Shunsuke Uenobo

Shunsuke Uenobo
上ノ坊駿介
Born (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003
Sanda, Hyōgo, Japan
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)[1]
UniversityTenri University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Fly-half, Centre
Current team Kobe Steelers
Youth career
–2021 Iwami Chisuikan High School
2022–2026 Tenri University
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2026– Kobe Steelers 14 (57)
Correct as of 8 June 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2026 Japan U23[2] 3 (0)
2026- Japan 3 (0)
Correct as of 14 April 2026

Shunsuke Uenobo (Japanese: 上ノ坊駿介, Uenobō Shunsuke; born 29 September 2003), is a Japanese professional rugby union player who currently plays as a fullback for the Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO).

Early life and youth career

Uenobo was born on 29 September 2003 in Sanda City, Hyōgo Prefecture.[3] He began playing rugby at 4-years-old and attended Iwami Chisuikan High School in Shimane Prefecture,[3] and later attending Tenri University.[3]

In his first year at Tenri University (2022),[4] Uenobo played five matches at fullback in the Kansai University Spring Tournament and the Kansai University League.[2] He scored one try and kicked two penalty goals.[2] Across 2023, 2024 and 2025, Uenobo played 30 matches in the Kansai University League, Spring Tournament, and the University Championships.[2] Scoring 13 tries, he played across multiple positions in the backline, primarily fullback, centre, and fly-half.[2] In his final season with Tenri University (2025), Uenobo's kicking significantly increased: kicking 35 conversions in seven games in the Kansai University League,[2] and three conversions in Tenri's 21–26 defeat to Waseda University in the quarter-final of the 62nd University Rugby Championships.[5]

Professional career

Uenobo was selected for the Kobe Steelers squad ahead of the 2025–26 Japan Rugby League One season, joining the club under the league's "early entry" system while completing his final year at Tenri University.[3][6] He made his debut on 7 February 2026, scoring a hat-trick of tries against the Shizuoka Blue Revs in a 60–45 win at the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in the Suma-ku ward.[6][7] Uenobo was praised by coach Dave Rennie following his outstanding debut performance. Rennie stated in the post-match press conference: "His performance today wasn't just about the three tries. He showed sharp movements and created space for the players around him. He was very strong with high balls, and his judgment in catching the ball near the touchline was excellent. And his tackles were good too".[8] After the match it was reported by Rugby Republic that Uenobo was essentially the Japan Rugby League One's "number one draft pick" as he received contract offers from every club in the division.[9]

Uenobo played fourteen games in his debut season for the Steelers, scoring another hat-trick against the Toyota Verblitz in April.[10] Overall Uenobo scored 11 tries, all coming via fullback.[2] In the Japan Rugby League One final, played against the previous seasons finalists the Kubota Spears, Uenobo started at fullback at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo where he assisted the final try of the game with a grubber kick that was followed on by Inoke Burua to win the game 22–13 and seal their first JRLO title.[11] At the post-season award ceremony, Uenobo won the Rookie of the Year award.[12]

Personal life

In 2026, Uenobo appeared on two episodes of Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation's program, "Athlete".[13] Being interviewed by Japanese baseball veteran Takashi Toritani in the second episode, Uenobo discussed his debut season with the Kobe Steelers.[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 7 June 2026.[2][15]
Appearances and tries by club, season and competition
Club Season League
DivisionAppsTriesPoints
Kobe Steelers 2025–26[7] Japan Rugby League One 141155
2026–27 TBD
Total 141155

Awards and honours

Kobe Steelers

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "選手プロフィール | 上ノ坊駿介" [Player Profiles | Shunsuke Uenobo]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "上ノ坊駿介 | Rugby Database". rugbydb.tokyo (in Japanese). Rugby Database.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "神戸に期待の新星　上ノ坊駿介、会心のデビュー戦―ラグビー" [Kobe's promising new star, Shunsuke Kaminobo, makes a brilliant debut in rugby]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). 3 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Naoe, Mitsunobu (16 September 2022). "復権期す天理大と上位進出を狙う関西大、好スタートを切るのはどちらか。ラグビー関西大学Aリーグ開幕節プレビュー" [Which team will get off to a good start: Tenri University, aiming for a comeback, or Kansai University, aiming for a top finish? Preview of the opening round of the Kansai University A League rugby season]. J Sports (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ "The 62nd Japan University Rugby Championship Quarter Finals | Tetri University – Waseda University". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union.
  6. 1 2 "上ノ坊、鮮烈３トライ　ラグビーリーグワン・神戸". Jiji Press. 7 February 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Shunsuke Uenobo (2025–26) | Japan Rugby League One". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  8. ↑ "オールブラックスの次期HCについて、コベルコ神戸スティーラーズのデイブ・レニーHCは「神戸にフォーカス」。". Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 7 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Akashi, Naoyuki (9 February 2026). "「忘れられない日になりました」。上ノ坊駿介［天理大→コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ］". Rugby Republic (in Japanese).
  10. ↑ "【神戸スティーラーズ】3連勝！ 首位に勝点「1」差". Sun Television (in Japanese). 21 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Kobelco Kobe Steelers Win First Japan Rugby League One Title". Rugby Asia 247. 8 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "【コメントで振り返るリーグワンアワード】変化したワールドカップへのマインド。上ノ坊駿介［コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ／新人賞］". Rugby Republic. 9 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "【あすリート 】 ラグビーリーグワン "怪物ルーキー" 上ノ坊駿介 （天理大〜神戸Ｓ）が衝撃のデビュー！" [[Athlete] Rugby League One "monster rookie" Shunsuke Kaminobo (Tenri University ~ Kobe S) makes a sensational debut!]. ytv-athlete.jp (in Japanese). Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. 14 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "【あすリート】🏉 拡大版 初心者でもわかるラグビーSP 鳥谷敬がラグビー初体験 & 大畑大介が熱血解説！" [[Asuリート] 🏉 Extended Edition: Rugby Special for Beginners - Takashi Toritani experiences rugby for the first time & Daisuke Ohata provides passionate commentary!]. ytv-athlete.jp (in Japanese). Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. 16 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Shunsuke Uenobo: Stats – All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
  16. ↑ "Official Match Report | NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025–26 Play-Offs Final". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One. 7 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "【リーグワン2025-26アワード】MVPはブロディ・レタリック！新人賞は上ノ坊駿介！初優勝のコベルコ神戸スティーラーズがタイトル席巻". Rugby Republic. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
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