EXCLUSIVE: Uni ace Ito, 21, to join Suntory after tormenting European giants

Japan starlet Ryunosuke Ito’s first professional club will be Eddie Jones and Beauden Barrett’s ex-side Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal.

Meiji University fly-half Ito, 21, was a revelation for his country in the Nations Championship as he made his Test debut in the Brave Blossoms’ impressive season-opening win against Italy.

The precocious Kanagawa native, who led his University side to All-Japan University Rugby Football Championship glory in January, looked remarkably assured as he navigated the lofty step-up from age-group domestic rugby to the Test stage.

Ito will start his pro club career at Tokyo’s powerhouse side Suntory next season and will follow in the footsteps of All Blacks Barrett and Damian McKenzie in wearing the club’s iconic number 10 jersey.

© JRFU

Japan’s new Test rugby sensation’s talents have been nurtured through the Japan Talent Squad (JTS) which was introduced by former Suntory coach Jones to gradually expose standout prospects to international rugby.

Ito, who Jones stated was ex-Toulouse scrum-half Naoto Saito’s back-up against France, has also played at inside-centre and full-back.

Brave Blossoms’ latest playmaker has shone in the absence of Kobe Steelers’ injured League One winner Lee Seung-sin. He played the full 80 minutes in the historic home win against Italy and in the battling loss against Ireland.

Ito played 61 minutes against France before being replaced by Kobe’s debutant Shunsuke Uenobo.

The sought-after pivot is currently in Hokkaido for Japan’s national training camp ahead of home and away Test matches against new head coach Les Kiss’ Wallabies.

© Meiji University - Ito celebrates his try against Waseda University

Ito will compete for Suntory’s number 10 jersey with former Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask and 2024 League One Rookie of The Year Mikiya Takamoto.

Suntory’s newest addition will joined in Fuchu by Ireland wing James Lowe, who replaces South African great Cheslin Kolbe, and former Wallabies youth international Ed Kasprowicz. His club captain will be World Cup winner Sam Cane.

Ito can look forward to playing against his older brother Kotaro, 24, a Japan XV international, who plays at fly-half for Black Rams Tokyo.

Ito is following the club on Instagram

Suntory, who have replaced Kosei Ono with the returning Keisuke Sawaki as head coach, beat Black Rams Tokyo in last season’s quarter-final before being routed in the semi-finals by Dave Rennie’s eventual champions Kobe.