Ayumu Goromaru
Saga Technical High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Waseda University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ayumu Goromaru (五郎丸 歩, Gorōmaru Ayumu, born 1 March 1986) is a former
Career
Goromaru made his international test debut against Uruguay in April 2005 as a 19-year-old and as the second youngest player to play for Japan of all time (he is now the third youngest).[1] After his second cap against Romania where he set up a try, The Japan Times called him the "face of the future" and he was one of the most highly rated young Japanese players.[2] However, after just 2 more caps that year he was dropped when Jean-Pierre Élissalde replaced Mitsutake Hagimoto as coach in June 2005. He didn't return to the side for 4 years until 2009 with John Kirwan now as coach, but still didn't manage to cement a place in the side and didn't feature in Kirwan's plans for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[citation needed]
When
On his return to international rugby, he scored 62 points in his first two matches against
In the 2012/2013 season, Goromaru was again the leading points scorer in the Top League and named in the team of the season for the second year in a row.[6] In Japan's first international of 2013, Goromaru scored 36 points in a match against the Philippines the third highest points total in a match by a Japanese player of all time and the biggest in international rugby for 7 years.
However a dip in form followed at the start of the 2013 Pacific Nations Cup and then he missed 3 crucial kicks and missed a historic opportunity to beat Wales in the 1st Test in their series in June 2013.[7] However, he bounced back immediately and delivered a 100% kicking success rate which saw him named man of the match in the 2nd Test where Japan completed their first ever win over Wales.[8][9]
Goromaru was instrumental in Japan's historic victory over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup, scoring 24 points (one try, two conversions, five penalties), a game widely described as the greatest upset in the history of rugby union.[10] Goromaru was named at full-back in the Rugby World Cup 2015 Dream-Team.[11]
Goromaru signed to play the 2016 Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds.[12] He had an underwhelming season, playing in only three matches before his season ended with a shoulder injury in a match against the Sunwolves, Japan's new entry in Super Rugby, requiring surgery. Even before his injury, the Reds had not offered him a contract extension for the 2017 season.[13]
During his season in Super Rugby, he had been linked with a move to
References
- ^ "Japan / Youngest appearance". Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
- ^ Freeman, Rich (26 May 2005). "Brave Blossoms fell Romanian Oaks to set up rugby final against Canucks". The Japan Times Online.
- ^ "個人表彰 2011-12". Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Eddie Jones annonce son groupe pour le tournoi des cinq nations asiatique 2012". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2013. (French)
- ^ "Most individual points in a calendar year".
- ^ "個人表彰 2012-13". Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Ayumu Goromaru crucial missed kicks vs Wales 2013".
- ^ "Ayumu Goromaru great kicking vs Wales 2013".
- ^ "Japan 23-8 Wales: No complaints for Robin McBryde's team after first Japan defeat". 15 June 2013.
- ^ Kitson, Robert (19 September 2015). "Japan beat South Africa in greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Société Générale Rugby World Cup 2015 dream team". Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "St.George Queensland Reds sign Japanese Test fullback Ayumu Goromaru for 2016". Reds Rugby. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- theguardian.com. Australian Associated Press. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ Corkery, Claire (8 June 2016). "World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru signs for Toulon". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 June 2016.