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Drunk Japan international run over by car

Japan's Takuma Asahara during international against Italy on June 9, 2018 in Oita, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
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A Japanese international has been run over a car after lying on a road drunk.

It happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, with prop Takuma Asahara remarkably only suffering light injuries according to police.

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The report Japan Times says that he was lying on the street in a Tokyo suburb at around 2.20am when a man got into his car and pulled away, trapping Asahara underneath.

The 31-year-old had to be rescued by some of his Japan teammates, including their New Zealand-born captain Michael Leitch, who hoisted up the car and pulled Asahara to safety.

Asahara’s team Toshiba Brave Lupus made a statement on the matter: “We are extremely sorry that we have caused trouble to various people including the driver. We will ensure that such an incident will not happen again.”

It’s an unwanted distraction for the Japan Rugby Football Union, who are gearing up to host the World Cup in a year’s time. Asahara made his Japan debut in 2013 and most recently as part of a successful June, with the Brave Blossoms drawing their series with Italy 1-1 and beating Georgia 28-0.

The Union revealed that Asahara won’t be at their ongoing training camp because of injury.

Asahara plays in Super Rugby for the Sunwolves, but this incident happened in the aftermath of Toshiba’s Top League game with Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Tokyo on Saturday.

You may also like: Rugby Explorer – Hong Kong

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Phantom 33 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

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