Veteran forward Takeomi Ito to retire after season: source

Former Japan international Takeomi Ito will retire after this season, ending his 25-year rugby career, a source said Thursday.

The 46-year-old forward, who plays for the Iwate Prefecture-based Kamaishi Seawaves, a second-division club in the Top Challenge League, has 62 appearances for the national side.

Ito played for the Brave Blossoms at the 1999 and 2003 World Cup, and joined the Seawaves in 2012 following 18 years with Top League side Kobe Kobelco Steelers.

LATEST RUGBY STORIES

Tokyo marks one-year countdown to 2019 Rugby World Cup

Rugby officials emphasized that the first Rugby World Cup in Asian would be a "game changer" that could bring the game to the next phase. Speaking at a One-Year To Go Festival event at T...

Jamie Joseph to step down as Sunwolves coach before Rugby World Cup

Japan coach Jamie Joseph will stand down as head coach of the Sunwolves in the build-up to Rugby World Cup, forcing the Super Rugby side to put a new person in charge for the fourth time in as m...

Ticket sales brisk as Japan prepares for rugby mania

The eyes of the rugby world will be on Japan in a year when the Brave Blossoms take on Russia at Tokyo Stadium on Sept. 20, 2019, in the opening game of the ninth Rugby World Cup. In a bid to br...