Takashi Kikutani

Takashi Kikutani

Kikutani at a press conference during the 2011 Rugby World Cup
Date of birth	(1980-02-24) 24 February 1980 (age 37)
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School	Imperial Palace Technical High School
University	Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Flanker, Number 8, Lock
Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Apps (points) 2004–2013 2013–2014 2014– Toyota Verblitz Saracens Canon Eagles 114 0 37 (225) (0) (15) Correct as of 15 January 2017
National team(s) Years Club / team Apps (points) 2005–2014 Japan 68 (160)
Sevens national teams Years Club / team   Comps   Japan

Takashi Kikutani (菊谷　崇, Kikutani Takashi^?, born 24 February 1980 in Nara) is a Japanese rugby union player, who plays at number 8 or flanker for Canon Eagles and previously Toyota Verblitz. He also represented Japan at international level, and is the second highest try scorer for a forward of all time.

Kikutani first played for the Japan 7s team in 1999 and represented them at the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens before making his debut for Japan in November 2005 against Spain where he scored a try. He established himself in the side through 2006 but was ruled out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup with a knee injury.

After recovering from injury, he returned to the side and took over Takuro Miuchi as captain in November 2008 by coach John Kirwan, and led the side until the end of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

After a disappointing tournament for Japan, he was replaced as captain by Toshiaki Hirose and initially left out the squad altogether by new coach Eddie Jones, but soon returned for the 2012 Pacific Nations Cup, and re-established himself as vice captain to Hirose, and was singled out by Jones as one of the few Japanese players who has the attitude and physicality to be able to "smash" players. He dropped off the international scene in 2014.