Yuna Sato
_-_Ireland_vs_Japan_20250824_132156_Yuna_Sato.jpg) Sato during the 2025 Rugby World Cup in Northampton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 September 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 64 kg (141 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yuna Sato (born 11 September 1998) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays Lock internationally for the Japan women's national rugby union team. She competed at the 2021 and the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cups.
Rugby career
[edit]Sato featured in Japan's autumn international against Scotland in 2020.[1] In 2021, she was suspended for three weeks following Japan's match against Scotland on 14 November.[2][3]
Sato started in Japan's historic match against the Black Ferns at Eden Park ahead of the World Cup.[4] She was then named in Japan's squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and started in all three of their games.[5][6][7]
Sato signed with the Western Force for the 2023 Super W season.[5][8][9] She made her Super W debut for Western Force in their opening match against the NSW Waratahs.[10]
She was named in the Sakura XVs side for the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship.[11][12] Sato scored a try before half-time to help the Sakura's secure their spot at the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 WXV 2 tournament.[13][14]
In 2025, she was named in the Sakura fifteens squad for their tour to the United States.[15] She eventually started in her sides 39–33 victory over the Eagles in Los Angeles on 26 April.[16][17]
On 28 July 2025, she was named in the Japanese side to the Women's Rugby World Cup in England.[18][19]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Relive Scotland's Autumn Test against Japan". Scottish Rugby. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "Independent disciplinary update: Yuna Sato (Japan)". www.world.rugby. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "Scotland overwhelm Japan in autumn Test". BBC Sport. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ Julian, Adam (23 September 2022). "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Japan (Eden Park)". allblacks.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- 1 2 Williamson, Nathan (7 March 2023). "Force nab Wallaroo Leonard for 2023 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ Mockford, Sarah (22 October 2022). "Japan Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Japan 8-21 Italy". Rugby World. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced For RWC Pool Match Against the USA". Japan Rugby Football Union. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ Smith, Ben (8 March 2023). "Force women add five internationals, unveil academy". The West Australian. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "L'internationale japonaise à XV Yuna Sato et Natsuki Kashiwagi signent chez la Western Force". Asierugby (in French). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "Wallaroo Michaela Leonard and Japanese internationals to start in season opener". westernforce.rugby. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen's 26-member squad". Asia Rugby. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ↑ "Japan Squad Announced for Asia Rugby Women's Championship 2024". Japan Rugby Football Union. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ↑ "Japan beat Kazakhstan to secure place at England 2025". www.world.rugby. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ Duskmourne, Quorra (27 May 2024). "Japan Secures Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Berth with Dominant Display". Global Rugby Network. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Squad Announced for USA Tour". Japan Rugby Football Union. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Team Announced for USA Eagles Clash". Japan Rugby Football Union. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Defeat USA Eagles in LA Epic". Japan Rugby Football Union. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "Japan announce squad for women's RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ "Sakura Fifteen Rugby World Cup Squad Announced". Japan Rugby Football Union. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.