Misaki Suzuki

Misaki Suzuki
Date of birth (1992-04-09) 9 April 1992 (age 32)
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Auckland Marist (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix (0)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Auckland 7 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010– Japan 31 (0)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2010– Japan 4

Misaki Suzuki (born 9 April 1992) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays for Japan internationally and at club level for Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix. She has competed for Japan at the 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup's.

Early career

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Suzuki was born in the Kanagawa Prefecture and started playing rugby at 13 in her first year of junior high school.[1] She graduated from Funabashi Municipal High School in the Chiba Prefecture in 2011 and entered Kanto Gakuin University. After graduating from Kanto Gakuin University in 2015, she joined NTT Facilities.

Rugby career

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2010–13

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Suzuki was selected to represent Japan in rugby sevens at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China where they finished in fifth place; She also represented Japan in fifteens that same year.[1]

In 2012, she became the captain of Japan's 15-a-side women's national team. She was named in Japan's sevens squad for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, Russia.[1]

2017–18

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Suzuki was part of the Japanese squad that won the 2017 Asia Rugby Women's Championship, she played in the second test against Hong Kong.[2] She was then selected in the side for the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.[3][4] In 2018, she played for Auckland in the Farah Palmer Cup.[5]

2022

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Suzuki was named in the Sakura fifteens team to tour Australia in April.[6] She came off the bench in the match against Australia, her side stunned the Wallaroos 12–10.[7][8] She then captained the Sakura's five days later against an Australian Barbarians side, and scored the match winning try to help her team win 24–10.[9] Japan hosted South Africa and Ireland in July and August. Suzuki was named on the bench in both games against the Springbok women.[10][11] In August, she started at blind-side Flanker in the first of two tests against Ireland, her side went down 22–57.[12][13]

Suzuki was selected to represent Japan at the delayed Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[14][15] She came off the bench in her sole World Cup appearance in the Sakura's opening match against Canada, she played at Prop.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Misaki SUZUKI(Rugby) |【NTT HEROES】Head for the world stage! NTT Athletes | NTT STORY". NTT | Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  2. ^ Donnelly, Alison (2017-07-15). "Japan beat Hong Kong to claim Asia Rugby Champs". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  3. ^ "Top Eight The Goal For Determined Japan | Women's Rugby World Cup". Asia Rugby. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  4. ^ Odeven, Ed (2022-10-13). "[ODDS and EVENS] For Sakura 15, Women's Rugby World Cup Represents Opportunity for Growth". SportsLook. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  5. ^ "Storm to withstand the Heat of Counties Manukau". www.aucklandrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  6. ^ "Sakura Fifteen's Squad Announced for Tour Downunder". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  7. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Ready to Take on Wallaroos". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  8. ^ "Japan stun Wallaroos for historic Test win". ESPN.com. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  9. ^ Williamson, Nathan (2022-05-06). "Japan hold on for victory over Barbarians". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  10. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Ready for First Test Against South Africa in Kamaishi". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  11. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Brace for Rebound by Springbok Women in Second Test". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  12. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for First Test Against Ireland". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  13. ^ "Future Looks Bright As Ireland Start Historic Series With A Bang". Irish Rugby. 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  14. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup Squad Announced". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  15. ^ Mockford, Sarah (2022-10-22). "Japan Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Japan 8-21 Italy". Rugby World. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  16. ^ "Japan vs Canada RWC 2021 - Pool B Match Preview". RugbyAsia247. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  17. ^ "RWC 2022 – Japan vs Canada – ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2023-05-17.