Rikiya Matsuda: “I want to give back the luck I’ve received.”

On the 29th of November, Toyota Verblitz faced the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a pre-season match during the “RE・OPEN MIZUHO Rugby Festa 2025”, the reopening event for the renovated Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium.

Just 10 minutes into the match, the first try came from Stand-off Rikiya Matsuda, who had suffered a major injury in the Steelers game during League One on 22nd of February. Deep inside Verblitz’s own territory, he stretched out to intercept a quick throw from a Steelers lineout and grounded it for the score.

“I expected them to do something, so I made sure not to switch off and stayed alert,”

Matsuda said.

It was a moment of sharp anticipation, showcasing the calm reading of play of the experienced playmaker in his return.

At 22 minutes, tighthead prop Taufa Latu was left injured, and his replacement Yusuke Kizu was forced off just five minutes later. With no remaining players able to cover the No.3 position, scrums became uncontested. Still, Verblitz ran in seven tries, claiming a 43–12 victory and building momentum toward their League One clash on the 27th of December.

“We conceded relatively few penalties today, and our patience in attack allowed us to play a good game.”

Matsuda noted.

After the injury in February, Matsuda had been away from games until returning on the 31st of October in an intra-squad game—an impressively fast recovery compared to the initial expectation of nearly a year.

Since then, he featured against Kyushu Kyuden Voltex and NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, making this game his fourth game back. His minutes have steadily increased, and once again he played until the 60th minute mark this week.

“Today my body felt even better than during last week’s 60 minutes. At first, 40 minutes felt incredibly tough, but now I feel physically fit and in a good place.”

Now in his second year with Verblitz, he feels increasingly integrated with the team. 

“Last year, when the team was struggling, I couldn’t be out there with them, and that was really frustrating. But this year, spending time together from the preseason has helped me understand everyone’s personalities and playing habits much better.”

The injury he suffered against the Steelers in February was, in Matsuda’s words, “beyond a sports injury—closer to a traffic-accident level.”

Fortunately, he found a hospital in Osaka with a specialist for hip joint injuries, allowing him to receive the fastest and best treatment.

“I feel lucky. I want to return this luck to the people around me.”

Being able to look back on the trauma—the injury, 50 days in the hospital, and the long rehabilitation which was definitely challenging and to still call himself “lucky” speaks to the inner strength Matsuda possesses.

“I was able to come back because of the enormous support from so many people. Now it’s up to me to repay everyone through results. I’m just happy to be able to play rugby again, and I want to enjoy the moment.”

The renewed energy radiating from the returning playmaker will undoubtedly serve as a driving force for the team.