EXCLUSIVE – Toshiba’s Rob Thompson out for six weeks with broken finger

Toshiba Brave Lupus’ standout centre Rob Thompson has been ruled out for six weeks after sustaining a broken finger in Saturday’s loss to Black Rams Tokyo in Kagoshima.

Palmerston North product Thompson, 34, who has been playing the best rugby of his career this season, played the full 80 minutes in the back-to-back champions’ fourth consecutive loss.

RugbyJP.com understands that the former Highlanders and Māori All Blacks midfielder will undergo surgery this week and then face six weeks on the sidelines.

Recent first-time Japan call-up Thompson, who has scored five tries this season, has beaten 50 players (fifth highest number) and has made 13 offloads (eighth highest) despite Toshiba’s struggles in recent weeks.

Todd Blackadder’s side - and their two-time MVP Richie Mo'unga - are chasing an unprecedented League One ‘three-peat’ this year and have already been hit by injuries to captain Michael Leitch, livewire Jone Naikabula and All Blacks back-rower Shannon Frizell.  

Courtesy of Toshiba Brave Lupus

Ex-All Blacks centre Seta Tamanivalu, who switched to his native Fiji in 2022 after meeting the three-year stand-down rules, will likely be partnered by versatile Wales-qualified utility-back Michael Collins or Taichi Mano in Thompson’s absence.

Sixth-placed Toshiba have a bye weekend this week and will return to action next week against Sam Cane and Cheslin Kolbe’s fourth-placed Suntory Sungoliath on Sunday 15 March.

The two-time League One winners are nine points ahead of Kwagga Smith’s misfiring Shizuoka Blue Revs with eight games remaining in the regular season.

Kubota Spears, Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers, Saitama Wild Knights, Suntory, TJ Perenara’s impressive Black Rams and Toshiba currently occupy the top-six play-off spots.

A six-week spell on sidelines could mean that Thompson returns in mid-April with games against Mitsubishi Dynaboars and basement outfit Yokohama Canon Eagles on the 18th and 25th respectively.

Toshiba concludes their regular season against inaugural League One winners Saitama Wild Knights on 9 May in Kumagaya and the former will be desperate to avenge their shock 46-0 loss to Atsushi Kanazawa’s side from round one in December.

Thompson was part of the 55-man Japan squad named by Brave Blossoms head coach Eddie Jones for their first camp of the year in June.

Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for the latest on champions Toshiba Brave Lupus