England Rugby Stars Who Have Made the Pilgrimage to Japan

Rugby players are not the sort of sporting individuals who usually like to hog the spotlight, preferring instead to blend in, but that can be difficult in Japan where international stars such as European players certainly stand out from the crowd.

However, with clubs in the land of the rising sun offering up more financially rewarding contracts than their European counterparts, it seems only a matter of time before more English players start making the long journey to Tokyo, to become stars of the flourishing Asian rugby scene. Especially on the back of the success of the RWC 2019, many players have had a taste of Japan and the rugby infrastructure in the country.

In this article, ahead of the 2021 World Cup, we take a peek at some of the English players (albeit men) who have either lit up the rugby scene in Japan or who are all set to in 2020 and 2021.

This is an invited post not written by Rugby Asia 247.

Japan now rivals France for pulling power when it comes to attracting foreign rugby playing talent to its shores

George Kruis – Risking Spot on Sweet Chariot to Go Far East

A move in 2020 that raised eyebrows both in Japan and back in the UK was England international and world-class lock, George Kruis, making his bow at the Panasonic Wild Knights, this despite him knowing the move could jeopardise his international career.

Kruis has not been alone on his Japanese odyssey either, with Welsh centre Hadleigh Parkes also plying his trade for the team from the Gunma prefecture.

Mike Tindall – Brought Some Royal Flair to Japan

Mike Tindall was part of the sturdy backbone of the 2003 World Cup-winning England team that used Jonny Wilkinson to effectively boot the team into kicking distance of glory and squeezed their opponents till they leaked penalties left, right, and centre.

Although Tindall never played for a club in Japan, he did make a famous trip to the country in 2019 to record a TV show called the House of Rugby. He then combined this with a holiday alongside his royal wife Zara, the couple being well received wherever they went.

Expect Tindal to make a return to Japan soon, because, in addition to attending garden parties at Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, he is well known for being an ambassador for several organisations. This has led to the former England International Rugby captain appearing in celebrity poker tournaments as well as running his very own golf tournament called the Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic, which has a special focus on helping those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Who knows where his next philanthropic venture will take him!

After driving rucks and mauls over try lines around the globe, Tindall is now enjoying the spoils of victory as part of the royal family.

Freddie Burns – Grabbing the Japan Experience While He Still Can

Much like compatriot George Kruis, former Bath and England fly-half Freddie Burns decided that 2020 would be the year he took the opportunity to play in Japan, signing for the wonderfully named Shokki Shuttles.

Burns follows in the footsteps of English rugby sevens legend Ben Gollings, who spent one season at the club in between strutting his stuff down under.

Alex Goode – Rocketing off to Japan

Alex Goode also heads to Japan on loan for the 2021 season but not before signing a new long-term Saracens deal to return to his boyhood club and Allianz Park in 2023, after the experience in Japan

The former England full-back, and legendary Saracens trophy celebrator, is joining the NEC Rockets in the Japanese Top League. Should his club win silverware in Japan, Goode will look to embellish his already legendary status as a serious party animal after his antics following Saracens previous trophy wins in England and Europe.

James Haskell – From Japanese Ruggers pitches to MMA Cages

Is there a more multifaceted rugby player in the world than James Haskell? Having played in France and New Zealand, he then added Japan to his checklist of destinations when he turned out 11 times for the Ricoh Black Rams.

Who knows if that samurai spirit brushed off on him, because he now is a professional MMA fighter, although he combines this new passion for controlled aggression by also making appearances on celebrity TV shows such as I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here as well as hosting several podcasts.

Jonny Wilkinson – Drop Goal Hero Forgot His Tatami Protocols

Last but not least on this list is a light-hearted look at Jonny Wilkinson’s only trip to Japan in 2019, when the former England talisman fell foul of Japanese tradition, forgetting to remove his shoes in a World Cup television studio that had been repurposed as a dojo, with tatami flooring.

Eventually, Wilkinson and his fellow pundits realised the error of their ways and went barefoot.

This is an invited post, written by a guest contributor.

Rugby in Asia

• Japan Top League confirms 2021 schedule.
• Monaco will host Tokyo Olympics Rugby Sevens repechage event.
• Guide to the Asia Rugby 2021 Competitions.
• Japan National High School Rugby Tournament 2020-2021.