Yasunori Watanabe
{{More citations needed|date=June 2010}}
{{ infobox rugby biography
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1974|7|2}}
| birth_place = Tokyo[http://www.japonrugby.net/un-destin-tragique-yasunori-watanabe.php Un destin tragique: Yasunori Watanabe] Japon Rugby
| death_date = {{dda|2010|4|3|1974|7|2}}
| death_place = Kamakura Kanagawa Prefecture
| height = 1.92 m
| weight = {{convert|104|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Lock, Flanker
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| years1 =
| clubs1 =
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| repyears1 = 1996–2007
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Japan}}
| repcaps1 = 32
| reppoints1 = 40
}}
{{Nihongo|Yasunori Watanabe|渡辺泰憲|Watanabe Yasunori}} (2 July 1974 – 3 April 2010) was a Japanese rugby player, who played for Japan in three Rugby World Cups from 1999 to 2007.
Career
Watanabe was born in Hokkaido, and joined the team Toshiba Brave Lupus in Tokyo in 1997 after graduating from Nippon Sport Science University. He played 32 times for the national team and in Brave Lupus's hat-trick of Japanese domestic league titles between 2004 and 2006.
Death
On 3 April 2010, Yasunori died at the age of 35, when he fell off a train station platform and was hit by a train at Kamakura Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. An employee at the station saw Watanabe fall at about 9:30 p.m.[http://www.47news.jp/CN/201004/CN2010040501000076.html "ラグビー元日本代表が転落死 鎌倉駅で渡辺泰憲さん" (5 April 2010)] Retrieved 16 April 2010 {{in lang|ja}}
References
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- {{ESPNscrum|12224}}
- The Guardian: [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/05/japan-rugby-yasunori-watanabe-killed "Japan rugby player Yasunori Watanabe killed after being hit by train" (5 April 2010)] Retrieved 16 April 2010. {{in lang|en}}
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{{reflist}}
{{Japan Squad 2007 World Cup}}
{{Japan 2003 World Cup Squad}}
{{Japan squad - 1999 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watanabe, Yasunori}}
Category:Japanese rugby union players
Category:Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players
Category:Railway accident deaths in Japan
Category:Japan international rugby union players
Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players
Category:Nippon Sport Science University alumni
Category:Rugby union players from Tokyo