Rugby World Cup Yamanaka is determined to meet Hirao's death game October 16th 20:01
20th of this month, when Japan will face the quarter-finals with South Africa at the Rugby World Cup Japan, is the death date of Seiji Hirao, a former Japan national team who has been instrumental in organizing the tournament.
Ryohei Yamanaka, a full-back player who was supported by Mr. Hirao in a difficult time when he could n’t play the game, said his decision was “There is an important game on a great day.
Mr. Hirao pulled the Japanese rugby world from the 1980s to the 1990s, including contributing to the seventh consecutive championship of the Japan Championship as a core player of Kobe Steel and participating in three World Cups as a representative of Japan.
After retiring, he served as the coach of the Japan national team and made preparations for the World Cup. He wished Japan to win, but died three years ago at the age of 53.
Yamanaka, a 31-year-old Japanese representative fullback, belongs to the same Kobe Steel as Mr. Hirao, and in the past, because the coating contained a prohibited drug component, the doping test became positive, and the qualification was suspended for 2 years. I have a bitter experience.
At that time, with the support of Mr. Hirao, he returned to Japan and was selected as the long-cherished representative of Japan.
At the press conference on the 16th, Yamanaka said, “I think that there will be an important game on a great day. talked.
After that, when asked the question, “What kind of voice do you think Mr. Hirao can speak now?”, “I think that what I have done so far is“ I did my best ”. I just want to have fun and play, so if I join the game, I'd like to play with all my power as much as I can, "he said to Hirao.