Kanako Kobayashi

Kanako Kobayashi
Date of birth (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars (0)
2021– Exeter Chiefs 31 (40)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–Present  Japan 20 (10)

Kanako Kobayashi (born 13 November 1998) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays at center for Japan's women's national rugby union team.

Early career

Kobayashi started playing as a nine year old because there was a rugby pitch near her home in Fujisawa.[1] Her parents were also rugby fans and always encouraged her.[1] She had earned a coveted spot at a high school renowned for producing rugby players in Shimane Prefecture, she then joined Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo, which also happened to have the strongest women's team in Japan.[1]

Professional career

In 2021, Kobayashi became the fourth Japanese woman to play professionally in England. She signed a one-year contract with the Exeter Chiefs, she joined them straight from the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars in Japan.[2][1] In her first season, she scored four tries in 16 appearances and helped Exeter win the Allianz Cup.[3][4] She missed the entire 2022–23 Premier 15s season due to a serious knee injury.[3][4]

Kobayashi returned to Exeter for the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby season.[5]

International career

Kobayashi was named in the Sakura fifteens tour of Europe in 2019, and made her test debut in the draw with Italy on 16 November.[6][7][8]

In 2021, she was named in Japan's squad for their Autumn Test series in November.[9] She was named on the bench for the test against Wales, but started in the matches against Scotland and Ireland.[10][11][12]

On 10 September 2023, Kobayashi scored a try against Fiji in the first test of the Taiyo Seimei Challenge Series; she also made an appearance in the second test.[13][14] She was then named in the Sakura fifteens side for the inaugural WXV 2 tournament that was held in South Africa in October.[15][16] She was in the starting line up in the opening match against Italy, and was moved from inside to outside-centre against Samoa for the second round.[17][18] She was then injured in the final match against Scotland in the 26th minute.[19]

She was named in the Sakura fifteens squad for their tour to the United States in April 2025.[20] She featured for the Sakura's again when they trounced Kazakhstan 90–0 in their opening match of the Asia Rugby Championship a month later, she scored her sides first try.[21]

On 28 July 2025, she was named in the Japanese side to the Women's Rugby World Cup in England.[22][23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ryall, Julian (20 April 2022). "The rising stars of Japanese rugby bringing the sport to a new generation". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Kanako Kobayashi signe un contrat professionnel chez Exeter Chiefs". Asierugby (in French). 17 August 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Japan centre Kobayashi to return to Exeter". BBC Sport. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Stevens, Mark (13 July 2023). "Kobayashi returning to the Chiefs". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Team news: Kobayashi back in the starting line-up for Sale encounter". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Tour of Europe 2019 Squad". Japan Rugby Football Union. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  7. ^ "女子日本代表対女子イタリア代表の試合結果及びHC、キャプテンのコメントのお知らせ｜日本ラグビーフットボール協会｜RUGBY：FOR ALL「ノーサイドの精神」を、日本へ、世界へ。". www.rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). 17 November 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  8. ^ Birch, John (16 November 2019). "Italy escape from Japanese shock". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ^ Scott-Munro, Harry (30 October 2021). "Chiefs duo named in Japanese squad". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  10. ^ Birch, John (7 November 2021). "Confidence building win for Wales". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ^ Birch, John (14 November 2021). "Experience the difference between Scotland and Japan". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ^ Walsh, Daire (20 November 2021). "Ciara Griffin claims two tries in last game as Ireland edge Japan". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Japan Sakura Fifteen Look To Close Out Taiyo Seimei Japan Rugby Challenge Series 2023 Against Fiji". RugbyAsia247. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Second Home Test Against Fijiana". Japan Rugby Football Union. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Squad Announced for Inaugural WXV 2". Japan Rugby Football Union. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  16. ^ "WXV 2: Anticipation builds for South Africa as squads named". www.world.rugby. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Opening WXV Clash Against Italy". Japan Rugby Football Union. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for Samoa WXV Match". Japan Rugby Football Union. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  19. ^ "WXV 2: Scotland get the job done against Japan, South Africa win". www.wxvrugby.com. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Squad Announced for USA Tour". Japan Rugby Football Union. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Japan Sakura XVs Thrash Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Women's Championship 2025 Opener". RugbyAsia247. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Japan announce squad for women's RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup Squad Announced". Japan Rugby Football Union. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
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