{{Short description|Japan international rugby union player}} {{for|the shogi player|Yūya Saitō}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{infobox rugby biography | image = | image_size = | caption = | birthname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|4|28}} | birth_place = | height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}} | weight = {{convert|218|lb|kg st|abbr=on}} | position = Loose forward | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = Toyota Jido Shokki | clubs2 = Suntory Sungoliath | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = 2001-2004 | repteam1 = {{nrut|Japan}} | repcaps1 = 14 | reppoints1 = 20 }} {{Nihongo|'''Yuya Saito'''|斉藤 祐也|Saitō Yūya|born 28 April 1977}} is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as No. 8, currently for Toyota Jido Shokki. He graduated from Meiji University and used to play for Suntory Sungoliath before he went to play professional rugby in France for about one season.
He's a regular at Japan national rugby union team, having played at the 2003 Rugby World Cup finals. He played at full back (No. 15) for the first time for the Steelers versus Suntory in a game on Christmas Day 2004.
He married former Olympic gold medalist swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=429679 |title=Olympic breaststroke gold medalist Iwasaki to marry rugby player |publisher=Kyodo News |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=30 August 2010}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.scrum.com/irelandtour/rugby/player/13643.html Yuya Saito]
{{Japan 2003 World Cup Squad}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saito, Yuya}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese rugby union players Category:Rugby union number eights Category:Japan international rugby union players Category:Rugby union players at the 2002 Asian Games Category:Tokyo Sungoliath players Category:Kobelco Kobe Steelers players Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Japan Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players Category:Rugby union players from Tokyo Category:Meiji University alumni Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen Category:Asian Games silver medalists in rugby union
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