Michael Leitch

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Michael Leitch

| image = Michael Leitch, 2014-06-21.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Leitch representing Japan during the June Internationals

| fullname = Michael Geoffrey Leitch

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|10|07|df=y}}

| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|105|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = Sapporo Yamanote High School

| university = Tokai University

| relatives =

| position = Number 8, Flanker

| currentclub = Toshiba Brave Lupus

| years1 = 2011–

| clubs1 = Toshiba Brave Lupus

| apps1 = 135

| points1 = 145

| years3 = 2015–2017

| clubs3 = Chiefs

| apps3 = 34

| points3 = 35

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = Sunwolves

| apps2 = 8

| points2 = 5

| repyears1 = 2008

| repteam1 = Japan U20

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 5

| repyears2 = 2008–

| repteam2 = Japan

| repcaps2 = 87

| reppoints2 = 100

| repyears3 = 2023

| repteam3 = Japan XV

| repcaps3 = 2

| reppoints3 = 0

| clubupdate = 28 August 2023

| repupdate = 28 August 2023

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2009

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Japan

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 5

| ru_sevensupdate = 28 August 2023

}}

{{nihongo|Michael Geoffrey Leitch|リーチマイケル|Rīchi Maikeru|born 7 October 1988}} is a New Zealand-born Japanese{{Cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |date=2019-10-09 |title=Brave Blossoms challenging old ideas of what it means to be Japanese |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/09/brave-blossoms-challenging-old-ideas-of-what-it-means-to-be-japanese |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} 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, to a New Zealand father and a Fijian mother. He was raised in Christchurch where he attended St Bede's College.{{cite web |url= https://michaelleitch.com/profile |title=Profile |work=michaelleitch.com |publisher=Michael Leitch |access-date=29 September 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=How 'shy boy' Leitch was moulded into a leader at Yamanote High |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/sep/24/michael-leitch-japan-rugby-world-cup-yamanote-high-vea-taumoefolau |website=The Guardian |date=24 September 2019 |access-date=28 September 2019}}

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{{cite news |title=National team united regardless of birthplace |first=Kakuya |last=Ishida |url= https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005886048?fp=5a9b4e780b047f2df243dd6927d1d978 |newspaper=The Japan News |date=20 July 2019 |access-date=29 September 2019}}{{cite web | url= http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/83734 | title=Win or lose, Japan will be fast and furious, says captain Leitch | publisher=World Rugby | work=Rugby World Cup 2015 | date=11 August 2015 | access-date=23 September 2015}} and officially inverted his name in Japanese from Michael Leitch to Leitch Michael.

Club career

After the 2011 Rugby 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.japonrugby.net/le-xv-type-de-top-league-20112012.php|title=Le XV type de Top League 2011/2012}} He followed this up by being named in the team of the season for a second season in 2012/2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.japonrugby.net/le-xy-type-de-top-league-2012-2013.php|title=Le XV type de Top League 2012/2013}}

He moved back to New Zealand after being named in the Hamilton-based {{Rut|Chiefs}} wider training squad for 2013,{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8053135/Chiefs-search-for-talent-extends-to-Japan| title=Chiefs' search for talent extends to Japan |date=10 December 2012}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10627065/Dave-Rennie-on-the-hunt-for-another-halfback | title=Dave Rennie on the hunt for another halfback | publisher=Stuff | work=Waikato Times | date=17 October 2014 | access-date=17 October 2014}}

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.{{cite web |title=Michael Leitch |url= https://www.japanrugbyclub.com/michael-leitch.html |website=Japan Rugby Club |access-date=29 September 2019}}

He impressed in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and was praised as one of Japan's best forwards,{{cite web | url= http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/limelight-too-bright-for-rising-star-leitch/1117345/ |title=Limelight too bright for rising star Leitch}} winning 'man of the match' in the loss to Tonga,{{cite web|url=http://www.rwc2011.irb.com/home/matches/match=10947/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207104219/http://www.rwc2011.irb.com/home/matches/match=10947/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-02-07|title=Tonga take control to eliminate Japan}} where he scored a try and made a try-saving tackle on Siale Piutau.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm-A4sPgRY8|title=Michael Leitch performance vs Tonga 2011|via=YouTube}}

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. 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."{{cite web |title='Eddie Jones reminded me I'm from New Zealand and New Zealanders aren't nice people... we're rough' |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/eddie-jones-reminded-me-im-from-new-zealand-and-new-zealanders-arent-nice-people-were-rough/ |website=RugbyPass |access-date=2 August 2023}} Jones returned the compliment, praising him as a "good player and a great man"{{cite web |last1=Bull |first1=Andy |title=Tireless Michael Leitch leads evolving Japan side for another run at England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/11/michael-leitch-relishes-japan-chance-to-showcase-progress-england-rugby-union |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 August 2023}}

He captained the Japan national team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, famously defeating South Africa in one of the biggest upsets ever.{{cite web | url=http://www.itv.com/rugbyworldcup/highlights/match-report-highlights-south-africa-32-34-japan-jixus6xq-h2y4vm54 | title=Match report highlights: South Africa 32-34 Japan | publisher=ITV | date=19 September 2015 | access-date=19 September 2015}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Bull |first1=Andy |title='Tireless Michael Leitch leads evolving Japan side for another run at England' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/11/michael-leitch-relishes-japan-chance-to-showcase-progress-england-rugby-union |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 August 2023}}

At the 2019 World Cup, when Japan were hosts, he led the victory over Ireland, ranked second in the world at that time,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49849736|title=Japan 19-12 Ireland: Dazzling display gives hosts shock victory|date=2019-09-28|access-date=2019-09-28|language=en-GB}} and then defeated Scotland to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time ever.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/rugby-world-cup/live-rugby-world-cup-scotland-and-japan-await-verdict-of-safety-assessment/news-story/cafe757e6b3a86460daac5005bae4719|title=History as Japan beat Scotland in epic to set up quarter-final showdown with the Springboks|date=2019-10-13|access-date=2019-10-13|language=en-GB}} 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'.{{cite web |last1=Lyall |first1=Jamie |title=The players who lit up nine Rugby World Cups |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/the-players-who-lit-up-the-rugby-world-cup/ |website=RugbyPass |access-date=2 August 2023}}

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 22 a high tackle on So'otala Fa'aso'o against Samoa in Sapporo saw him receive a red card from referee Mathieu Raynal.{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Jared |title=WATCH: Japan's Michael Leitch red-carded for a nasty high tackle in Japan's loss to Samoa |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/watch-michael-leitch-red-carded-for-a-nasty-high-tackle-against-samoa |website=Planet Rugby |access-date=2 August 2023}} He was subsequently banned for three matches by World Rugby.{{cite web |title=Independent disciplinary update: Michael Leitch (Japan) |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/827386/independent-disciplinary-update-michael-leitch-japan |website=World Rugby |access-date=2 August 2023}}

References

External links

{{sports links}}
[https://michaelleitch.com/en michaelleitch.com], official personal site
[http://www.rwc2011.irb.com/home/teams/team=49/player=34085/index.html RWC 2011 profile]
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624153700/http://www.chiefs.co.nz/the-team/team-gallery/michael-leitch.html |title=Chiefs profile }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1988 births

Category:Japanese people of I-Taukei Fijian descent

Category:New Zealand people of I-Taukei Fijian descent

Category:Rugby union players from Christchurch

Category:New Zealand rugby union players

Category:Japanese rugby union players

Category:Japan international rugby union players