| Birth date | 24 October 1992 (age 33) |
|---|---|
| Height cm | 168 |
| Weight kg | 76 |
| Years 1 | 2016–2023 |
| Clubs 1 | Mie Pearls |
| Years 2 | 2023–2025 |
| Clubs 2 | Trailfinders |
| Repyears 1 | 2019–2023 |
| Repcaps 1 | 16 |
| Reppoints 1 | 0 |
Kie Tamai (born 24 October 1992) is a former Japanese rugby union player. She competed for at the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
Early life and career
Tamai initially played basketball from elementary to high school.[1] In her senior year of high school, she was invited by the rugby coach to try out the sport, and has been playing rugby ever since.[1]
She graduated from Matsusaka High School in 2010 and then entered Kwansei Gakuin University. She joined the university's rugby club with over 100 male members as the only female player.[1][2]
After graduating from Kwansei Gakuin University, she worked as an English teacher at a junior high school.[1] After working for a private company, she joined Pasona in 2019.
Rugby career
Tamai joined the newly formed, Mie Pearls, in 2016 while also working as an English teacher at a junior high school.[1][2]
On 13 July 2019, she earned her first cap for as a starter against during her sides tour of Australia.[3]
In July 2022, she captained Japan in a test match against .[2] She was subsequently selected in Japan's squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[1][3]
Tamai joined Ealing Trailfinders in the Premiership Women's Rugby competition in 2023.[1][3]
References
- ^ "Women’s Rugby in Japan". Japan House London. 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ^ "Breaking through: The rise of women’s rugby in Japan". Japan House London. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ^ Peters, Matt (2023-05-31). "Japanese International Kie Tamai joins Trailfinders Women". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. Retrieved 2025-12-24.