Toshiba to manage Leitch’s playing time - Todd Blackadder

Toshiba Brave Lupus’ head coach Todd Blackadder will manage talismanic captain Michael Leitch’s minutes next season after the Japan stalwart was an ever-present last term. 

The 37-year-old was an integral player as the Fuchu side retained their League One crown by conquering Malcolm Marx and Bernard Foley’s Kubota Spears 18-13 with player of the match Richie Mo’unga putting on a masterclass.  

Leitch, who led Japan to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in 2019 for the first time, featured in all 20 of the Toshiba’s games last season playing a total of 1542 minutes.  

The Christchurch native led by example as he registered the most tackles in the competition (296), finishing 61 ahead of second-placed Suntory Sungoliath lock Harry Hockings. 

Ex-All Black Blackadder revealed that his leading man has accepted the captaincy role for next season but could be rotated in order to prolong his career.  

“Leitch was not reluctant to take the captaincy, he wants it, something has changed,” Blackadder told RugbyJP.com.

“I think he’s really enjoying the role but I don’t think I can play him in every game like I did last year.” 

Leader Leitch talks to his team - (c) JRLO

Leitch, who made the most tackles in Japan’s heavy loss to South Africa on Saturday despite only playing for 48 minutes, is hoping to take part in a record-equaling fifth World Cup tournament in 2027 which would put him alongside Samoa’s Brian Lima and Italian duo Sergio Parisse and Mauro Bergamasco in the history books.

Blackadder reflected on becoming the first side in the League One era to win back-to-back titles and the areas he’s looking for improvements in as they target a ‘three-peat' next season.

“We have a more mature team than last year,” said the former Crusaders head coach.

“We’re going for something special, but we could lose the first three games. It could happen. We will take one game at a time.”

Blackadder also highlighted the work of All Blacks pair Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell and that the club are already preparing for life after their star duo when they depart in June 2026.

"Shannon and Richie have not just come in as players but also as leaders, they've given our environment so much, we need to be ready to cope when they leave.

“The season after they leave, we want to be even stronger and be a better team because of the work they’ve put in for us.”

There has been a minor reshuffling to the championship-winning squad with Japan’s new captain Warner Dearns leaving to join Super Rugby side the Hurricanes on a one-year loan deal while centre Yuto Mori has moved to Yokohama Canon Eagles.

Hooker Mamoru Harada is also among the high-profile departures as he’s expected to link up with Moana Pasifika for a season before returning to Japan.

Kintetsu Liners hooker Andrew Macario, Suntory lock Callum McDonald and Black Rams second row Michael Stolberg will cover Dearns’ departure while Fiji-born wing Netani Vakayalia and highly-regarded Hurricanes wing Tjay Clarke will ease concerns over star wing Jone Naikabula’s long-term absence.  

Picture courtesy of Canterbury

"Our approach in the summer was to recruit so that we have a better team this year,” said Blackadder.

"We also want to build and develop the players we already have; to build our depth and get more out of the players we have. We’ve won two in a row but we still haven’t reached our potential, there’s so much more in us.”

“We’re on track. I believe we’ve made progress in those areas. We need to be better in our set-piece. Our scrum. It’s exciting. Getting better is a lot of fun. it’s exciting and really stimulating. Being part of a really special team we have an opportunity to try and win three championships in a row and we want to embrace that challenge to do something really special.”

Toshiba start their 'three-peat' bid against former League One champions Saitama Wild Knights at Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday 14 December.