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'I would like to play for Japan': Former Super Rugby speedster Tevita Li reveals test rugby ambitions
Former Blues and Highlanders wing Tevita Li has revealed on the eve of the new Top League season that he wants to represent Japan in test rugby.
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The 25-year-old spent six seasons in Super Rugby, three each at the Blues and Highlanders, having debuted for the Auckland franchise while still a schoolboy in an exhibition match against France in 2013.
Seen as a highly promising young talent in the early stages of his career, Li struggled to realise his potential in Super Rugby, despite dominating at provincial level for North Harbour.
That led to his departure from the Highlanders following the 2019 season, with the former New Zealand U20 representative joining prominent Top League club Suntory Sungoliath ahead of the 2020 campaign.
Li was a star for the Tokyo-based side in his maiden Top League season, scoring six tries in five appearances before the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning for the 2021 campaign, which is set to kick-off on Saturday, Li will be expected to play a key role in Suntory’s tilt for their first Top League title since 2018.
Li has bigger plans than just capturing a Top League crown, though, as he revealed during an interview on the Suntory Sungoliath website that he harbours a desire to play for Japan.
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“I would like to play for Suntory for as long as possible, and I would also like to play for Japan national rugby team,” Li said when asked what his future plans entail.
“I am not yet eligible for the next Rugby World Cup (2023), so I am aiming for the Rugby World Cup after that (2027).”
Under current World Rugby residency laws, Li will need to live in Japan for five years before he can become eligible to play for the Brave Blossoms.
Having moved to Japan at the end of 2019, that means Li, who is of Tongan heritage, won’t be able to play for his adopted nation until the latter stages of 2024.
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Incumbent Brave Blossoms wings Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima were standouts for Japan en route to their quarter-final finish at the 2019 World Cup, but there is no guaranteeing either player will stick around beyond France 2023.
Former All Blacks star Ben Smith and Wallabies captain Michael Hooper will make their long-awaited Top League debuts for their respective clubs on Saturday.https://t.co/Kvl6z0jRbm
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In fact, Fukuoka has already confirmed his retirement from the national side and is set to walk away from the game entirely once his contract with Panasonic Wild Knights expires to pursue a career as a doctor.
Matsushima, meanwhile, will be 34-years-old by the time the 2027 World Cup rolls around, an age that only a select few outside backs can still operate at a world-class level in test rugby.
Granted, Li is only two years younger than Matsushima, but if he can continue to dominate the Japanese club scene as he did at the beginning of last year, it may be too hard to leave him out of future Brave Blossoms squads.
Nevertheless, Li refused to take credit for his impressive try scoring ratio, which could have been even better had he not missed an opportunity to score against Kobelco Steelers in a match Suntory went on to lose 35-29.
“If you look at the scenes where I scored tries, you’ll see that most of them were scored after everyone had coordinated well and set them up nicely,” he told the Suntory Sungoliath website.
“I think the try is the result of the team’s efforts, so I was there at the end of the chain, and I think I was able to fulfill my role.
Super Rugby AU makes its return on Friday, so here are three key match ups to look out for in round one.https://t.co/Zm9t5m0BGN
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“There was a scene in the Kobe Steel game last season where I lost the ball just in front of the try line. That was quite disappointing for me, so I’ve been playing with more awareness of scoring tries consistently so that I can contribute to the team.”
Li said he hopes to get one back on Kobelco – a side stacked with former Highlanders teammates Ben Smith, Tom Franklin and Richard Buckman, as well as former All Blacks pivot Aaron Cruden and All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick – this season.
“Suntory Sungoliath is a club with a long history, and I once came to Japan for a week as a World XV player, which gave me a good experience and made me like the Japanese people,” Li said of why he decided to join the club.
“Another big motivation for me to come to Japan was my family, partner and daughter.
“Although I haven’t been able to spend time with them due to the influence of Corona, I definitely want to win this season and I will be well prepared for it. I have a strong will to get revenge on Kobe Steel.”
Suntory Sungoliath open their Top League campaign at 2pm on Sunday [local time] when they take on Mitsubishi Dynaboars at Sagamihara Gion Stadium in Minami-Ku.
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments