Daisuke Ohata
Encyclopedia
Daisuke Ohata is a former Japanese rugby union
player. He usually played rugby at wing, and sometimes centre, for Japan national rugby union team
. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the IRB
World Sevens Series, and went on to become a regular member of the national team. He first played for Japan on November 9, 1996 and scored three tries that day. He is the leading rugby union Test try scorer of all time.
Ohata is from the Kansai
area and speaks with a strong Kansai (Osaka
) accent. He attended rugby nurseries Tokai Dai Gyosei High School
with Koji Uehara
and Yoshinori Tateyama
(current teammates on Texas Rangers as of August 2011), where three were classmates, and Kyoto Sangyo University.
On 10 January 2011, Ohata's retirement was announced due to a knee injury.
against Georgia
at Hanazono Stadium
, in doing so claiming the world record for tries in Rugby test matches. This gave him 65 tries for his country in 55 tests; he has since extended his record to 69 tries from 58 tests. The record was previously held by David Campese
of Australia, who scored 64 tries from 101 tests.
However, most of the tries he scored are against low ranking nations (outside top 10).
Ohata did not take part in the Rugby World Cup 2007 as he ruptured his left Achilles tendon
in an August practice match against Portugal
. He had only just returned that month to the national side, having recovered from a right Achilles tendon
rupture in January.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He usually played rugby at wing, and sometimes centre, for Japan national rugby union team
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
World Sevens Series, and went on to become a regular member of the national team. He first played for Japan on November 9, 1996 and scored three tries that day. He is the leading rugby union Test try scorer of all time.
Ohata is from the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
area and speaks with a strong Kansai (Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
) accent. He attended rugby nurseries Tokai Dai Gyosei High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
with Koji Uehara
Koji Uehara
is a Major League Baseball Japanese right-handed relief pitcher. He is currently a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Uehara throws a high-80s four-seam fastball and a solid forkball as his primary pitches...
and Yoshinori Tateyama
Yoshinori Tateyama
is a Japanese Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.As a sidearm pitcher Tateyama combines a fastball that averages 87 mph with a curveball, and he also pitches a screwball against lefties. While his strikeout totals were average, he got hitters out with his control .On November...
(current teammates on Texas Rangers as of August 2011), where three were classmates, and Kyoto Sangyo University.
On 10 January 2011, Ohata's retirement was announced due to a knee injury.
World Record Holder
On May 14, 2006 Ohata scored three tries for JapanJapan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
against Georgia
Georgia national rugby union team
The Georgia national rugby union team represents Georgia in rugby union. The team's nickname, The Lelos, comes from lelo burti, a traditional Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby. Lelo has been adopted as the Georgian word for "try"...
at Hanazono Stadium
Kintetsu Hanazono rugby stadium
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka is the oldest dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. Owned by Kintetsu Corporation, it opened in 1929 and has a capacity of 30,000...
, in doing so claiming the world record for tries in Rugby test matches. This gave him 65 tries for his country in 55 tests; he has since extended his record to 69 tries from 58 tests. The record was previously held by David Campese
David Campese
David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
of Australia, who scored 64 tries from 101 tests.
However, most of the tries he scored are against low ranking nations (outside top 10).
Ohata did not take part in the Rugby World Cup 2007 as he ruptured his left Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in an August practice match against Portugal
Portugal national rugby union team
The Portugal national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. They first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup. Rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in...
. He had only just returned that month to the national side, having recovered from a right Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
rupture in January.
External links
- Ohata deserves his place in the record books, Daily Yomiuri, May 16, 2006
- Ohata sets new world mark, Daily Yomiuri, May 15, 2006
- Photo of Ohata - JRFU website
- Article on JRFU website
