Ryūnosuke Itō

Ryūnosuke Itō
伊藤龍之介
Itō with Japan in 2026
Born (2004-11-20) 20 November 2004
Kanagawa, Japan
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Weight77 kg (170 lb; 12 st 2 lb)[1]
UniversityMeiji University
Rugby union career
Position Fly-half
Current team Tokyo Sungoliath
Youth career
2019 Fujisawa Rugby School
2020–2022 Kokugakuin Tochigi High School
2023–2026 Meiji University
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2026– Tokyo Sungoliath 0 (0)
Correct as of 9 August 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024 Japan U20 4 (24)
2024–2026 Japan XV 4 (0)
2025 Japan U23 2 (0)
2026– Japan 4 (5)
Correct as of 9 August 2026

Ryūnosuke Itō (伊藤龍之介, Itō Ryūnosuke; born 20 November 2004) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One and the Japan national team. After impressing at university level, Itō made his international debut in 2026 for Japan without having played a senior professional rugby match.[2][3]

Early life

Itō was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 2004.[4] Itō attended Fujisawa Rugby School through to 2020 before moving to the Kokugakuin Tochigi High School where he excelled at rugby.[4] In 2023, Itō began his university education with Meiji. Itō has two siblings, older brother Kotaro,[4] who also attended Meiji and plays in the Japan Rugby League One for the Ricoh Black Rams, and younger sister Chihiro who plays rugby for Waseda University.[3]

Itō credits his brother his initial passion for rugby.[4][3]

Career

In 2021, Itō, playing high school rugby for Kokugakuin Tochigi at fly-half, helped secure a 19–0 win against Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa to win the Kanto High School Championship for the first time in seven years.[5]

University

Itō transitioned from Kokugakuin Tochigi High School to Meiji University in 2023, playing three games in his first year.[6] In 2024, Itō played seven games in Meiji's Kanto University Rugby Championship, the qualifier for the All-Japan University Rugby Championship.[6] Itō scored three tries and two conversions for Meiji as they finished third overall, qualifying for the 59th All-Japan University Rugby Championship.[6] Itō played in all three of their University Championship matches, scoring one try as they were knocked out in the semi-finals to defending champions Teikyo.[7]

The following year, Itō played more minutes for Meiji, playing 456 minutes total,[6] and led the team to their first Kanto University Rugby Championship in five years after sealing a 25–19 victory against Waseda University in their 101st rivalry match ahead of the 62nd All-Japan University Championships.[8] Playing in all three of their matches, Itō scored a try in the final against arch-rivals Waseda as they won 22–10. It was his maiden University Championship title, and Meiji's first since 2019.[9]

Tokyo Sungoliath

In July 2026, Itō was reported to have signed for Tokyo Sungoliath ahead of their 2026–27 season.[10]

International career

In 2024, Itō was called-up to the Japan XV side for the World Rugby Pacific Challenge, held in April in Samoa.[11] Itō started every match at fly-half, although he did not score any tries, and was not the goalkicker.[6] Japan XV won the tournament, winning all three of their matches.[12] He was later called-up to the Japan U20s team for the 2024 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy, the second-tier tournament for global under-20s rugby, held in Scotland.[13] Placed in Pool A alongside the hosts, Scotland U20, Itō's Japan won their opening two games in dominant fashion. In their third and final pool match, Japan lost to Scotland U20 46–10 before beating Uruguay U20 for third.[14]

The following year, Itō was named in a Japan U23, 35-man squad to tour Australia in three matches.[15] Itō played in just two of the matches,[6] one against the Australian Barbarians, one against the Australia under-20s team, ending 1–1.[16]

In 2026, Itō was recalled into the Japan XV squad for their match against the Māori All Blacks in June. Itō played the full 80 minutes at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, creating several chances, and assisting in two tries.[17] Japan XV lost 31–38.[18]

In July 2026, Itō was named in Japan's 37-man squad for the Southern Hemisphere Series of the 2026 Nations Championship.[19] Ahead of the first Test against Italy, Itō was named starting fly-half by forwards coach Neal Hatley.[2][20] Itō was one of four debutants.[20] Japan won 27–10, their equal largest win against Italy ever.[21] Itō was noted for having a very composed and confident game despite his stature and lack of experience.[22] Japan coaching coordinator Hatley stated of Itō: "The four new caps that came in today made a big impact, and our finishers did as well, with everybody that came on bringing real energy to the team. It’s a very pleasant way to start our season, especially at home."[22] Itō started at fly-half in their remaining two Tests against Ireland and France, respectively.[6] Itō was again named Japan's starting fly-half in their home Test against Australia in the 2026 Australia–Japan Test Series. Putting Australia under pressure in the first ten minutes of the match, Itō opened the scoring with his first international try.[23]

Career statistics

Club

As of 9 August 2026.[6][24]
Appearances and tries by club, season and competition
Club Season League
DivisionAppsTriesPoints
Tokyo Sungoliath 2026–27 Japan Rugby League One TBD
Total TBD

International

As of 9 August 2026.[6][24]
Statistics by team and year
Team Year Statistic
AppsTriesPoints
Japan XV 2024 300
2026 100
Total 400
Japan 2026 415
Total 415

International tries

List of international tries scored by Ryūnosuke Itō[24]
No. Opponent Location Competition Date Result Ref.
1  Australia Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka 2026 Australia–Japan Test Series 8 August 2026 32–35 [25]

References

  1. 1 2 "選手プロフィール | 伊藤龍之介" [Player Profiles | Ryūnosuke Itō]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union.
  2. 1 2 "Japan name uncapped student fly-half to face Italy". Japan Today. 3 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Pickering, Mark (21 July 2026). "6 facts about new Japan wonderkid Ryunosuke Ito". rugbyjp.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "伊藤 龍之介 | J Sports". J Sports (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ "國學院栃木が7年ぶりに優勝。桐蔭を倒した流経大柏を抑える。－関東高校大会－" [Kokugakuin Tochigi wins the championship for the first time in 7 years, beating Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa, who had defeated Toin. - Kanto High School Tournament]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 6 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "明治大学 – 伊藤龍之介 | RugbyDB Tokyo". rugbydb.tokyo (in Japanese). Rugby Database Tokyo.
  7. ↑ "【全国大学選手権】帝京が後半3連続トライで明治を引き離す。4季連続の決勝進出。" [[All-Japan University Championship] Teikyo pulls away from Meiji with three consecutive tries in the second half, advancing to the final for the fourth consecutive season]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 2 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Saitō, Kenji (7 December 2025). "101回目のラグビー「早明戦」。明治大が25－19で勝利し、5年ぶりに対抗戦で優勝した理由は？" [The 101st Waseda-Meiji rugby match. Meiji University won 25-19, securing their first championship in five years. What were their reasons?]. Yahoo Japan (in Japanese).
  9. ↑ "【全国大学選手権・決勝】明治が7大会ぶり14回目の日本一！ライバル早稲田に完勝" [[All-Japan University Championship - Final] Meiji wins their 14th national championship, their first in 7 tournaments! A complete victory over their rival Waseda]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 1 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Pickering, Mark (29 July 2026). "EXCLUSIVE: Uni ace Ito, 21, to join Suntory after tormenting European giants". rugbyjp.com.
  11. ↑ "パシフィック・チャレンジ2024に挑むJAPAN XVメンバー発表。U20候補メンバーを軸に、大学4年生も選出" [The JAPAN XV members who will compete in the Pacific Challenge 2024 have been announced. The team will be centered around U20 candidates, with some fourth-year university students also selected]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 29 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Japan XV win World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024". world.rugby. World Rugby. 20 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "U20トロフィーに臨むU20日本代表28人発表。大久保HC「全勝で昇格を」。" [The 28-man squad for the U20 Japan national team competing in the U20 Trophy has been announced. Head coach Okubo: "We aim for promotion with an undefeated record."]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 20 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Japan Secures Third Place at World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 24 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "Japan U23 Squad Named for Three-Match Tour to Australia". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 27 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "Japan U23 Cap Off Memorable Tour Down Under". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 17 April 2025.
  17. ↑ "【JAPAN XV】逆転でマオリ・オールブラックスに敗れる。後半、4連続トライを献上" [[JAPAN XV] Lost to the Maori All Blacks in a comeback defeat. Conceded 4 consecutive tries in the second half]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 27 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "JAPAN XV Pipped by Māori All Blacks in Nagoya Thriller". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 1 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "日本代表、ネーションズチャンピオンシップの大会登録メンバー発表。37名で欧州の強豪を迎え撃つ" [Japan announces its squad for the Nations Championship. 37 players will take on strong European teams]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 1 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Japan select uncapped flyhalf Ito to start against Italy". Reuters. 3 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Brave Blossoms Beat Italy for The First Time Since 2018 to Open Nations Championship 2026". Rugby Asia 247. 5 July 2026. It was the tied-biggest scoring margin over Italy – which was in Oita in 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Japan Defeat Italy in Front of Packed Tokyo Crowd". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 6 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Japanese university sensation Ryunosuke Ito earns praise from Australia's coach". The Japan Times. 9 August 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 "Ryunosuke Ito: Stats | All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
  25. ↑ Howcroft, Jonathan (8 August 2026). "Japan 32–35 Australia: rugby union international – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
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