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Kotaro Matsushima

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Kotaro Matsushima
Matsushima representing Japan during the Rugby World Cup
Full nameKotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima
Date of birth (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb; 13 st 12 lb)
SchoolGraeme College
Tōin Gakuen High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing, Centre
Current team Tokyo Sungoliath
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Sharks 2 (5)
2014–2020 Tokyo Sungoliath 55 (125)
2015 Eastern Suburbs 7 (5)
2016 Melbourne Rebels 5 (0)
2017–2018 Sunwolves 14 (7)
2020–2022 Clermont 45 (55)
2022– Tokyo Sungoliath 16 (15)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014– Japan 51 (115)
2023 Japan XV 2 (5)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima (松島 幸太朗, Matsushima Kōtarō, born 26 February 1993) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath. Born in South Africa, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Matsushima was born in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Japanese mother and a Zimbabwean Shona father. He acquired Japanese nationality at the age of 5 and moved to Japan the following year with his family. After graduating from the local elementary school in Tokyo (where he played soccer), he lived for one year in South Africa and started playing rugby.[4] He finished his junior schooling at Graeme College in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. He played for the U13a rugby side and won the most outstanding player of the year award. He returned to Japan at the age of 13 and finished his schooling at Tōin Gakuen High School in Yokohama.[5]

Club career

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Sharks

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Matsushima returned to South Africa in 2012, enrolling at the Sharks Academy in Durban, becoming the first Japanese player to do so.[6] He played Under-20 club rugby for Harlequins and started twelve matches for the Sharks U19 side in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries as his side reached the semi-final of the competition, where they lost 46–35 to the Blue Bulls U19 side despite a Matsushima try early in the second half.[7] At the end of 2012, Matsushima was also invited to attend a training camp for the South African Under-20 team in preparation for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.[8]

Matsushima made his first class debut for a Sharks XV side during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their final round-robin match against Argentine side Pampas XV. He took just three minutes to add his name to the scoresheet by scoring an early try to set the Sharks on their way to a 46–31 victory in the match in Durban.[9][10] He also played in their quarter-final match against eventual champions Golden Lions, but could not prevent his side suffering a 25–42 loss to be eliminated from the competition.[11] In the latter half of 2013, he featured prominently for the Sharks U21 side in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries in eleven starts as his side reached the semi-finals of the competition, where they were eliminated by the Blue Bulls U21s.[12]

Tokyo Sungoliath

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Matsushima joined Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath prior to the 2014–15 Top League season. He made his debut for the side in the opening round of the tournament in a 17–13 victory over Coca-Cola Red Sparks. Two more appearances followed in the pool stage of the competition – against Kintetsu Liners and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes – to help his side finish in second position in Pool B to qualify for Group 1, the title play-offs. He started all seven of their matches in Group 1 in the outside centre position and scored four tries – two of those in their final group match against Toyota Verblitz in a 40–19 victory – as they finished fifth in the group to qualify for the wildcard play-offs.

His performances also earned him an inclusion in the Top League Team of the Season.[13]

Super Rugby

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Matsushima joined Australian Super Rugby side the Waratahs prior to the 2015 Super Rugby season.[14]

Matsushima joined Australian Super Rugby side the Rebels on a short-term deal for the 2016 Super Rugby season.[15]

Clermont

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Matsushima joined French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne following the 2020 Top League season.[16] He made his debut in a 36–27 defeat to Racing 92 in the 2019-20 European Rugby Champions Cup, scoring a try. However, his Top 14 debut against Toulouse ended after 16 minutes because of an injury.[17] His first start since returning from injury saw him score his first two tries in domestic competition, in a 50–29 win over Pau. He made important contributions to Clermont's 2020-21 European Rugby Champions Cup campaign, scoring a hat-trick in a 51–38 away win at Bristol Bears in the pool stage and a decisive late try in the Round of 16 against Wasps.[18][19] His second season in France was cut short by injury, damaging his shoulder in defeat to Leicester Tigers in April 2022, which would prove to be his final performance for Les Jaunards.[20][21] His contribution to the team was praised by coach Franck Azéma, who described how Matsushima "has speed, punch, he brings a certain execution in the gesture. He has speed that everyone sees but he has a great knowledge of the fundamentals of the position of full-back or winger. He's comfortable with the ball and that is what you expect from an ASM player."[22] Matsushima spoke highly of how his experience developed his game, saying "I gained a lot of match experience and have become more mentally composed. I've gotten better at making quick decisions."[23]

International career

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Matsushima made his international debut for Japan on 3 May 2014 in a 2014 Asian Five Nations match (which doubled as a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifier) against the Philippines in Manila. He scored tries in the 36th and 71st minutes of the match to help Japan secure a comprehensive 99–10 victory over the hosts.[24][25] He also played in their next match against Sri Lanka, scoring a try in their 132–10 victory,[26] as well as their next match against South Korea[27] and in test matches against Samoa, Romania and Georgia.

At the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Matsushima started in Japan's 34–32 upset win over South Africa, providing the assist for Ayumu Goromaru's try.[28] He received a yellow card in defeat to Scotland, but scored his first Rugby World Cup try in a 28–18 victory over the USA at Kingsholm.[29][30]

Matsushima was integral at the 2019 Rugby World Cup as Japan reached the knockout stages for the first time. Matsushima scored Japan's first World Cup hat-trick against Russia on 20 September 2019 in the opening game of the tournament in Tokyo and was also awarded the player of the match in the same match.[31] Against Ireland at Shizuoka Stadium he performed well again, being denied two tries only by an unfavourable bounce of the ball.[32] In their third pool game against Samoa at Toyota Stadium, Matsushima scored with the final play of the game to give the Brave Blossoms a crucial bonus point in a 38–19 victory.[33] In the 28–21 victory over Scotland that qualified Japan for the knockout stage, he scored his side's opening try, before his break helped to set up Keita Inagaki's score.[34] Japan were eliminated by eventual champions South Africa in the quarter-finals, but Matsushima was named in the team of the tournament by ESPN and The Guardian, with honourable mentions from Sky Sports and Rugby365.[35][36][37][38]

Personal life

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Matsushima's performances in the Japan team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup made him a star in his country. He is now one of the most influential athletes in Japan,[39] and his spell at ASM Clermont Auvergne in France was considered a sporting and marketing winning affair for the club and the city.[40]

Career statistics

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Club summary

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As of 26 July 2016[41]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2015 Waratahs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 Rebels 5 0 5 105 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 0 5 105 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Kotaro Matsushima". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "It's Rugby Player Profile Kotaro Matsushima". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  3. ^ "ESPN Scrum Player Profile Kotaro Matsushima". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. ^ 開幕戦3トライ　松島幸太朗「悲しみを乗り越えて」日本の至宝に フライデイ、2019年09月20日
  5. ^ O'Donoghue, J.J.; Gray, Gavan. "Imagining a Japan that thinks beyond blood and binary distinctions". Community. The Japan Times. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Earthquake Disaster Fund". KZN Rugby. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls 46–35 Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Bokkies hou eerste oefenkamp vir Wêreldtoernooi" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  9. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 46–31 ICBC Pampas XV". South African Rugby Union. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Sharks XV finish top". Sharks. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 25–42 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 36–13 The Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  13. ^ "「ジャパンラグビー トップリーグ2014–2015 年間表彰式」受賞者決定のお知らせ" [Winners at 2014–2015 Top League awards ceremony] (in Japanese). Top League. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Matsushima signs with Waratahs" (Press release). Waratahs. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Rebels sign Matsushima" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Kotaro Matsushima to join French side Clermont". The Japan Times Online. 29 January 2020. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  17. ^ "'You have to give him the ball because every time he touches it, he is dangerous'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Heineken Champions Cup: Bristol 38-51 Clermont". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  19. ^ "The Paolo Odogwu show is ruined as Clermont ambush Wasps with last-gasp converted try". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  20. ^ Nolan, Lawrence. "Champions Cup: Antoine Dupont misses training, Kotaro Matsushima out 'several weeks'". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Clermont's Katuro Matsushima bids farewell to French fans before returning to Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  22. ^ "'You have to give him the ball because every time he touches it, he is dangerous'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Clermont's Kotaro Matsushima bids farewell to French fans before returning to Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Philippines v Japan at Silangan". ESPN Scrum. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  25. ^ "2014 Asian 5 Nations, TOP 5, Match 3". World Rugby. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  26. ^ "2014 Asian 5 Nations, TOP 5, Match 6". World Rugby. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  27. ^ "2014 Asian 5 Nations, TOP 5, Match 7". World Rugby. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  28. ^ Beirne, Kevin; Clarke, Paul. "Who is Kotaro Matsushima? The lowdown on Japan's Rugby World Cup hat-trick hero". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  29. ^ Bryant, Tom. "Scotland v Japan: Rugby World Cup 2015- as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Delighted Eddie Jones hails Japan's heroes after landmark tournament". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  31. ^ Sep 20, A. P.; ET, 2019 at 8:54a (20 September 2019). "Host Japan beats Russia 30-10 in Rugby World Cup opener". FOX Sports. Retrieved 20 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Morrow, Michael. "Japan 19-12 Ireland: Dazzling display gives hosts shock victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Japan leave it late to claim bonus-point win against Samoa". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  34. ^ English, Tom. "Japan 28-21 Scotland: Gregor Townsend's side out of Rugby World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  35. ^ Hamilton, Tom. "Rugby World Cup 2019- ESPN's Team of the Tournament". ESPN. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2019: Guardian writers' teams of the tournament". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2019: Team of the tournament". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  38. ^ "World Cup 2019: Team of the Tournament". Rugby 365. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  39. ^ Kyodo News, Japanese sports stars make Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2020 list[1]
  40. ^ Ouest-France, Coupe d’Europe. Franck Azéma : « Kotaro Matsushima s’est trouvé une légitimité grâce au terrain » [2]
  41. ^ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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