Minori Yamamoto (rugby union)

Minori Yamamoto
Date of birth (1996-12-09) 9 December 1996 (age 28)
Place of birthYokohama, Japan
Height169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb; 11 st 5 lb)
SchoolTokai University Sagami High School
UniversityNippon Sport Science University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Yokohama TKM
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2021 Mie Pearls (0)
2021–2023 Worcester Warriors 29 (47)
2023–2024 Sale Sharks Women 9 (5)
2024–Present Yokohama TKM ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–Present  Japan 25 (0)

Minori Yamamoto (山本実 born 9 December 1996) is a Japanese rugby union and sevens player. She plays fly-half for Japan internationally and for Sale Sharks in Premiership Women's Ruby.[1] She competed at the 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup's.

Early life

Yamamoto was born in Aoba Ward, Yokohama City in the Kanagawa Prefecture.[2]

Rugby career

Yamamoto competed for Japan at the 2017 Rugby World Cup and started in every match.[3][4] She played for Mie Pearls.[5] She later played for Worcester Warriors in 2021.[1][6][7][8][9]

Yamamoto kicked a conversion and a penalty to help her side beat South Africa in their warm-up match ahead of the 2021 World Cup.[10] She competed for Japan at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup that was held in New Zealand.[11][12][13]

On 8 December 2023, Sale Sharks announced that Yamamoto had signed for the club following the withdrawal of Worcester Warriors from the league.[14][15] She received her first start for the Sharks in their game against the Saracens in 2024.[16] She departed Sale at the end of the 2023–24 season.[17] On 1 August 2024 she joined her hometown team Yokohama TKM[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "山本 実 | ラグビー女子日本代表選手名鑑 | J SPORTS【公式】". www.jsports.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  2. ^ "PLAYER | | 山本実オフィシャルウェブサイト｜MINORI YAMAMOTO OFFICIAL WEBSITE". minoriyamamoto.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  3. ^ "Irish Rugby | Ireland Women Finish Strongly To Win Trial Game Against Japan". Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  4. ^ "Warriors sign Japanese international". warriors.co.uk. 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  5. ^ "ＰＥＡＲＬＳ（パールズ）". mie-pearls.com. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  6. ^ "Warriors Women 5 Chiefs Women 57". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  7. ^ Tomas, Fiona (2021-12-03). "Why the Premier 15s has become the leading domestic league for overseas players". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  8. ^ "Report: Worcester Warriors Women 12-14 Bristol Bears Women". Bristol Bears. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  9. ^ "Minori Yamamoto - Fly-half". warriors.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Japan see off nearest rivals in World Rugby Women's Rankings powered by Capgemini". www.women.rugby. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  11. ^ "Japan Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Japan 8-21 Italy". Rugby World. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  12. ^ Malin, Ian (2021-09-03). "Head injury checks for women's rugby season leading up to World Cup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  13. ^ "RWC 2022 – USA vs Japan – ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  14. ^ "Welcome To The #SHARKSFAMILY". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  15. ^ "Japan Test Stars Head Overseas to Experience Rugby Life Abroad". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  16. ^ Diamond, Sam (2024-01-05). "TEAM NEWS | Sale Sharks Women v Saracens". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  17. ^ "Thank You To these six who have decided to move on from life at Heywood Road, we've loved having you as part of the". X (formerly Twitter). Sale Sharks Women. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  18. ^ "2024年度新加入選手の紹介-山本実選手。" [Introducing the new player for 2024 - Yamamoto Minoru.]. Yokohama TKM (in Japanese). 2024-08-01. Archived from the original on 2024-08-26. Retrieved 2024-08-26.