Rinka Matsuda
{{Short description|Japanese rugby union and sevens player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Rinka Matsuda
| birth_date ={{bda|2001|12|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/rinka-matsuda_1908715|title=MATSUDA Rinka|website=Olympic Games (Official Site)|access-date=2024-11-09}}
| height_cm = 170
| weight_kg = 73
| ru_position =Fullback
| repyears1 =?–Present
| repteam1 ={{ruw|JPN}}
| repcaps1 =6
| reppoints1 =0
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =2019–Present
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 ={{ru7w|JPN}}
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
}}
Rinka Matsuda (born 5 December 2001) is a Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She competed for Japan at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup and for the Japanese women's sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Rugby career
= Sevens =
In 2019, Matsuda was just a 17 year old third-year high school student when she made her international sevens debut.{{Cite web |last=Shimizu |first=Ayano |date=2019-04-20 |title=Rugby: Japanese teenager shines in Sevens series debut |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/04/fc15c24be57c-rugby-japanese-teenager-shines-in-sevens-series-debut.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Kyodo News+}}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-20 |title=Sakura Sevens lose three times in Kitakyushu event |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/04/20/rugby/sakura-sevens-lose-three-times-kitakyushu-event/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}} It was at the Japan leg of the 2018–19 Women's Sevens Series in Kitakyushu, she started in all three of Japan's matches.
She was initially expected to make her Olympic debut in her home city for the 2020 Olympics, but was replaced a week before the Games due to injury.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-19 |title=Rugby Sevens National Teams Selected for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games |url=http://en.rugby-japan.jp/?p=28125 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Japan Rugby Football Union |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=MATSUDA Rinka – Paris 2024 |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/rinka-matsuda_1908715 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=olympics.com}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-25 |title=Olympics: Japan's Sevens teams hoping to build on momentum from Rio, RWC 2019 |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/07/08bec3b8b8c5-olympics-japans-sevens-teams-hoping-to-build-on-momentum-from-rio-rwc-2019.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Kyodo News+}}
In 2023, She was a member of the side that won a silver medal at the delayed 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. She competed for Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Japan's Olympic Sevens Teams Revealed Alongside New National Sevens Jersey |url=http://en.rugby-japan.jp/?p=31067 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Japan Rugby Football Union |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Japan - Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/olympics/paris-2024/participating-nations/japan |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=www.world.rugby}}
= XVs =
In 2022, She scored a try in Japan's historic 29–10 win over Ireland ahead of the World Cup.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-27 |title=Rugby: Japan's Sakura 15 earn historic win over Ireland |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/08/2e4704d7e8db-rugby-japans-sakura-15-earn-historic-win-over-ireland.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Kyodo News+}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Sakura Fifteen earn historic win over Ireland |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/08/28/rugby/sakura-fifteen-ireland-second-test/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}} She competed for Japan at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup Squad Announced |url=http://en.rugby-japan.jp/?p=29524 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Japan Rugby Football Union |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cantillon |first=Michael |date=2022-10-07 |title=Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand - Teams Guide for Pools A, B, and C as Red Roses seek glory |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12711797/womens-rugby-world-cup-in-new-zealand-teams-guide-for-pools-a-b-and-c-as-red-roses-seek-glory |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.skysports.com}}
Personal life
Her father is former Japanese international, Tsutomu Matsuda, who represented Japan in fifteens and sevens.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Japan Women's sevens squad 2024 Olympics}}
{{Japan 2021 RWC Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matsuda, Rinka}}
Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Japan
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Rugby union players from Tokyo
Category:Japan international women's rugby sevens players
Category:Japanese female rugby union players
Category:Japan women's international rugby union players
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2022 Asian Games
Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Japan
Category:Asian Games medalists in rugby union