Takuro Miuchi

{{Short description|Japan international rugby union player}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Takuro Miuchi | image = | caption = | birth_name = Takuro Miuchi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|12|11}}<ref name="RWC2007 profile"/> | birth_place = Kitakyushu, Japan<ref name="RWC2007 profile"/> | height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="RWC2007 profile">{{cite web | work=rugbyworldcup.co.uk | title=RWC 2007 player profile for Takuro Miuchi| url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=49/player=7962/index.html | accessdate=21 September 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071024020521/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=49/player=7962/index.html  |archivedate = 24 October 2007}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|107|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref name="RWC2007 profile"/> | position = Number eight | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = {{nrut|Japan}}<ref name="scrum.com">{{cite web | work=scrum.com |title=scrum.com profile for Takuro Miuchi| url=http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=25780&includeref=dynamic | accessdate=21 September 2007}}</ref> | repyears1 = 2002 - | repcaps1 = 48 | reppoints1 = 10 | ru_ntupdate = September 21, 2007 | years1 = 1999-2009 | years2 = 2000 | years3 = 2010- present | clubs1 = NEC Green Rockets | clubs2 = {{ill|ASD Rugby Paese|it|ASD Rugby Paese|lt=Paese}} | clubs3 = NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes | apps1 = | points1 = | ru_clubupdate = September 2012 }} '''Takuro Miuchi''' (箕内拓郎, ''Miuchi Takuro'', born December 11, 1975) is a Japanese rugby union player, who plays number eight. He was captain of the Japan national rugby union team until relieved of that responsibility by Japan national team coach Jean-Pierre Elissalde in a surprise move during February 2006. He was recalled to the team for the IRB Pacific 5 Nations games, and has appeared in 2 World Cups - 2003<ref>[http://www.rwc2003.irb.com/EN/Tournament/Teams/Japan/Players/Takuro+Miuchi/index.htm Profile at 2003 World Cup website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202151958/http://www.rwc2003.irb.com/EN/Tournament/Teams/Japan/Players/Takuro+Miuchi/index.htm |date=2008-12-02 }}</ref> and 2007.

He also plays for NEC Green Rockets in the Top League, and was the NEC captain before Ryota Asano.

Under John Kirwan (appointed head coach January 1, 2007) he again became captain of Japan, and appeared in the Japanese squad for the 2007 World Cup and the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

==Early life==

Takuro is originally from Tobata ward in Kitakyushu city. He first learned rugby at Sayagatani rugby school, and played also for Yahata High School.

He played as a student for Kanto Gakuin University and for a year at Oxford University where he gained a blue. Miuchi's first international cap was on May 19, 2002 in a match against {{nrut|Russia}}.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20060520TDY28001.htm Miuchi gets recall for Pac Five], Daily Yomiuri, May 20, 2006 *[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20060228TDY20008.htm Élissalde springs surprise as Miuchi gets the chop], Daily Yomiuri, February 28, 2006 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060216011350/http://www.necsports.net/rugby/member/ply_miuchi.php Miuchi on the Rockets website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miuchi, Takuro}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese rugby union players Category:Green Rockets Tokatsu players Category:Red Hurricanes Osaka players Category:Sportspeople from Kitakyushu Category:Rugby union players from Fukuoka Prefecture Category:Rugby union number eights Category:Kanto Gakuin University alumni Category:Japan international rugby union players Category:Rugby union players at the 2002 Asian Games Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Japan Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players Category:Oxford University RFC players Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen Category:Asian Games silver medalists in rugby union