Seiji Hirao
Encyclopedia
Seiji Hirao was a Japanese rugby union footballer and is a current coach. He played as a fly-half. He was one of the most popular Japanese players of his time, earning the name of "Mr. Rugby".
Hirao first played at Fushimi Kogyo, in Kyoto, who won the national high school title, in 1980. He then moved to Doshisha University
, where he won three national universities title. He graduated in 1985, moving to England, where he played a year for Richmond
. Returning to Japan in 1986, he helped Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
to win 7 consecutive National Championships, from 1989/90 to 1994/95.
He had 35 caps for Japan
, from 1982 to 1995, scoring 1 try, 5 conversions and 1 penalty, 18 points in aggregate. His first match was a 22-6 loss to New Zealand Universities national team, at 30 May 1982, aged only 19 years old.
Hirao played at the 1987 Rugby World Cup
, all the three matches. He also played at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
, as the captain, again in all the three matches, and, after a three years and a half retirement, at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
, playing two matches and scoring a try in the 50-28 loss to Ireland
, at 31 May 1995. That would be his last cap for his National Team, aged 32 years old.
He was the coach of Japan, from 1997 to 2000, and lead his National Team at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
. Japan was unfortunate, losing all the three matches but giving worthy performances.
He is currently the coach of Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
.
Hirao first played at Fushimi Kogyo, in Kyoto, who won the national high school title, in 1980. He then moved to Doshisha University
Doshisha University
, or is a prestigious private university in Kyoto, Japan. The university has approximately 27,000 students on three campuses, in faculties of theology, letters, law, commerce, economics, policy, and engineering...
, where he won three national universities title. He graduated in 1985, moving to England, where he played a year for Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
. Returning to Japan in 1986, he helped Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
to win 7 consecutive National Championships, from 1989/90 to 1994/95.
He had 35 caps for Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, from 1982 to 1995, scoring 1 try, 5 conversions and 1 penalty, 18 points in aggregate. His first match was a 22-6 loss to New Zealand Universities national team, at 30 May 1982, aged only 19 years old.
Hirao played at the 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
, all the three matches. He also played at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
, as the captain, again in all the three matches, and, after a three years and a half retirement, at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
, playing two matches and scoring a try in the 50-28 loss to Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, at 31 May 1995. That would be his last cap for his National Team, aged 32 years old.
He was the coach of Japan, from 1997 to 2000, and lead his National Team at the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
. Japan was unfortunate, losing all the three matches but giving worthy performances.
He is currently the coach of Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
.