Michael Leach (34) of the Japan rugby national team.
In preparation for the World Cup to be held in September, we are pushing ourselves forward while working on "human resource development in Asia."
Leach said, "I want to expand my knowledge and experience to Asia," and is focusing on nurturing and spreading the next generation from a broad perspective.
(Sports News Department, Reporter Tatsuki Kobayashi)
About the Asia Project
Leach played in the last World Cup as the captain of the Japan National Team.
Japan National Team center Michael Leach (October 2022)
As a top player in the Japan, I am training hard every day with the goal of winning the World Cup.
On the other hand, we are working on "human resource development in Asia."
The "Asia Project" was launched by Toshiba BlazBlue Pass Tokyo.
Also for my team's "Asia Project"
The idea is to convey to Asian players and staff the knowledge that Japan rugby has accumulated to improve their level.
Through this project, Leach is trying to discover players and staff and be involved in their development and dissemination.
Leach, who has been eyeing the potential of Asian players and discovering players on his own, is trying to further expand the field of activities with the team.
Michael Leach
Michael Leach:
"There was a limit to what I was doing alone, but I was able to work with the team to launch a project. Asian players and staff will improve their level, and we will be able to experience a new culture. I think it's a very good cycle."
Exchange at the Asia Summit
We interviewed the site to see what kind of activities they are actually doing.
"Online Summit" to connect Japan high school students with Asian students
The first was the Asia Rugby International Online Summit held in December last year. Players from strong teams from Japan high schools such as Higashi Fukuoka High School and Toin Gakuen were connected with Asian students online, and the activities of the rugby club were introduced and interacted.
Interact with the players during a Q&A session
Players and coaches from four countries, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei, participated from overseas. When asked what kind of mindset he should have on the big stage, Leach replied, "It's important to believe in yourself, and I'll try to erase my anxiety one by one before the match."
Michael Leach advises
The Summit became a place for exchange through rugby and a valuable opportunity to listen to the advice of top players.
Accepting international students
In March, we also hosted players as part of the project.
(2nd from left) Davajab Nolob Samaboo
The participant was Dabajab Norobsamabou, a graduate of Sapporo Yamanote High School, Leach's alma mater, and an international student from Mongolia. I was invited to practice the BlazBlue Pass and felt the top-level play firsthand.
It was a valuable experience for Norob Samaboo, who has been playing rugby at university since this spring.
Davajab Norobsamabou
(Davajabu Norob Samaboo)
"I was surprised that the level was really high, because if Ligue One is '10', high school rugby is '4'. His communication during the game, his tackling speed and his body were amazing. During practice, they told me, 'It's better to do this here,' and I was able to learn a lot."
During the two-week reception period, Norobu Samaboo stayed at Leach's home. Leach and his family provided full support for his life, including meals.
The homemade dish of the day is "ginger grilled rice bowl"
The lunch on the day of the interview was Leach's handmade ginger grilled rice bowl. Norobu Samaboo ate vigorously during the practice session, saying that it was delicious.
"Leach is like a Japan old man,
and I want to become a member of the Japan national team and win the World Cup one day. After graduating from university and joining the League One team, I would like to play on a different team than Leach or play on the same team. That's my dream."
Are you aiming to become the coach of the Mongolia National Team? Feeling the potential of Asia
It is unusual for a player to put effort into such acceptance during the season while playing in his playing career.
Even in the rigorous daily training
Daily training, training, taking care of your body, why do you go this far as a player?
I asked a frank question.
Michael Leach:
"I'm always looking for motivation, and when he comes, I get a lot of energy and I think the players around me are also quite inspired. I like his attitude of learning and the way he grows. He may be busy, but his arrival will make me feel better."
Leach himself studied rugby in Japan as an exchange student from New Zealand. The Asian players have great potential, he said.
Michael Leach
Michael Leach:
"Compared to Europe, the level in Asia is completely different. However, Asian players are physically strong and have the ability to endure. If we look 50 years from now, I think there will definitely be more and more good players. Thinking over the long term, what I want to do most is to create an environment where Asian players can play rugby in Japan. I would like to study abroad at university and high school, and create an environment where it is easy for Asian players to sign professional contracts in League One. In the future, I would like to coach the Mongolia national team and travel around Asia to teach the skills I learned in Japan. I want to invite more and more coaches to Japan and shorten the distance between Asia and Japan. I have a lot of things I want to do."