Takurō Matsunaga
.png) Matsunaga with Japan in 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 August 1998 Osaka, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Tenri University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Takurō Matsunaga (Japanese: 松永 拓朗, romanized: Matsunaga Takurō; born 13 August 1998) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who currently plays as a fly-half for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus, and the Japan national team.
Junior career
Matsunaga was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1998.[2] Growing up, Matsunaga was active in karate and softball before first playing rugby at junior high school after being convinced to play by his softball coach.[2]
In 2016, Matsunaga played rugby for Osaka Sangyo University Affiliated High School, before transitioning to Tenri University the following year,[2] one of the top rugby schools in the Kansai region. Matsunaga played for Tenri throughout 2017 to early 2021.[3] Playing at fly-half, Matsunaga led the team to their first ever All-Japan University Rugby Championship title in 2021, defeating Waseda University 55–28 at the National Stadium in Tokyo.[4][5] It was also the first school from the Kansai region to win the competition in 36 years.[6] Matsunaga had lost in the final of the All-Japan University Rugby Championship in 2018–19, which had been just their second final appearance ever and their first in seven years.[7]
Career
Toshiba Brave Lupus
In February 2021, the Top League club Toshiba Brave Lupus, based in Fuchū, Tokyo, signed seven players from university level, including Matsunaga and New Zealand-born lock Warner Dearns.[8]
Matsunaga made his professional debut for Toshiba Brave Lupus in round six of the 2021 Top League season against the Honda Heat, coming on as a substitute for Matt Todd in the 72nd minute.[9] In the teams following match, Matsunaga scored his first points for Toshiba, kicking a conversion goal in the 81st minute against the Munakata Sanix Blues after replacing fly-half Jack Stratton in the 76th minute.[10]
In 2022, Matsunaga almost the entire season at fullback, scoring three tries in fifteen games. Toward the end of the season, Matsunaga covered the fly-half position, scoring 23 points from the tee in the teams final three games.[11] Earlier in the season, goal-kicking duties being distributed between Tom Taylor, Hayata Nakao, and Takahiro Ogawa.[11]
Remaining at fullback for the 2022–23 season,[11] Matsunaga became the teams second goal-kicker behind Tom Taylor. He scored four tries across the 16-game season, with an increased scoring presence in the latter half of the season,[12] including a great counter-attacking try against the Shizuoka Blue Revs after breaking through the oppositions midfield.[13] Matsunaga scored 70 points in total, with a goal-kicking success rate of 71%.[12]
With the introduction of New Zealand fly-half Richie Mo'unga into the team for 2023–24,[14] Matsunaga had kicked just ten points from the tee for Toshiba, all coming in their round thirteen clash against the Kobe Steelers which ended in a 40-all draw.[15] Toward the latter end of the season, Matsunaga had been one of the star players in the backline as the team finished second on the table following a 39-point win over the Shizuoka Blue Revs.[16] On 26 May 2024 Matsunaga started at fullback for Toshiba as they defeated the Saitama Wild Knights 24–20 in the final to become Japanese rugby champions for the first time in 14 years.[17]
At the end of the season, Matsunaga had graced the cover of issue No. 627 of the Rugby Magazine.[18]
In the second round of the 2024–25 season, Matsunaga took over Toshiba's kicking duties from Richie Mo'unga.[19] He converted eight of nine kicks and scored a try to earn Player of the Match.[19] The performance was notable for Matsunaga whom had difficulties kicking at goal in his Test debut for Japan against Uruguay, where pressure from the 60-second shot clock contributed to four missed conversions.[19] Having started the first half of the Toshiba match at fullback, Matsunaga moved to fly-half in the second half.[19] Head coach Todd Blackadder praised his development, while Japan head coach Eddie Jones watched from the stands. Matsunaga remains focused on improving his consistency at both fly-half and fullback.[19] In Toshiba's following match, Matsunaga remained the team goal kicker as Mo'unga was not in the squad due to a minor injury.[20] Although his overall goal kicking success-rate declined slightly from the previous season,[21] Matsunaga was Toshiba's top scorer in 2024–25.[22] The team went on to win their second Japanese title, defeating the Kubota Spears 18–13 in the final.[23]
International career
In January 2018, Matsunaga was called up to the Japan U20 training squad ahead of their 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship campaign.[24] Ultimately Matsunaga was not in the final squad for the tournament.
In October 2024, Matsunaga was named in a 39-man training squad for Japan's 2024 Autumn Internationals.[25] Matsunaga made his international debut against New Zealand on 26 October 2024 at International Stadium Yokohama. Scoring a conversion goal in the 69th minute, following a try via Opeti Helu, Japan lost 19–64.[26] Matsunaga played in Japan's remaining three Tests in the Autumn International window, scoring five points.[11][3]
Matsunaga scored his first international try for Japan in the first Test of the 2025 Wales tour of Japan. In what was coach Eddie Jones's record 56th Test match in charge, Japan won the match 24–19 at the Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu.[27] It was their first win against a tier one team since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and their first win against Wales since 2013.[28] Following the Test against Wales, Matsunaga made his international return months later against Hong Kong for the Japan XV team, kicking four conversion goals.[29]
After an appearance for Japan XV in the June International Window against the Māori All Blacks,[11] Matsunaga was recalled into the Japan squad for their inaugural 2026 Nations Championship Tests against Italy, Ireland and France.[30] Scoring his second Test try, Matsunaga's Japan defeated Italy in their first round match of the Nations Championship, 27–10,[31] their equal-record score against them.[32] Matsunaga started at fullback in all three of Japan's Nations Championship Tests.[11]
In Japan's Test Series against Australia, Matsunaga scored twelve points in their close defeat in Osaka,[33] Matsunaga's home prefecture.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Tries | Con. | Pen. | Drop | Points | ||
| Toshiba Brave Lupus | 2021 | Top League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | Japan Rugby League One | 15 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 31 | |
| 2022–23 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 70 | ||
| 2023–24 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | ||
| 2024–25 | 17 | 7 | 65 | 3 | 0 | 174 | ||
| 2025–26 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 28 | ||
| Total | 86 | 18 | 95 | 15 | 0 | 325 | ||
International
| Team | Year | Statistic | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Tries | Con. | Pen. | Drop | Points | |||
| Japan XV | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | ||
| Total | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 19 | ||
| Japan | 2024 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 44 | ||
| Total | 9 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 56 | ||
International tries
| No. | Opponent | Location | Competition | Date | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wales |
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu | 2025 Wales tour of Japan | 5 July 2025 | 24–19 | [27] |
| 2 |  Italy |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama | 2026 Nations Championship | 4 July 2026 | 27–10 | [34] |
Awards and honours
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Individual
References
- 1 2 "選手プロフィール | 松永拓朗" [Player Profiles | Takurō Matsunaga | JRFU]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union.
- 1 2 3 "東芝ブレイブルーパス東京 | 選手・スタッフ | 松永 拓朗" [Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Players and Staff | Takurō Matsunaga]. bravelupus.com. Toshiba Brave Lupus.
- 1 2 3 4 "Rugby Database | 松永拓朗". rugbydb.tokyo. RugbyDB Tokyo.
- ↑ "天理大が初の日本一／大学ラグビー選手権決勝詳細" [Tenri University becomes national champion for the first time / Details of the University Rugby Championship Final]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 11 January 2021.
- ↑ Morita, Hiroshi (12 January 2021). "早稲田大学は連覇ならず、決勝最多失点に小林賢太ら4トライ及ばず" [Waseda University fails to achieve a consecutive victory, falling short of the most points conceded in the final, with Kenta Kobayashi and others scoring four tries]. 4years. (in Japanese).
- ↑ "天理が早稲田を圧倒し悲願の日本一！ 関西勢36季ぶりの全国大学ラグビー選手権制覇！" [Tenri overwhelms Waseda to achieve their long-awaited national championship! A Kansai team wins the All-Japan University Rugby Championship for the first time in 36 seasons!]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 11 January 2021.
- ↑ "明大、22年ぶり13度目の日本一 ～全国大学選手権～" [Meiji University wins its 13th national championship, its first in 22 years ~All-Japan University Championship~]. ninomiyasports.com (in Japanese). 12 December 2019.
- ↑ "東芝に松永拓朗や高校生ディアンズも、リコーには古賀由教ら フィフィタは近鉄へ" [Toshiba will acquire Takuro Matsunaga and the high school student Deans, Ricoh will acquire Yoshinori Koga and others, and Fifita will go to Kintetsu]. 4years. (in Japanese). 1 February 2021.
- ↑ "トップリーグ2021リーグ戦 第6節 レッドカンファレンス | Honda–東芝". top-league.jp (in Japanese). Top League. 4 April 2021.
- ↑ "トップリーグ2021リーグ戦 第7節 レッドカンファレンス | 宗像サニックス–東芝". top-league.jp (in Japanese). Top League. 11 April 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Takurō Matsunaga: Stats – All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
- 1 2 "Takurō Matsunaga (2022–23) | Japan Rugby League One". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
- ↑ "ブレイブルーパス東京が静岡ブルーレヴズとの熱闘制し、プレーオフ争い踏ん張る。" [Brave Lupus Tokyo emerged victorious from a hard-fought battle against Shizuoka Blue Revs, staying strong in the playoff race]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 8 April 2024.
- ↑ "あすBL東京デビューのSOモウンガは「サバティカルという言葉は好きではない」。オールブラックス準Vからリーグワンへ、切り替え万全" [Fly-half Mo'unga, who will make his BL Tokyo debut tomorrow, said, "I don't like the word 'sabbatical'." He's ready to switch gears after finishing as runner-up with the All Blacks in League One]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 24 November 2024.
- ↑ "NTTリーグワン2023-24 D1 第13節レポート（BL東京 40-40 神戸S）" [NTT League One 2023-24 D1 Round 13 Report (BL Tokyo 40-40 Kobe S)]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. 16 April 2024.
- ↑ Nolan, Lawrence (6 May 2024). "Richie Mo'unga back with a bang ahead of Japan Rugby League One semi-finals". Planet Rugby.
- ↑ Miyaguchi, Sean (26 May 2024). "Rugby: Brave Lupus upset Wild Knights in thrilling League One final". Kyodo News.
- ↑ "トップ4が出そろったリーグワン終盤戦の模様を徹底リポート！ 全国高校選抜大会もたっぷり掲載。ラグビーマガジン6月号、本日発売。" [A thorough report on the final stages of League One, where the top four teams have been decided! Also featuring extensive coverage of the National High School Rugby Championship]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 25 April 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "【リーグワン】キッカー交代の屈辱から1カ月半…BL東京・松永が足で魅了！開幕連勝に導きPOM" [[League One] A month and a half after the humiliation of being replaced as kicker... BL Tokyo's Matsunaga captivates with his footwork! Leads his team to consecutive wins at the start of the season and earns the Player of the Match award]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 29 December 2024.
- ↑ "【リーグワン】モウンガ不在も何のその！BL東京・SO松永が開幕3連勝導く「学びがたくさん」" [[League One] No problem even without Mo'unga! BL Tokyo's fly-half Matsunaga leads the team to three consecutive wins to start the season: "There's so much to learn."]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 5 January 2025.
- ↑ Ninomiya, Kiyojun (9 January 2025). "ショットクロック30秒短縮余波 松永拓朗「キックに集中する」" [In the aftermath of the 30-second reduction in the shot clock, Takuro Matsunaga says, "I'll focus on my kicks."]. myjcom.jp (in Japanese).
- ↑ "Japan Rugby League One – Stats Rankings | 2024–25". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
- ↑ "Richie Mo'unga defies pain of broken hand to lead Brave Lupus to victory". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 2 June 2025.
- ↑ "ワールドラグビーU20チャンピオンシップへ U20日本代表候補発表" [Japan U20 National Team Candidates Announced for World Rugby U20 Championship]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 14 January 2018.
- ↑ "日本代表、2024年最後のテストマッチに向けた合宿メンバーを発表。23年W杯主将の姫野和樹が復帰。" [The Japanese national team has announced its training camp squad for the final test match of 2024. Kazuki Himeno, captain of the 2023 World Cup team, will be returning]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 10 October 2024.
- ↑ "New Zealand run in 10 tries to thrash Japan". BBC Sport. 26 October 2024.
- 1 2 Marsh, Philip (5 July 2025). "Japan 24–19 Wales: Hosts claim victory as Wales feel the heat". BBC Sport.
- ↑ Skippers, David (5 July 2025). "Wales' misery continues as Eddie Jones' Japan condemns them to 18th successive loss". Planet Rugby.
- ↑ "JAPAN XV Defeat Hong Kong China". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 25 October 2025.
- ↑ "Brave Blossoms' 2026 Nations Championship Squad Announced". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Confident Japan punish Italy in 27–10 win in Tokyo". Channel News Asia. 4 July 2026.
- ↑ "Brave Blossoms Beat Italy for The First Time Since 2018 to Open Nations Championship 2026". Rugby Asia 247. 5 July 2026.
- ↑ Howcroft, Jonathan (8 August 2026). "Japan 32–35 Australia: rugby union international – as it happened". The Guardian.
- ↑ Morton, Finn (4 July 2026). "Japan claim impressive win over Italy to start Nations Championship". RugbyPass.
- ↑ "NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン2024-25 アワード 受賞者決定のお知らせ" [NTT Japan Rugby League One 2024–25 Award Winners Announced]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. 2 June 2026.