time, but eventually lost 35-15.[16]

At the 2019 World Cup, when Japan were hosts, he led the victory over Ireland, ranked second in the world at that time,[17] and then defeated Scotland to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time ever.[18] Looking back on the tournament in 2023, the website RugbyPass labelled him as one of the players of the tournament, describing his leadership of the host nation's team as 'heroic'.[19]

There is a statue of Leitch in one of the communal parks in Tokyo. During the 2019 World Cup it was a popular place for fans to have their photos taken.

Ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he was described as in 'vintage form' for the Brave Lupus by RugbyPass. However, on July 22nd a high tackle on So'otala Fa'aso'o against Samoa in Sapporo saw him receive a red card from referee Mathieu Raynal.[20] He was subsequently banned for three matches by World Rugby.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Profile". michaelleitch.com. Michael Leitch. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "How 'shy boy' Leitch was moulded into a leader at Yamanote High". The Guardian. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Ishida, Kakuya (20 July 2019). "National team united regardless of birthplace". The Japan News. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  4. ↑ "Win or lose, Japan will be fast and furious, says captain Leitch". Rugby World Cup 2015. World Rugby. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Le XV type de Top League 2011/2012".
  6. ↑ "Le XV type de Top League 2012/2013".
  7. ↑ "Chiefs' search for talent extends to Japan". 10 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Dave Rennie on the hunt for another halfback". Waikato Times. Stuff. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Michael Leitch". Japan Rugby Club. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "Limelight too bright for rising star Leitch".
  11. ↑ "Tonga take control to eliminate Japan". Archived from the original on 7 February 2012.
  12. ↑ "Michael Leitch performance vs Tonga 2011" – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "'Eddie Jones reminded me I'm from New Zealand and New Zealanders aren't nice people... we're rough'". RugbyPass. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Bull, Andy. "Tireless Michael Leitch leads evolving Japan side for another run at England". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Match report highlights: South Africa 32-34 Japan". ITV. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Bull, Andy. "'Tireless Michael Leitch leads evolving Japan side for another run at England'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Japan 19-12 Ireland: Dazzling display gives hosts shock victory". 28 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "History as Japan beat Scotland in epic to set up quarter-final showdown with the Springboks". 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  19. ↑ Lyall, Jamie. "The players who lit up nine Rugby World Cups". RugbyPass. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  20. ↑ Wright, Jared. "WATCH: Japan's Michael Leitch red-carded for a nasty high tackle in Japan's loss to Samoa". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Independent disciplinary update: Michael Leitch (Japan)". World Rugby. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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