Japan great Michael Leitch celebrated his 36th birthday on Monday. RugbyJP presents 15 of the most interesting facts about the evergreen Toshiba Brave Lupus superstar.
1. Leitch’s father is from New Zealand and has Scottish roots while his mother is Fijian
Leitch’s mother Eva was born in Vatukoula in Fiji and grew up on a sugar cane plantation.
His father Colin was born in Bluff on southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand and was raised in Invercargill.
Colin met Eva while he was working as an engineer in Fiji and they moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, together. Leitch is the second youngest of their four children.
2. Began playing rugby at age five at Burnside RFC
Leitch was born in Burwood, Christchurch and attended St Bede's College. His rugby journey started at the young age of five for his local team Burnside RFC in the north-west area of Christchurch
3. His childhood idol was the late great Jerry Collins
Letich idolised destructive number eight Collins who made 48 appearances for the All Blacks and featured at the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. Samoa-born Collins played in Japan for Yamaha Júbilo (now known as Shizuoka Blue Revs) from 2011-2013 and made 13 appearances. Collins tragically died at aged just 34 along with his partner Alana Madill in a car crash in 2015.
When Leitch was once asked why he plays in his position of number eight he said: “The reason is my size and my favourite player, Jerry Collins.”
4. Moved to Sapporo in northern as a 15-year-old on a scholarship
Leitch moved to Sapporo in northern Japan as a 15-year-old. A Japanese friend from childhood introduced Leitch to Sapporo Yamanote High School and as part of St Bede's school exchange program, he joined the school in 2004.
His talent was nurtured by Rugby Club General Manager at Sapporo Yamanote High School, Mikio Sato, who remains a mentor to him and one of his closest friends.
After graduating from high school, Leitch decided to join the sporting powerhouse Tokai University and was hired to work for Toshiba.
5. Made his senior Japan debut as a University student at the age of 20
Leitch was picked for the Brave Blossoms while he was still a second-year University student at Tokai University.
He made his test match debut for Japan in 2008 against the USA in Nagoya.
Leitch quickly established himself as an integral member of the Japan side and scored his first try for his adopted country against Kazakhstan in April 2009.
6. Acquired Japanese citizenship in 2013
Leitch married a Japanese woman and acquired Japanese citizenship in 2013. He also decided to change his registered name from "Michael Leitch" to "Leitch Michael" as is the Japanese convention of using someone’s family name first.
He was also appointed as captain of Toshiba for the first time in 2013.
7. He became captain of the Japanese national team in 2014 In April 2014, he was appointed as Japan’s captain by head coach Eddie Jones. Leitch became the second New Zealand-born player to lead the Brave Blossoms as he followed in the footsteps of Andrew McCormick who was made captain in the 1990s.
Centre McCormick also hailed from Christchurch and captained Japan at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Wales as he amassed 25 caps for Japan.
8. Super Rugby standout for the Chiefs and the Sunwolves
Leitch joined the Chiefs in 2015 to test himself in Super Rugby and he won the Rookie of The Year award.
Leitch, who initially moved to the club in 2013 but was ruled out after breaking his arm, went on to make 35 appearances for the Hamilton-based side.
He enjoyed a second taste of Super Rugby with the Sunwolves, Japan’s Super Rugby team, in 2018.
9. Rehabilitated nagging injuries when the Top League season was halted due to the Covid 19 pandemic
When the 2020 Top League season was cancelled due to the pandemic, Leitch used to the time to have minor surgeries and heal his body.
He was able to recover fully and return in the best shape of his career for the 2021 Top League campaign.
Leitch has said in interviews that without the time off to heal numerous numerous injuries and rest his body during the pandemic, he might not be playing today.
10. Has played in 4 World Cups and could make history in 2027
Leitch has been a titan for his country as he’s appeared at the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
He starred in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and won man of the match against Tonga with a virtuoso display. Leitch scored a try and made a try-saving tackle on Charles Piutau’s older brother Siale Piutau (who now plays in Japan for division two side Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks).
In 2015, with Leitch as captain, Japan produced the biggest upset in the game’s history when they defeated South Africa 34-32 in Brighton.
Four years later on home soil, the hosts won all four of their pool games for the first time including sensational victories over Ireland and Scotland.
Only three players have appeared in five World Cups.
Leitch is aiming to push through to the 2027 edition in Australia where he would join joint record holders Brian Lima (Samoa, 1991 – 2007), Mauro Bergamasco (Italy, 1999 – 2025) and Sergio Parisse (Italy, 2003 – 2019) in appearing at rugby’s showpiece tournament on five occasions.
11. Active in charitable causes
Leitch’s generosity has seen him remain in close contact with Sapporo Yamanote High School who he has supported by helping to facilitate an overseas exchange for a budding student from Mongolia.
He has financially supported Norovsambuu Davaajav, a promising talent he discovered in Mongolia, to move to Japan.
Davaajav’s passion and experience for amateur wrestling Mongolian wrestling helped to put him on Leitch’s radar and he was picked from a rigorous try-out in 2019 which was conducted by the Japan star himself.
Leitch wanted to help give a young player the same opportunity that he had as a teenager.
Mongolia and Japan has strong sporting ties through sumo wrestling, judo and amateur wrestling which is what inspired Leitch to search for talent there.
Davaajav left Mongolia and joined Leitch's old high school in November 2020.
Fast-forward to the present day and the hard-working youngster is now a second-year student at Kokushikan University where he plays as lock in their rugby team.
Davaajav recently told Japan News that: “Coming to Japan has changed my life. I’ll do everything I can to one day play for Japan, just like Mr. Leitch.”
The Mongolian second-row started for Kokushikan against Chuo University in round three of Kanto University Rugby League Division 2 on Sunday.
Leitch also volunteered his time to join ex-Japan teammate Hendrik Tui's latest grassroots inclusivity project session in August.
12. Used to run a coffee shop in Fuchu
He opened a coffee shop called Cafe +64 in July 2015. The name was inspired by the international calling code for New Zealand which is +64.
The cosy 19-seat cafe was immensely popular with rugby fans and his teammates would often stop by.
Leitch, whose younger sister also worked at the New Zealand style cafe, once said that their signature dish was ‘avocado smash’ developed by his then-teammate and All Blacks star Liam Messam who he played with at Toshiba.
He previously spoke to the New Zealand Rugby Players Association about what he learnt from running his own business.
“The hospitality industry is a tough one to crack, it takes a good couple of years to get settled in. The biggest learning for me is that I don’t want to be a cafe owner after my rugby career. I thought I did, but now that I’ve ticked that box, I have changed my mind and will probably do something else post-rugby.”
The cafe closed on 28 March 2020 due to the pandemic.
13. His favourite foods are Bikkuri Donkey hamburgers and eel
Leitch’s favourite meal is Bikkuri Donkey hamburgers, a chain which first opened its doors in 1980 in Sapporo.
The signature dish is hamburger steak topped with cheese and served with rice and salad.
He also enjoys eating eel which is known locally as ‘unagi’ and is a sought after and healthy specialty in Japan. It’s often grilled and brushed with a thick, sweet, and savoury sauce
He also loves sushi as the family he first lived with in Japan owned a sushi restaurant. In order to bulk up during his teenage years in northern Japan, he would also consume a rich, butter-laden loaf of bread most evenings for extra calories.
14. Leitch Michael Statue
A statue of the Brave Blossoms’ inspirational leader appeared in in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district from April to December 2019 to coincide with the country hosting the Rugby World Cup for the first time.
The 20-kilogram statue, which was made by made by Mitsubishi Estate, was donated to his Japanese high school in January 2020.
Rugby Club General Manager at Sapporo Yamanote High School, Mikio Sato, with the statue of his protege
15. Led Toshiba to their first League One title in 2024 as captain
After being reappointed as the Toshi Brave Lupus captain by head coach Todd Blackadder, Leitch made 16 League One appearances and steered his star-laden side to League One glory last season.
Leitch finished the season with 181 tackles to his name, the ninth highest figure in the league (Honda’s Franco Mostert was 1st with 229 tackles).
Toshiba only lost one game all season and avenged that result when they defeated inaugural League One champions Saitama Wild Knights 24-20 in front of 56,486 fans at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Leitch, who will captain Toshiba in 2024-2025 with hooker Mamoru Hamada as vice-captain, was also reappointed as the Brave Blossoms captain by Japan and played in his 86th Test in June.
Pictures courtesy of Toshiba Brave Lupus, Mikio Sato and Project J
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