Yuna Sato (rugby union)

Yuna Sato
Date of birth (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 26)
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Loose Forward
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix (0)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023 Western Force 0 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Japan 0 (0)

Yuna Sato (born 11 September 1998) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays Lock internationally for the Japan women's national rugby union team. She competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Rugby career

Sato featured in Japan's autumn international against Scotland in 2020.[1] In 2021, she was suspended for three weeks following Japan's match against Scotland on 14 November.[2][3]

Sato started in Japan's historic match against the Black Ferns at Eden Park ahead of the World Cup.[4] She was then named in Japan's squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and started in all three of their games.[5][6][7]

Sato signed with the Western Force for the 2023 Super W season.[5][8][9] She made her Super W debut for Western Force in their opening match against the NSW Waratahs.[10]

She was named in the Sakura XVs side for the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship.[11][12] Sato scored a try before half-time to help the Sakura's secure their spot at the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 WXV 2 tournament.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Relive Scotland's Autumn Test against Japan". Scottish Rugby. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  2. ^ "Independent disciplinary update: Yuna Sato (Japan)". www.world.rugby. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  3. ^ "Scotland overwhelm Japan in autumn Test". BBC Sport. 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  4. ^ Julian, Adam (2022-09-23). "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Japan (Eden Park)". allblacks.com. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  5. ^ a b Williamson, Nathan (2023-03-07). "Force nab Wallaroo Leonard for 2023 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ^ Mockford, Sarah (2022-10-22). "Japan Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Japan 8-21 Italy". Rugby World. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ^ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced For RWC Pool Match Against the USA". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  8. ^ Smith, Ben (2023-03-08). "Force women add five internationals, unveil academy". The West Australian. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  9. ^ "L'internationale japonaise à XV Yuna Sato et Natsuki Kashiwagi signent chez la Western Force". Asierugby (in French). 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  10. ^ "Wallaroo Michaela Leonard and Japanese internationals to start in season opener". westernforce.rugby. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  11. ^ "Sakura Fifteen's 26-member squad". Asia Rugby. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  12. ^ "Japan Squad Announced for Asia Rugby Women's Championship 2024". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  13. ^ "Japan beat Kazakhstan to secure place at England 2025". www.world.rugby. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. ^ Duskmourne, Quorra (2024-05-27). "Japan Secures Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Berth with Dominant Display". Global Rugby Network. Retrieved 2024-05-28.