Rugby World Cup 2023: Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask heads to Japan

Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask will travel to Japan after the NPC to join the Mie Heat for the inaugural season of the 2022-23 Rugby League. Trask, 23, made his first appearance for the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Rugby season, wearing the number 10 jersey seven times in 13 appearances in his first game. Rugby World Cup 2023 fans can buy Japan Vs Chile Tickets from our website.

Injuries have not been good for the young playmaker over the past two seasons, but Trask still managed to make 14 appearances in the Chiefs’ colours, both top-five and guard.

Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask will travel to Japan after the NPC to join the Mie Heat
Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask will travel to Japan after the NPC to join the Mie Heat

Despite his regular playing time, Trask will face the likes of Aaron Cruden, Bryn Gatland, and Damian McKenzie and, in 2022, Josh Ioane time.

With McKenzie returning to the Chiefs for the upcoming campaign, with Gatland, Ioane and 22-year-old Rivez Reihana all on the roster, Trask has apparently decided to get another starting shot and has understandably called for a trip to Japan.

Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask

“I am excited to join the Mie Honda Heat for the 2022-23 season,” Trask said of the move.

“I’m really looking forward to the new experience with my new teammates and hope to keep growing as a player.”

“I want to meet all the rugby fans in Japan, so I hope to see you soon.”

The Heat finished second in the new Japanese Rugby League Division A last season. Although they managed to take a win in the promotion/relegation play-offs against the Green Rockets, they lost the entire series and remain in the second tier for the coming season.

Trask won’t be the only new blood for the Heat, with Argentina’s Pablo Matera and Australia’s Tom Banks both competing in the 2022-23 season. Kaleb Trask is currently in the Bay of Plenty NPC season and the Steamboats are looking forward to their first top title since winning the inaugural competition in 1976.

Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask played over 30 games for the Bay of Plenty and previously represented New Zealand Under-20s and the Maori All Blacks. The upcoming JRLO season starts in mid-December.

Quade Cooper supports Japan's Super Rugby Pacific
Quade Cooper supports Japan’s Super Rugby Pacific

Quade Cooper supports Japan’s Super Rugby Pacific innovation concept

As the Wallabies and All Blacks prepare to fight in the Bledisloe Cup, Japan is poised to play the role of peacemaker in the simmering Super Rugby standoff between trans-Tasman rivals.

Their proposal was backed by Wallabies veteran Quade Cooper, who plays club rugby in Japan when he’s not in the Test. Rugby World Cup fans can buy England Vs Japan Tickets from our website.

The Japanese team has grown stronger thanks to the quality of international recruits and the influence of international coaches, and they cashed in – and money was a sticking point in the feud between the Australian and New Zealand rugby groups.

The Australians have threatened to withdraw from Super Rugby Pacific matches. When the current deal expires in 2023 if the Kiwis don’t agree to split broadcast revenues equally.

Japan Rugby League’s first president, Genichi Tamatsuka, said it would be a win-win situation to include Japanese teams as they would improve by raising awareness of Australian and New Zealand super teams along with more broadcasting costs.

“We don’t know exactly what the future of Super Rugby will look like and what decisions will be made, but one thing that is very clear to us is that we need a cross-border game to improve the quality of our competition,” he said, Tamatsuka told AAP.

“We are in constant dialogue with many unions, and other foreign leagues and are actively looking for opportunities.”

“We could have some kind of crossover races, some of our teams are building some races, so those are things we’d like to do, but we haven’t made a final decision yet.”

Cooper is also a fan of the Japan Rugby League's first team
Cooper is also a fan of the Japan Rugby League’s first team

Japan does not want to play favourites and wants to keep the relationship with both national institutions intact and play against Australian and New Zealand teams.

They were eager to add more matches to their Japan Rugby League’s one-year, five-month competition calendar and have suggested playing cross-border when their matches end at the end of May.

Genichi Tamatsuka

Tamatsuka said such a match would be popular with the Japanese public.

Cooper is also a fan of the Japan Rugby League’s first team. Which also includes other current wallabies Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi.

Cooper told AAP he prefers teams from Australia and New Zealand to play domestically before the top teams and top Japanese club teams go head to head. Rugby World Cup 2023 fans can buy Japan Vs Samoa Tickets from our website.

He thinks Japan has a lot to offer and can add another element to the current Super Rugby Pacific.

“Let’s get the top two from the Japanese league, Super AU and Super Rugby NZ, for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals,” said Cooper.

“So it’s going to be like Europe; play domestic matches, then the European Rugby Champions Cup for the top six teams, the other teams can play in the Challenge Cup, so they have something to play as well.”

“There will be three domestic champions and then an Australian champion, so it’s an interesting concept.”

Australia A confirms game against Japan XV

Australian national team manager Jason Gilmore has appointed an impressive squad. As he prepares to start a three-game series against the Japan XV on October 1 in Tokyo.

Australia A team confirms matches against Japan XV
Australia A team confirms matches against Japan XV

Scrum-half Ryan Lonergan will once again lead the team as they aim to finish second in the Pacific Cup of Nations in July.

Lonergan joined Waratah’s fly-half Ben Donaldson at halftime and is eager to continue his breakthrough season, confirming Gilmore Tane Edmed could have his chance in the second test.

Suliasi Vunivalu gets a chance to shine and he has been selected as a winger for the All-Reds three alongside Filipo Daugunu and Jock Campbell.

Jason Gilmore

Gilmore kept a relatively consistent front row against Tonga in the final match, with Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan teaming up with partners Matt Gibbon and Tom Robertson.

Wallabies Nick Frost and Cadeyrn Neville formed an imposing second row, with Ned Hanigan returning from injury and Ollie Callan and Langi Gleeson trailing behind.

Central midfielder Bayley Kuenzle makes his Australian A-team debut alongside Brumby Hudson Creighton.

Thrilling Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard heads the bank along with Archer Holz and Harry Huppert.

The Rebels back row player Brad Wilkin has been rewarded for his stellar season with his options on the bench, with Ryan Smith completing the player bench.

He was also joined by clubmate James Tuttle, as well as Reds defenders Isaac Henry and Mark Nawaqanitawase, who returned from a brief stint with the Sevens.

Gilmore also confirmed that Tom Banks, who could somehow be used in the second Test, is still recovering from a broken arm.

Every Japan Tour event on the Australian Tour is broadcast live and on-demand on Stan Sport.

Australia A plays against Japan at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo

1. Matt Gibbon (Melbourne Rebels)

2. Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)

3. Tom Robertson (Western Force)

4. Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies)

5. Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies)

6. Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)

7. Ollie Callan (Western Force)

8. Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs)

9. Ryan Lonergan (c) (ACT Brumbies)

10. Ben Donaldson (NSW Waratahs)

11. Filipo Daugunu (Queensland Reds)

12. Bayley Kuenzle (Western Force)

13. Hudson Creighton (ACT Brumbies)

14. Suliasi Vunivalu (Queensland Reds)

15. Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)

Replacements

16. Billy Pollard (ACT Brumbies)

17. Harry Hoopert (Queensland Reds)

18. Archer Holz (NSW Waratahs)

19. Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds)

20. Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels)

21. James Tuttle (Melbourne Rebels)

22. Isaac Henry (Queensland Reds)

23. Mark Nawaqanitawase (NSW Waratahs)

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