Mirai Match vs Hanazono Kintetsu Liners

The fifth Mirai Match of the season was held on February 27 at the Sports Center against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. Winger Viliame Tuidraki scored three tries in the first half, giving his side a 40–7 lead at the break. Although there were periods in the second half where the attack stalled, the team secured a 66–21 victory.

In their fifth Mirai Match, the team came out with momentum reminiscent of the Brave Lupus Tokyo game at Paloma Mizuho on the 21st of February. Just one minute in, from a scrum, winger Viliame Tuidraki scored the opening try. In the fourth minute, he caught a kick and carried it straight into the in-goal area. He added another try in the 18th minute, completing a first-half hat-trick.

In the second half, two early-entry newcomers who joined this season also took the field.

Caston Michaels, a winger who joined from Setsunan University, came on in the second half and scored in the 40th minute to mark his Mirai Match debut with a try. Taiyo Higuma of Teikyo University entered the pitch just after the 20-minute mark of the second half. With limited playing time, he did not have an opportunity to break away, but he experienced the intensity of a League One match.

Caston was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He aimed to join a top club in South Africa but was unsuccessful, and said, “Setsunan University gave me an opportunity,” leading him to study in Japan. Since his first year, he has continued to play at left wing and this season is again among the top 10 try scorers in the Kansai University League.

“Everyone at Setsunan teaches me every day,” he said in fluent Japanese. “It’s all Kansai dialect, though,” he added with a smile.

“Today felt really good. I was nervous at first and made some mistakes, but I kept pushing. My strengths are my step and speed. I need to build more physical strength from here.”

Though relatively small at 166 cm and 81 kg, his powerful leg muscles stand out, and he looks set to become a type of runner not previously seen in Verblitz.

Meanwhile, Higuma, who excelled at Teikyo University, stands 186 cm and weighs 90 kg — unmistakably a big winger. It had been nearly two months since his last game, the university championship semifinal.

“I couldn’t get a feel for the game, and my body didn’t move the way I wanted. I played while feeling that I need to work harder,” he reflected.

“I was able to clearly recognize that I’m at the bottom here. From now on, I’ll steadily work on weights and fitness so I won’t lose to the players I admire.”

How this contrasting duo will grow as the two wings of Verblitz is a new source of anticipation.

League One squad members also watched the match. At the end, when everyone formed a circle, Captain Kazuki Himeno asked Higuma to lead the closing cheer.

“It was my first time, but I was able to do it in a great atmosphere.”

With the new players united as one, the team will fight through the second half of the season.