Ayano_Nagai
Ayano Nagai
Rugby player
Ayano Nagai (born 永井彩乃 14 October 1997) is a Japanese rugby union player. She plays for Japan at an international level and competed in the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
| Date of birth | (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nagai graduated from Nippon Sport Science University in 2020.[1]
Nagai plays for Yokohama TKM.[2] In 2022, she featured in the Sakura's victory against Ireland at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.[3] She was later selected in Japan's side for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup that was held in New Zealand.[4]
In 2023, she competed at the Asia Rugby Championship.[5] She played for the Sakura's in a non-test match against Spain in Alcobendas.[6] She also featured in the second game against Spain which they won, 27–19.[7]
Nagai was selected in Japan's squad for the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship.[8][9] Her try in the 16th minute helped her side defeat Kazakhstan and secure a spot at the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 WXV 2 competition.[10][11]
- "プレイヤーズブログ～2020新加入選手のご紹介 永井彩乃です!". YOKOHAMA TKMプレイヤーズブログ. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- 一般社団法人TMG本部. "YOKOHAMA TKMはＴＭＧグループが組織する女子ラグビークラブです。" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- "Women's Internationals - Japan Women vs Ireland Women Rugby Union fixture". www.rugby.com.au. 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- JRFU. "(10月16日更新) 女子日本代表ニュージーランド遠征メンバーのお知らせ｜日本ラグビーフットボール協会｜RUGBY：FOR ALL「ノーサイドの精神」を、日本へ、世界へ。". www.rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- worldrugby.org. "Japan cruise into WXV 2 as Asia women's champions | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- "Big win for Japan in Spain". Scrum Queens. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- "Japan overturn halftime deficit to beat Spain". Scrum Queens. 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- "Sakura Fifteen's 26-member squad". Asia Rugby. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- "Japan Squad Announced for Asia Rugby Women's Championship 2024". Japan Rugby Football Union. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
- "Japan beat Kazakhstan to secure place at England 2025". www.world.rugby. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- Duskmourne, Quorra (2024-05-27). "Japan Secures Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Berth with Dominant Display". Global Rugby Network. Retrieved 2024-05-28.