Seung-Shin Lee of the Japan National Rugby Team: “I am ready to carry Japan’s No. 10 on my back”

Until now, I have been playing with the sole intention of making the national team. But after playing through the ’22 season, I began to think about what I can do for my fellow players on the premise that I want to be a member of the national team.

So says Lee Seung-shin (21), a standoff member of the Japanese national rugby team. In his second year as a professional player in 2022, he made his only full season appearance for his team, the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, using his calm judgment and kicking accuracy.

He said, “What gave me confidence was the training match against New Zealand at the end of October. Against the world’s top team, I led the Japanese attack as a leader and scored four goals in kicking. In the end, we lost 31-38, but I was able to get a good response that my weapons could be used in the world as well.”

Behind his great breakthrough was a major setback he experienced in the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020, he decided to drop out of college and go abroad to train as a warrior. However, travel restrictions put a halt on his plans, and he was unable to return to the university and lost his place to practice. For a time, he trained alone on the playground equipment at a nearby park.

“I thought about quitting rugby,” he said. But I didn’t give up and kept practicing, and my former coach from elementary school and my current friends reached out to me. I want to fulfill my duty for those who supported me.

The World Cup in France is coming up in September 2023. The team is ready for the long-desired top four finish.

I am ready to take on the responsibility of playing the No. 10 role for Japan. I will challenge the World Cup with the strong feeling that I will make the team win.

The young leader will lead Japan to a great achievement.