Toshiaki Hirose
| Date of birth | October 17, 1981 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Osaka, Japan | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 83 kg (13 st 1 lb) | ||
| School | Kitano High School | ||
| University | Keio University | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Wing, Fly-half | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2004- | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 123 | (315) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2007- | Japan | 23 | (55) |
| correct as of 28 November 2014. | |||
| Sevens national teams | |||
| Years | Club / team | Comps | |
| Japan | |||
Toshiaki Hirose (廣瀬俊朗 Hirose Toshiaki, born October 17, 1981 in Osaka) is a Japanese rugby player who plays at wing and captains the Japan national rugby team.
Career
Hirose made his debut for Japan in 2007 against Hong Kong at fly-half and scored 2 tries, but he never featured again under coach John Kirwan. At domestic level though, in 2009 and 2010 he captained the Toshiba Brave Lupus to back to back Top League victories in 2009 and 2010.
He had to wait 5 years for his second cap when he was named as new captain of the Japan national rugby team 5 years since his debut, by new coach Eddie Jones. He by now had converted from fly-half to wing, he went onto play every game for Japan in 2012 scoring 4 tries and led them to their first ever away wins in Europe against Romania and Georgia. He was also infamously was on the receiving end of a rant by Jones after a loss to the French Barbarians in June.[1][2]
He continued as captain in 2013 and in June he led Japan to their first ever victory over Wales.