Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Watch: Aaron Smith sets up ex-NRL star Joseph Manu for debut try in Japan

Joseph Manu of Toyota Verblitz reacts after scoring a try during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay v Toyota Verblitz at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on December 22, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

Former Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Kiwis utility Joseph Manu has scored on debut for Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One, with legendary All Black Aaron Smith sending the code-hopper over for a try with an inch-perfect pass against Kubota Spears.

ADVERTISEMENT

Manu, 28, signed with the Japanese club who also have World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit on their books for the upcoming season. Ian Foster is the club’s head coach and they also have two-time Rugby World Cup winner Sir Steve Hansen.

With superstars across the board in the Japanese competition, it was always going to be intriguing to see how Manu fares in the 15-player game – although the 2022 International Rugby League Golden Boot winner insists eventually playing for the All Blacks isn’t a focus.

On the back of another strong season with the Roosters, which saw Manu break the all-time NRL record for the most running metres by an individual player in a single game with 373 in April, Manu recently made the move to Japan to embark on a new sporting journey.

Manu was named at outside centre for Toyota Verblitz’s first match of the new Japan Rugby League One season, with Rikiya Matsuda, Kosei Miki and former Scotland international Richie Gray also named to debut at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

Brave Blossoms enforcer Kazuki Himeno was named as the team’s captain at No. 8, while Smith was named as the starting halfback. They came against a Kubota side that included multiple Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall and former Wallaby Bernard Foley in the halves.

Kubota struck first on the 11-minute mark after some solid work from the forwards at a rolling maul but the conversion was unsuccessful. The Spears also went down to 14 men shortly after as winger Halatoa Vailea was shown a yellow card.

ADVERTISEMENT

Viliame Tuidraki made the most of the advantage to score a try in the corner, with the successful conversion giving Verblitz a 7-5 lead midway through the first term. Captain Himeno scored next for Verblitz before Kubota skipper Faulua Makisi struck back.

It was 14-10 before Manu stepped up.

With 42 seconds until the half-time siren, Smith delivered a perfect pass onto the chest of the former NRL superstar. Manu ran a brave line past Foley; receiving the ball about two metres out from the try line – the New Zealander was always going to be tough to stop from there.

Smith was the first player to embrace Manu before the other Verblitz players rushed over to celebrate their teammate on his debut try. Rikiya Matsuda added the extras to give the men in green a well-worked 21-10 lead at the half-time interval.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the second term was mostly controlled by Kubota.

The Spears most of the points, which included a clutch drop goal in the 83rd minute from Foley to give them a 30-27 comeback win. Manu had been replaced at that stage as Verblitz started their division one campaign with a tough result.


To be first in line for Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia tickets, register your interest here 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
A
AllyOz 1 hr ago

Bernard Foley didn't exactly commit himself to the tackle on Manu.

O
OJohn 1 hr ago

His usual effort......

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 47 minutes ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I had a look at the wiki article again, it's all terribly old data (not that I'd see reason for much change in the case of SA).

Number Of Clubs:

1526

Registered+Unregistered Players:

651146

Number of Referees:

3460

Pre-teen Male Players:

320842

Pre-teen Female Player:

4522

Teen Male Player:

199213

Teen Female Player:

4906

Senior Male Player:

113174

Senior Female Player:

8489

Total Male Player:

633229

Total Female Player:

17917


So looking for something new as were more concerned with adults specifically, so I had a look at their EOY Financial Review.

The total number of clubs remains consistent, with a marginal increase of 1% from 1,161 to 1,167. 8.1.

A comparative analysis of verified data for 2022 and 2023 highlights a marginal decline of 1% in the number of female players, declining from 6,801 to 6,723. Additionally, the total number of players demonstrates an 8% decrease, dropping from 96,172 to 88,828.

So 80k+ adult males (down from 113k), but I'm not really sure when youth are involved with SAn clubs, or if that data is for some reason not being referenced/included. 300k male students however (200k in old wiki data).


https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2020/07/28/212ed9cf-cd61-4fa3-b9d4-9f0d5fb61116/P56-57-Participation-Map_v3.pdf has France at 250k registered but https://presse-europe1-fr.translate.goog/exclu-europe-1-le-top-10-des-sports-les-plus-pratiques-en-france-en-2022/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp has them back up at 300k registered.


The French number likely Students + Club, but everyone collects data different I reckon. In that WR pdf for instance a lot of the major nations have a heavily registered setup, were as a nation like England can penetrate into a lot more schools to run camps and include them in the reach of rugby. For instance the SARU release says only 29% of schools are reached by proper rugby programs, where as the 2million English number would be through a much much higer penetration I'd imagine. Which is thanks to schools having the ability to involve themselves in programs more than anything.


In any case, I don't think you need to be concerned with the numbers, whether they are 300 or 88k, there is obviously a big enough following for their pro scenes already to have enough quality players for a 10/12 team competition. They appear ibgger than France but I don't really by the lower English numbers going around.

202 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC
Search