Japanese scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka, who has played in three Rugby World Cups, announced his retirement at the end of the current League One season with second-division Green Rockets Tokatsu. Tanaka, a 166-centimeter Kyoto native, played a key role in Japan’s victories at the 2015 World Cup in England, notably their historic win against South Africa. He also made history as the first Japanese player in Super Rugby in 2013 and was part of the Highlanders team that claimed the title in 2015.
During a press conference in Tokyo, Tanaka expressed his pride in his career despite his small stature and shared his happiness in creating a new chapter in Japanese rugby history. He also contributed to Japan’s best-ever quarterfinal finish at the 2019 World Cup on home soil. With 75 caps for his country, Tanaka has long been a supporter of rugby development in Japan and was deeply moved by the overwhelming support from fans during the national team parade after the 2019 World Cup.
Reflecting on Tanaka’s retirement announcement, Yutaka Nagare, who succeeded Tanaka as Japan’s starting scrum-half, praised his former teammate as a reliable and respected player. Tanaka’s impact on Japanese rugby has been significant, and he leaves a lasting legacy as he transitions into retirement after a successful career on the field.
Tanaka said that he feels happy to have contributed to Japanese rugby for so long and is proud of all that he has achieved during his career. He thanked everyone who supported him throughout his journey and wished them well for their future endeavors.
As Tanaka retires from professional rugby, many fans are grateful for all that he has done for Japanese sports. His legacy will live on forever as one of Japan’s greatest scrum-halves.
Yutaka Nagare took over as Japan’s starting scrum-half after Tanaka retired. He paid tribute to his former teammate and said that he was honored to play alongside him.
Tanaka’s retirement marks the end of an era for Japanese rugby. However, it is not necessarily an end of anything positive because it paves way for new players to take up where he left off.
In conclusion, Fumiaki Tanaka is one of Japan’s most accomplished scrum-halves with numerous accolades under his belt. His retirement marks an end to an exciting chapter but opens up new opportunities for others to shine.
