Rikiya Matsuda (松田 力也, Matsuda Rikiya, born 3 May 1994) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who typically plays as a fly-half. Most recently contracted to the Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights, Matsuda is a free agent. Matsuda also plays for the Japan national team.[1][2]
.jpg) Matsuda with the Sunwolves during the 2019 Super Rugby season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 3 May 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Fushimi Tech High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Teikyo University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club career
editMatsuda was a student at Teikyo University in Tokyo and has appeared for them in both the All-Japan University Rugby Championship and the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.[2] After graduating from university he joined the Panasonic Wild Knights in 2017.[3]
In May 2024, following the conclusion of the 2023–24 Japan Rugby League One season, Matsuda departed the Saitama Wild Knights.[4]
International career
editMatsuda represented Japan at Under-20 level from 2012 through to 2014, making 7 appearances in total at the World Rugby Under 20 Championships.[5] He made his senior international debut as a replacement in a match against Canada in Vancouver on 11 June 2016. He went on to make two more appearances in the home tests against Scotland during the 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals series, coming on as a substitute in the first test in Toyota and then starting in the second in Tokyo.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Rikiya Matsuda ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Rikiya Matsuda Brave Blossoms Player Profile" (in Japanese). Rugby Japan. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Rikiya Matsuda rejoindra Panasonic Wild Knights en 2017!" (in French). Japon Rugby. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Rugby: Japan No. 10 Matsuda leaves League One powerhouse Wild Knights". Mainichi Shimbun. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Rikiya Matsuda itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
External links
edit- Rikiya Matsuda at ESPNscrum
- Rikiya Matsuda at ItsRugby.co.uk
