Airi Murakami (Photo by Shinichi Chubachi)
A top female rugby player, who has earned a cap on the national team, has made it publicly known that she has a same-sex partner.
“There was a time when I kept my sexual orientation to myself,” said Airi Murakami, who plays for the Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars. “But after I met with people who embrace me for who I am, I came to want to behave as my true self and have others know me for who I am.
“I hope to be a catalyst, the next time around, for other troubled athletes, female or male.”
Japan s Brave Blossoms to play test against Ireland in July Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
Ireland s James Ryan in action with Japan s Yutaka Nagare during their match at the Rugby World Cup in in Shizuoka Prefecture in September 2019. | REUTERS
Reuters, AFP-Jiji, Kyodo May 11, 2021
Japan will play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on July 3 following their clash with the British & Irish Lions on June 26, the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said on Monday.
Jamie Joseph s Brave Blossoms will travel to Ireland after taking on the Lions at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. The fixture is part of a revised international rugby summer schedule brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
International rugby headlines rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has reached the final of the Champions Cup with Toulouse, who ve beaten fellow French side Bordeaux-Begles 21-9 in the first of the semi-finals.
Kaino, 38, will retire at the end of the season.
Former Blues team-mates Charlie Faumuina and Pita Ahki also started the semi-final for Toulouse, who have won a record-equalling four Champions Cup titles, with the last coming in 2010.
The French Top 14 leaders will play either La Rochelle or Leinster in the final at Twickenham in London later this month.
Covid outbreak forces cancellation of Japan Top League quarter-final
The Japan Top League quarter-final between Ricoh Black Rams and Suntory Sungoliath has been cancelled after 22 players from Ricoh tested positive for Covid-19.