Takashi Akatsuka
Takashi Akatsuka (赤塚 隆, Akatsuka Takashi) (born Osaka, 8 September 1973), is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as lock.
| Date of birth | September 8, 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Osaka, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 120 kg (265 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Josho Gakuen High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Meiji University[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
Originally from Osaka, Akatsuka was educated at Meiji University and played for Kubota, winning the promotions to Kanto League 3 in 1985, Kanto League 2 in 1991 and Kanto League 1 in 1995. Along with his teammate Hideki Nishida, he was the first Kubota player to play internationally for Japan.[3] Akatsuka was first capped in 1994, during the match against Fiji, at Ehime, on 8 May 1994. He also took part at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where he played only in the match against New Zealand, in Bloemfontein. After a nine years void, he was called in the Japanese national team by the then-coach Jean-Pierre Élissalde in 2005. Akatsuka last played for Japan against Korea, in Hong Kong, on 25 November 2006.[4]