Scrum-half Kaito Shigeno is set to reach 100 caps.

Toyota Verblitz has announced the 23 member squad for their Round 14 match of the NTT Japan Rugby League One on April 5th, where they will face Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.

This time, the return of several players stands out. Reserve flanker Kosei Miki makes his comeback for the first time since the Round 6 match against Yokohama Canon Eagles on February 1st. Number-eight Akito Okui and lock Daichi Akiyama return for the first time since the Round 12 match against Brave Lupus Tokyo. We are gradually seeing the key players coming back. Additionally, scrum-half Kaito Shigeno is set to reach a milestone of 100 caps since making his debut with NEC Green Rockets (now Green Rockets Tokatsu) in the 2013 season.

In preparation for the match against the Wild Knights, which comes six days after the previous game, the team held a training session with increased intensity compared to the usual two days before training. Fan club members watched as the players pushed themselves in the session. Ian Foster, the co-coach who attended the press conference, commented, 'This week is a short week. We held back on physical training in the first half of the week, so today was crucial. The players gave it their all,” praising their efforts.

The team gained confidence by beating the Eagles in the last round. The stats show a gain meter of 309 for Verblitz and 515 for their opposition with defensive line breaks of 24 and 35. The Eagles led on stats, but Verblitz led on the scoreboard. Foster commented, “It’s what you do with the ball that’s important. I thought we made great decisions with our running and kicking against the Eagles. The biggest thing is we really trusted our defense.”

Prop Yusuke Kizu, who started the match in his hometown of Oita, has now secured a starting position for two consecutive games. After being named in the starting members for the season opening game, his coach pointed out, "You have the athletic ability, but recently, I haven’t been seeing that in your performance." Following this feedback, Kizu was out of the squad list for some time.

"At the time, I thought I was already giving it my all. I started to realize there were still areas where I could push myself further. From then on, I committed to working harder in training and in the Mirai matches. I didn’t get a chance to play in League One, but it turned out to be a valuable learning period for me."

That hard work was finally recognized in the match against the Eagles in his hometown. Securing a second consecutive start holds significant meaning for him. Looking ahead to the next match, Kizu emphasized the importance of maintaining connection in both attack and defense, ensuring that all 15 players on the field and the full squad stay together throughout the game.

Scrum-half Kaito Shigeno will mark his 100th cap in the next match. He simply stated, "It just kind of happened to me."His first appearance dates back to November 30th, 2013, when he came off the bench in a Top League Second Stage match for the Eagles at Chichibu Prince Memorial Rugby Stadium. In 2017, he transferred to Toyota Verblitz but was unable to play in official matches for a year due to transfer regulations (which have since been abolished). His debut for Verblitz finally came in the 2018 season. "Not being able to play was disappointing, but during that time, I learned how I could contribute to the team in other ways. Our head coach at the time, Jake White, watched over me closely, and I believe that year off helped me prepare for what came next."

Shigeno’s first official match for Verblitz was on September 1st, 2018, against Suntory Sungoliath at Toyota Stadium. That game was also memorable as it marked the first match where Kazuki Himeno, then in his first year with the team, was named captain. However, the team suffered a last-minute comeback loss. "That was the match where Himeno cried, right? (laughs)" Since then, Shigeno has steadily accumulated caps, adapting as the domestic rugby scene transitioned from Top League to League One.

"The environment has improved, and we’re seeing world-class players joining the league. Younger players now have opportunities to play at a high level much sooner, and I can feel that Japan’s overall standard of rugby is rising." Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Shigeno emphasized the importance of sticking to their roles rather than solely focusing on winning. "It’s about executing our jobs properly. We can’t get too caught up in the idea of winning. We need to focus on the process."

The final speaker at the press conference was Coach Ian Foster, who, at the end of the press-conference, took it upon himself to say, “I just wanted to congratulate Shigeno on his 100th game. It's a special occasion for him and his family and for Toyota. He’s been a great man for this club, he’s got great values, and works hard. It’s an honour to be involved in his 100th game so I just wanted to mention him.”

Foster’s words were a testament to the deep respect and admiration he earned during his time as All Blacks head coach, further reinforcing his reputation as a leader and the players look up to.