"The difference between New Zealand and Japan rugby" - Akito Okui, Issa Yamakawa, Kouta Oyabu

One week until the season starts.Yamakawa, Okui, and Oyabu to join Southland Stags wider squad. Issa Yamakawa, Akihito Okui, and Kota Oyabu, who are studying abroad in Southland, have all been named to the Southland Stags’ wider squad following the conclusion of the regional club tournament. Southland is part of New Zealand’s top-tier domestic competition (NPC). Like the scrum-half Kaisei Tamura, who officially joined the team from the wider squad last year, all three players have the chance to play in the tournament.

The squad was announced on July 15 at an event hosted by the Invercargill Blues, where Yamakawa and Okui played the club season. The Pirates Old Boys, where Oyabu played, finished as runners-up in the regional tournament, while the Blues were eliminated before the playoffs. Before the NPC training began, Yamakawa and Okui joined Oyabu’s team to continue their work on contact and other skills.

Currently, they train four days a week with one match day, and on many days, they have two training sessions. “It’s exactly the same routine as Toyota’s season,” said Oyabu. On July 26, they played their first preseason match against Otago. Okui played in the first half, while Yamakawa and Oyabu joined in the second half from the 10th minute. Okui was initially a reserve but was called to start due to an injury to the starting player. “The intensity was higher than club rugby, and several of the oppositions were Super Rugby players. They were strong, but I enjoyed it,” Okui commented.

The NPC’s top teams also include All Blacks who may play in matches as part of their conditioning. Southland’s squad features Ethan de Groot and Sevu Reece. Additionally, players from the Highlanders in the back row and Moana Pasifika in the back, along with players from the USA and Europe, contribute to a fierce competition for positions. During their off time, the three players prioritize recovery, putting visits to the world’s southernmost Starbucks on hold. “When we played for the club, we had more free time, but now we mostly relax at home during our off time, maybe going to a nearby café,” says Yamakawa. 

They are fully immersed in rugby, gaining valuable experience. They all emphasize the importance of speed and maintaining a low body position. “Unlike Japanese players who use their footwork effectively, the contact here is about sheer power. Since I’m not that big, I want to compete with my work rate and speed, as well as line speed and involvement in jackals. The oppositions aren’t used to a low hit, so I want to use that as my strength,” Okui explained. “Overall, the players here are taller, and the contact intensity is high. I used to think I was tall, but here, I need to stay low to gain ground and avoid losing in collisions. I feel as if it’s one of the differences between Japan and New Zealand,” Yamakawa said.

“Foreign players are hard to stop unless you hit them in their weak spots in defense. Like Akito (Okui) said, it’s about using speed and staying low. Also, even though players here might be quiet off the field, they’re intense during games. I want to learn from that and bring my fighting spirit once I’m on the field,” Oyabu added. The NPC starts in the second week of August, with Southland facing Otago at home on August 10. Given the proximity, they frequently have friendly matches, resulting in an intense battle. With one week to go, they are fully committed to the team.