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French club poised to sign Japanese RWC star Kotaro Matsushima - reports


Kotaro Matsushima's tries helped light up Japan's excellent World Cup campaign (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
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A Japanese World Cup star is being lined up to help replace departing Clermont duo Nick Abendanon and Remi Grosso at the end of this season.

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Reports in France claim that the Englishman and his French colleague are expected to be soon off the books at the club, paving the way for the recruitment of Kotaro Matsushima for the 2020/21 season. 

The 26-year-old winger shot to prominence at the recent world finals, scoring five tries and finishing joint second on tournament’s overall try-scoring chart.  

According to rugbyrama.fr, Clermont’s initial port of call in identifying a new recruit was Racing’s Brice Dulin, but that trail went cold and they have instead focused their attention on  Matsushima who is currently under contract at Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League. 

The World Cup wasn’t the first time Matsushima caught the attention of French eyes as he played at full-back in Japan’s 23-all draw with France in Paris in November 2017.

If the deal goes through, Matsushima would become the second Japanese player to play for Clermont, following in the pioneering footsteps of Daisuke Ohata who represented the club for a few months in 2002/03 before homesickness got the better of him.

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Phantom 1 hour 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).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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