Atsushi Hiwasa jins Stade Français

[Melhor Time]

Pretty big news this.

A Japanese scrumhalf playing in Paris.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Great news for him and for Japanese rugby.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Massive. At the end of the day some of these players in the tier's below the big boys are some potentially some very good players.

French giants Stade Français have announced the arrival of Japanese international scrum-half Atsushi Hiwasa on a short-term deal.

24-year-old Hiwasa has ten caps for Japan, including four at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Standing just 166cm tall and weighing 72kg, Hiwasa arrives from Suntory Sungoliaths - the same club as George Smith - and has signed a contract until the end of the season.

http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3551_7619974,00.html

 

[welshglory]

Wonderful news, i was mightily impressed by him during the world cup. The other scrum half was pretty good as well from what i remember, i think they rotate quite a lot. Also the Japanese hooker had great skills and pace, he'd be a good signing as well!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

This guy has an extremely quick pass. He's not playing though, he joined the training squad but has no licence to play in France. He asked to go there to learn and stuff, as a part of a long-term collaboration agreement between the two clubs. (in french: http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2011-2012/un-japonais-a-paris_sto3207139/story.shtml)

 

[welshglory]

That is a pretty important detail...

 

[SelimNiai]

Funnily enough we were chatting about this breifly on the podcast last night (SPOILER)

Can only be good for Japanese Rugby to have one of their players bought by one of Europes best on merit rather than to have past-it big names go over there for a retirement fund.

 

[welshglory]

Doesn't look they've bought him, more like a loan deal

 

[Jockstap]

72 kgs, good luck mate, you can be the best tackler in the world but you can't defy the laws of physics. He gonna get knocked the **** out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Matt Morgan's about that size for Ospreys, isn't he?

 

[welshglory]

Morgan tries to claim he's 5'8, no way in hell! More like 5'5/5'6

 

[psychic duck]

Wonderful news, i was mightily impressed by him during the world cup. The other scrum half was pretty good as well from what i remember, i think they rotate quite a lot. Also the Japanese hooker had great skills and pace, he'd be a good signing as well!

I think you were thinking of Tanaka not Hiwasa, Tanaka was first choice throughout the World Cup Hiwasa was the bench scrum half and only started the New Zealand match where the second team was played, but I agree the Japanese scrum halves looked very lively and crisp at the World Cup one of the best parts of their play

Hiwasa kept George Gregan out of the Suntory side by the way, but this season he has been mainly reserve behind Fourie du Preez

I wonder whether Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika know each other well and that is why two Suntory Sungoliath players have signed up for Stade

72 kgs, good luck mate, you can be the best tackler in the world but you can't defy the laws of physics. He gonna get knocked the **** out.

He was the lightest player at the World Cup, but what you say is not true, you can small and a passable tackler if you work hard at it, just not going to be making spectacular hits

 

[Robert Prosser]

Matt Morgan's about that size for Ospreys, isn't he?

Yep 73kg most sources say well all I checked did.

Its a great move for the lad and especially significant to the improvement of Japanese rugby one of their own playing for a top team in a top league willl have a huge impact on the fans in Japan.

 

[lucky number 7]

I disagree with the claim that at 73 kg's he is going to be ktfo , Technique is bloody everything I'm currently hovering at around 78 and I have fallen off one tackle all season in my first season at mens rugby.

As you said Physics is Physics and a few ponds of pressure to a mans ankles and the capacity to wrap your arms and you can take down any mutant forward

 

[Aedaphon]

Great news for the Japanese rugby community.

I hope this marks the start of a trend. The northern hemispheres had pacific islanders in their club sides for years, and a pretty noticeable Russian and Georgian influx as of the last few too... No reason Japan shouldn't be there as well!

 

[nickdnz]

Yeah, as SelimNiai said we were discussing the lack of Japanese players in other clubs. I think those players going over is what is needed to an extent, to grow their own game back home. If you have those players playing and learning professional rugby from the best teams in the NH, then when they go back to play either club or international rugby in Japan, the other guys learn off them quickly. An example of this is soccer is how players playing in other professional leagues than the A-League such a Ryan Nelson come back with a ton of first class experience to share with the All Whites.

 

[psychic duck]

the Japan hooker Shota Horie and the first choice Japan scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka are close to signing with Otago for the ITM Cup also

 

[Me 1]

the Japan hooker Shota Horie and the first choice Japan scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka are close to signing with Otago for the ITM Cup also

That would be big news too, they were great at the world cup.