Kaito Shigeno

Kaito Shigeno (茂野海人, Shigeno Kaito; born 21 November 1990) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the scrum-half position.^[1] He captains Toyota Verblitz in Japan's domestic Japan Rugby League One.^[2]

Kaito Shigeno

Date of birth	(1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Osaka, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	75 kg (11 st 11 lb; 165 lb)
School	Gonokawa High School
University	Daito Bunka University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-Half Current team Toyota Verblitz Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2015 Ponsonby () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2017 NEC Green Rockets 51 (5) 2015 Auckland 6 (5) 2016–2019 Sunwolves 29 (10) 2018– Toyota Verblitz 73 (20) Correct as of 21 February 2021 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–present Japan 16 (5) Correct as of 21 February 2021

Early and provincial career

Shigeno was born in Osaka Prefecture but attended university in Tokyo after which he joined the NEC Green Rockets ahead of the 2013–14 Top League season.^{[citation needed]} In 2015, he spent a year in New Zealand playing for Ponsonby in the local Auckland league after which he earned selection for Auckland's squad for the 2015 ITM Cup where he made 6 appearances.^[3]

Super Rugby career

Shigeno was selected as a member of the first ever Sunwolves squad ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season. He played 11 matches in their debut campaign and scored 1 try.^[3][4]

International

Shigeno earned his first cap for Japan in a match against Canada in Vancouver during the 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals and followed it up with 2 more appearances in Japan's home series against Scotland which was played in Toyota and Tokyo. His first try for his country came in his third appearance, a 21–16 defeat to Scotland.^[1]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 18 August 2016^[4]

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
2016	Sunwolves	11	5	6	419	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
Total		11	5	6	419	1	0	0	0	5	0	0