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Hitoshi Ono of Japan speaks to media at Pan Pacific Singapore on March 10, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo: Lim Yong Teck)

At 37 years of age, Japanese rugby player Hitoshi Ono is still going strong, suiting up for Super Rugby’s HITO-Communication Sunwolves. Ono first played baseball while pursuing an engineering major at Nihon University, then converted to rugby. The veteran has been on Japan’s national team for 12 years, and has amassed a total of 96 international caps. At the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Ono also helped the Brave Blossoms to three wins, including a 34-32 upset of rugby powerhouse South Africa.

How did you get involved in rugby?

When I entered Nihon University’s department of engineering, the rugby club approached me to join the team. At that time, I wasn’t really keen but when I went to watch their training sessions, I really liked the atmosphere of the club and that’s when I decided to join them and started playing rugby.

What has been your most memorable experience so far?

Besides the 2015 Rugby World Cup, my most memorable experience of the game is in 2013 when we beat Wales at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. At the end of the game, I was in tears and couldn’t see the field.

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Hitoshi Ono (2R) of the Sunwolves drives against Boom Prinsloo of the Cheetahs during their Super Rugby round 3 match at the National Stadium on March 12, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo: Lim Yong Teck)

Describe your experience playing at last year’s World Cup when the team defeated South Africa.

It all started from the Miyazaki camp in April 2015. It was a long and tough training camp with early morning sessions. This camp was tough mentally and physically, because it was the selection camp for the Rugby World Cup.

After I made the team, I did not feel satisfied, but instead, I felt responsible for the guys who did not make the team. I remember the day before the game against South Africa, I thought, ‘If we lose by 10 or more points despite all the trainings and preparation, Japan will never be able to win at the international level,’ and I felt the anxiety. With that in mind, I prepared myself as I normally do on game day, finished the warm up, got in the huddle, and when I walked out onto the field, I said to myself that even if we lost, I would be satisfied as long as I give my 100 per cent and I was determined to do so.

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