is former Japanese rugby union player who played as a wing or

fly half In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards (wearing jerseys numbered 1–8) and seven backs (numbered 9–15). In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16– ...

, and captained the national team between 2012 and 2013. After becoming a regular starter for Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League, Hirose made his debut for Japan in 2007 against Hong Kong at fly-half scoring 2 tries, but never featured again under coach

John Kirwan John Kirwan may refer to: * John Óge Kirwan (fl. 1530–1531), mayor of Galway * Sir John Kirwan (1650–1721), Irish entrepreneur * John Kirwan (cricketer) (1816–1899), English cricketer * John Kirwan (politician) (1869–1949), Australian ...

. He continued to be a key player at domestic level though, captaining Toshiba Brave Lupus to back to back Top League victories in 2009 and 2010. In 2012, 5 years from his debut, he was recalled and named captain of the Japan national rugby union team by new coach, Eddie Jones. He by now had converted from fly-half to wing, and later that year led them to their first ever away wins in Europe against and . He was also infamously on the receiving end of a rant by Jones after a loss to the

French Barbarians The Barbarian Rugby Club, more commonly known as the French Barbarians, is a rugby union team formed in 1979 and based in France. It was founded as an amateur invitational team modeled on the Barbarian F.C. From the start of the 2017–18 season, ...

in June. Hirose continued as captain in 2013, leading Japan to their first ever victory over , but was dropped in 2014 with his place coming under increasing pressure from new caps

Akihito Yamada is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a winger. He also plays for Top League side the Panasonic Wild Knights in his home country. Career Yamada has been a prolific try-scorer for the Wild Knights in Japan's Top 14 competition since ma ...

and Kotaro Matsushima, and Jones citing a lack of pace. From there onwards he became a bit part player at international level with his remaining caps all coming off the bench as a utility player who could cover both fly-half and wing. He was retained for the

2015 Rugby World Cup The 2015 Rugby World Cup was the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament was hosted by England from 18 September to 31 October. Of the 20 countries competing in the World Cup in 2011, there was onl ...

, with his leadership skills praised by Jones, but was the only player in the 31 man squad not to make the field in the tournament, and following a final season with Toshiba Brave Lupus decided to retire.

References

External links

Toshiba Brave Lupus wing profiles
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hirose, Toshiaki 1981 births Living people Japanese rugby union players Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players Rugby union wings Japan international rugby union players