Genia and Cooper to make coaching bow against Mo’unga’s champions

Former Wallabies stars Will Genia and Quade Cooper will make their coaching bow for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners against Richie Mo’unga’s League One champions Toshiba Brave Lupus on Saturday 18 October.

Skills coach Genia and attack coach Cooper, both 37, are making the transition to coaching after playing for the Osaka-based club for the last six years.

The former Australia, Rebels and Liners half-back pairing are part of a new-look coaching team which includes Māori All Blacks head coach Ross Filipo who has joined the division two side as their forwards coach and former Toshiba defence coach Tai Lavea.  

Attack coach Quade Cooper - Photo courtesy of Kintetsu Liners

Former coaching coordinator and ex-captain Haruki Ota is the club’s new head coach after replacing former Japan head coach Shogo Mukai.

The promotion-chasing Liners have invested heavily in their squad with South Africa’s World Cup-winning fly-half Manie Libbok, compatriot and former Kubota Spears centre Burger Odendaal and their countryman, well-travelled lock Ryno Pieterse among their recruits along with once-capped All Blacks centre Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Genia and Cooper, who returned to Japan in July for the start of pre-season training, will experience their first game as coaches when the Liners travel to Fuchu to play Todd Blackadder's back-to-back champions Toshiba.

While star names such as Mo’unga, who has announced that he will return to New Zealand in 2026, and fellow All Black Shannon Frizell are unlikely to be involved, Japan wing and last season’s top try scorer Jone Naikabula could feature after missing the post-season play-offs due to a leg injury.  

Skills coach Will Genia - Photo courtesy of Kintetsu Liners

The Liners will continue their pre-season schedule with a home game against division three side Chugoku Electric Power Red Legions on Saturday 8 November before hosting TJ Perenara’s Black Rams Tokyo seven days later.

Kick-off times and spectator information is currently being finalised. RugbyJP.com will be in attendance at the Toshiba v Liners game.

Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for pre-season coverage.