The Naturalized Heroes of Japan's 2015 National Rugby Team

Japan's Brave Blossums
If you have been following the sports news in Japan recently then you have probably heard about the national rugby team's success at the Rugby World Cup. They defeated South Africa's legendary Springboks and went on to captivate Japan. Not all of the foreign born members of the national team are actually naturalized as this is not a regulation of the Rugby Union. Players on the national team must meet the minimum residency requirement in order to represent a particular country.

Here is a brief profile of the naturalized members of Japan's national rugby team.

Luke Thompson

Born in New Zealand and naturalized 2011, Luke Thompson has been playing for the Japanese national team since 2007. He currently plays professionally for the Kintetsu Liners.

Michael Leitch

Originally from New Zealand and granted citizenship in 2013, Michael Leitch is also a member of the Toshiba Brave Lupus professional team.

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