Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima
| Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima | |
|---|---|
Rugby World Cup 2019 Super Star | |
| Native name | Japanese: 松島 幸太朗 |
| Born | Kotaro Munyaradzi Matsushima February 23, 1993 Pretoria, South Africa |
| Occupation |
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| Notable work | Rugby World Cup 2019 Star |
Matsushima was born in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Japanese mother and a Zimbabwean father. He acquired Japanese nationality at the age of 5 and moved to Japan the following year with his family. After graduating from the local elementary school in Tokyo (where he played soccer), he lived for one year in South Africa and started playing rugby. He finished his junior schooling at Graeme College in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. He played for the U13a rugby side and won the most outstanding player of the year award. He returned to Japan at the age of 13 and finished his schooling at Tōin Gakuen High School in Yokohama.
Matsushima returned to South Africa in 2012, enrolling at the Sharks Academy in Durban, becoming the first Japanese player to do so.He played Under-20 club rugby for Harlequins and started twelve matches for the Sharks U19 side in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries as his side reached the semi-final of the competition, where they lost 46–35 to the Blue Bulls U19 side despite a Matsushima try early in the second half. At the end of 2012, Matsushima was also invited to attend a training camp for the South African Under-20 team in preparation for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.
Matsushima made his first class debut for a Sharks XV side during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their final round-robin match against Argentine side Pampas XV. He took just three minutes to add his name to the scoresheet by scoring an early try to set the Sharks on their way to a 46–31 victory in the match in Durban.He also played in their quarter-final match against eventual champions Golden Lions, but could not prevent his side suffering a 25–42 loss to be eliminated from the competition. In the latter half of 2013, he featured prominently for the Sharks U21 side in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries in eleven starts as his side reached the semi-finals of the competition, where they were eliminated by the Blue Bulls U21s.
Matsushima joined Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath prior to the 2014–15 Top League season. He made his debut for the side in the opening round of the tournament in a 17–13 victory over Coca-Cola Red Sparks. Two more appearances followed in the pool stage of the competition – against Kintetsu Liners and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes – to help his side finish in second position in Pool B to qualify for Group 1, the title play-offs. He started all seven of their matches in Group 1 in the outside centre position and scored four tries – two of those in their final group match against Toyota Verblitz in a 40–19 victory – as they finished fifth in the group to qualify for the wildcard play-offs.
His performances also earned him an inclusion in the Top League Team of the Season. Matsushima joined Australian Super Rugby side the Waratahs prior to the 2015 Super Rugby season.He joined Australian Super Rugby side the Rebels on a short-term deal for the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Matsushima made his international debut for Japan on 3 May 2014 in a 2014 Asian Five Nations match (which doubled as a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifier) against the Philippines in Manila. He scored tries in the 36th and 71st minutes of the match to help Japan secure a comprehensive 99–10 victory over the hosts. He also played in their next match against Sri Lanka, scoring a try in their 132–10 victory, as well as their next match against South Korea and in test matches against Samoa, Romania and Georgia.
He scored Japan's first World Cup hat-trick against Russia on 20 September 2019 in the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Tokyo and was also awarded the player of the match in the same match.
