Three All Blacks and two Springboks included in Japan Team of the Season as Richie Mo’unga claims top gong
The Team of the Season has been following the conclusion of the Japan Rugby League One.
Five players who featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final have been included in the Japan Rugby League One Team of the 2023/24 Season.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the end-of-season award winners have been announced with All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga claiming the top gong.
After guiding Toshiba Brave Lupus to their first title in 14 years, Mo’unga has been named the JRLO season’s MVP and claims the number 10 jersey in the Team of the Season.
Japan’s best
Mo’unga is joined by fellow All Black and clubmate Shannon Frizell in the team with Ardie Savea named in the back-row following his debut season with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
Meanwhile, tournament finalists Panasonic Wild Knights’ Springboks, Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager, both claim spots in the Team of the Season.
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Ricoh Black Rams’ Aussie star Isaac Lucas claims the full-back spot with Suntory Sungoliath’s Seiya Ozaki and Shizuoka Blue Revs’ Malo Tuitama picked on the wings. Tuitama also finished the season as the top try scorer, crossing 15 times.
De Allende is included in the midfield along with his clubmate Dylan Riley, with fellow Wild Knight Yuta Takagi named at scrum-half.
Savea and Frizell feature on the flanks, with Brave Blossoms’ international Jack Cornelsen picked at number eight.
Brave Lupus star lock Warner Deans claimed a spot alongside De Jager in the second-row with his teammates Mamoru Harada (hooker) and Sena Kimura (loosehead) picked in the front-row, which Kubota Spears tighthead Opeti Helu completes.
Meanwhile, Bryn Gatland took home the award for the top points scorer in the competition, while Suntory’s Mikiya Takamoto was named Young Player of the Season.
Finally, Todd Blackadder was named the coach of the season after guiding Toshiba Brave Lupus to victory.
READ MORE: Richie Mo’unga’s MIND-BOGGLING club trophy haul after ending Toshiba Brave Lupus’ 14-year drought
Japan Rugby League One Team of the Season
15 Isaac Lucas (Ricoh Black Rams), 14 Seiya Ozaki (Suntory Sungoliath), 13 Dylan Riley (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), 12 Damian de Allende (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), 11 Malo Tuitama (Shizuoka Blue Revs), 10 Richie Mo’unga (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), 9 Yuta Takagi (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), 8 Jack Cornelsen (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), 7 Ardie Savea (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), 6 Shannon Frizell (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), 5 Lood de Jager (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), 4 Warner Deans (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), 3 Opeti Helu (Kubota Spears), 2 Mamoru Harada (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), 1 Sena Kimura (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
