# Michael Leitch
**Michael Leitch** (リーチ マイケル; born 1988) is a New Zealand-born Japanese rugby union forward who captained Japan at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, led the [Brave Blossoms](https://www.edgepedia.org/japan-national-rugby-union-team) to their first quarter-final in 2019, and plays for Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan Rugby League One.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) • [2](https://league-one.jp/en/player/484358) • [12](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/346604)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1988, Burwood, Christchurch, New Zealand; NZ father and Fijian mother[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249) • [1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) |
| Position | Back row; listed as NO8 in League One and lock/flanker for Japan[2](https://league-one.jp/en/player/484358) • [4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1) |
| Japan caps | 92 as of July 2, 2026, the most of any active Japan player; four World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)[4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1) |
| Captaincy | Japan captain from April 2014, the second New Zealand-born captain after Andrew McCormick (1999)[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249) |
| Signature wins | South Africa 34-32 at Brighton (2015); Ireland and Scotland (2019), taking Japan to its first quarter-final[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) |
| Club | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo since 2011; captain of the League One championship sides through the 2024 season[5](https://michaelleitch.com/teams/toshiba) • [4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1) |
| League One record | 74 League One caps; 189 cm, 113 kg; Category A contract[2](https://league-one.jp/en/player/484358) |
## Early life and move to Japan
Leitch grew up in [Christchurch](https://www.edgepedia.org/christchurch), New Zealand, the son of a [New Zealander](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-zealander) and a Fijian, and went to Japan at 15 on a school exchange, enrolling at Sapporo Yamanote High School (札幌山の手高校). His first lodgings were above a sushi shop, and he later boarded with a soba noodle shop family; he names curry soba as his favorite food.[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249) He chose Tokai University because it allowed him to earn a teaching license, and as a second-year student he captained Japan's under-20 side, a turning point in deciding between New Zealand, Fiji, and Japan as his international team.[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249)
His test debut came on November 16, 2008, against the United States in Nagoya, while he was still at university.[4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1) He acquired Japanese citizenship on July 25, 2013, and changed his registered playing name from "Michael Leitch" (マイケル・リーチ) to the Japanese-order "Leitch Michael" (リーチ マイケル).[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249)
## Club career
Leitch joined Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2011 after graduating from Tokai University and won the league's Rookie of the Year award in his first season.[5](https://michaelleitch.com/teams/toshiba) He became a fixture of the back row and eventually club captain; in 2024 he led Toshiba to the League One championship, and the J SPORTS national-team register credits him with captaining the club to two consecutive League One titles through the 2024 season.[5](https://michaelleitch.com/teams/toshiba) • [4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1)
He also played in [Super Rugby](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-rugby), joining the Waikato Chiefs in 2015; his own profile lists the 2015 and 2016 seasons, while the J SPORTS register counts three seasons with the Chiefs from 2015.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) • [4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1) In 2018 he joined the Sunwolves, Japan's Super Rugby franchise, and often captained the side during its two seasons of existence, 2018 and 2019.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile)
## Japan captaincy and the World Cups
Leitch played all four of Japan's pool matches at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, scoring a try against Tonga.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) In April 2014 he was appointed Japan captain by head coach [Eddie Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-jones-rugby-union), becoming the second New Zealand-born player to lead Japan after Andrew McCormick at the 1999 tournament.[3](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249)
**Brighton, 2015.** Japan's 34-32 win over South Africa at Brighton on the tournament's second weekend became known as the Brighton Miracle, and Leitch's captaincy is central to the story. His decision-making was on display against South Africa, when he chose a scrum rather than a kick at goal from a late penalty, a call that came off and helped Japan to a pool win; Japan missed the quarter-finals only on standings.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) • [6](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/17/greig-laidlaw-scotland-australia-rugby-world-cup) • [13](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/09/20/rugby/leitch-lauded-match-winning-gamble-pays-off/) • [14](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-20/eddie-jones-predicts-massive-boost-to-japan-rugby/6789704)
**Home World Cup, 2019.** As captain, Leitch led Japan to wins over all four pool opponents, including Ireland in Fukuroi and Scotland in Yokohama, and into the quarter-finals for the first time, where Japan lost to South Africa.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) • [7](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/japan-rugby-michael-leitch-2019-world-cup-success-a9449186.html) Head coach Jamie Joseph stated that Leitch would remain Japan captain through the 2019 tournament.[8](https://michaelleitch.com/timeline) In April 2020, five months after the final, Leitch said publicly that he feared Japan was not doing enough to convert the 2019 run into a permanent place at rugby's top table.[7](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/japan-rugby-michael-leitch-2019-world-cup-success-a9449186.html)
**Later tournaments.** Leitch played a fourth World Cup in France in 2023, providing experience to a young squad.[1](https://michaelleitch.com/profile) He reached 92 Test caps by July 2, 2026, the most of any active Japan player, and remained in the national squad registered for the 2026 season.[4](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1)
## Standing in Japanese rugby
Leitch's popularity in Japan is unusual for a foreign-born player: there is a statue of him in a public park in Tokyo.[9](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/who-is-michael-leitch-ten-facts-about-the-former-japan-captain-157887) The 2019 film *The Brighton Miracle* dramatized the 2015 campaign and depicted the racial abuse Leitch, a mixed-race player, had suffered, and the support of his wife Sumire.[10](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/brighton-miracle-the-37987/) His own site records his continuing role: in 2026 he again leads Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo as captain.[11](https://michaelleitch.com/)
## References
1. [Profile, Michael Leitch official site](https://michaelleitch.com/profile)
2. [Michael Leitch (2025-26), Japan Rugby League One official site](https://league-one.jp/en/player/484358)
3. [リーチマイケル 選手プロフィール, 日本ラグビーフットボール協会](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/195249)
4. [リーチ マイケル, ラグビー日本代表選手名鑑, J SPORTS](https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/10033/?webview=1)
5. [Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Michael Leitch official site](https://michaelleitch.com/teams/toshiba)
6. [Greig Laidlaw, the man who makes the right calls, The Guardian (October 17, 2015)](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/17/greig-laidlaw-scotland-australia-rugby-world-cup)
7. [Michael Leitch fears Japan are not capitalising on 2019 Rugby World Cup success, The Independent (April 6, 2020)](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/japan-rugby-michael-leitch-2019-world-cup-success-a9449186.html)
8. [Timeline, Michael Leitch official site](https://michaelleitch.com/timeline)
9. [Who is Michael Leitch? Ten facts about the former Japan captain, Rugby World](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/who-is-michael-leitch-ten-facts-about-the-former-japan-captain-157887)
10. [Brighton Miracle, The, Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/brighton-miracle-the-37987/)
11. [Official homepage, Michael Leitch](https://michaelleitch.com/)
12. [リーチマイケル｜選手プロフィール｜日本ラグビーフットボール協会](https://www.rugby-japan.jp/player/346604)
13. [Leitch lauded as match-winning gamble pays off](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/09/20/rugby/leitch-lauded-match-winning-gamble-pays-off/)
14. [Eddie Jones predicts massive impact for Japan rugby](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-20/eddie-jones-predicts-massive-boost-to-japan-rugby/6789704)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › Rugby union players and personnel › Southern Hemisphere players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license