10 July 2020

Old boy Luke Thompson delivered an excellent lineout skills session to about 25 boys at St. Bede's today. The boys will have learned a great deal from someone who was playing international rugby as recently as last year.

Luke retired from all rugby after last year's World Cup quarterfinal against South Africa, having represented Japan 71 times. He spent 15 years in Japan, initially based in Ota, Gunma Prefecture. After two years with the Sanyo (now Panasonic) Wild Knights, he moved down to Osaka to join the Kintetsu Liners, from where he made his international debut against Hong Kong in April 2007. He achieved total of 71 caps, scoring nine test tries, playing in a Japan record 14 Rugby World Cup matches and making hundreds and hundreds of important tackles and carries during his time. 

Coach Tony Brown had the following to say about Luke: “When Luke first came here he was a country boy from Canterbury. He is a tough guy who wants to perform well every week and trains hard. It’s so important having people at a World Cup who are so tough mentally.” Luke represents the epitome of hard-work paying off. The huge cheers that greeted his name whenever the Japan team was introduced in the stadiums was proof that Japanese rugby public treated him as one of their own. St. Bede's College is very proud of Luke and is grateful that he gave up his time to come from his farm in North Canterbury to coach our boys today.