Hayate Era

Hayate Era
江良颯
Era with Japan in 2026
Born (2001-09-18) 18 September 2001 (age 25)
Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight106 kg (234 lb; 16 st 10 lb)
UniversityTeikyo University
Rugby union career
Position Hooker
Current team Kubota Spears
Youth career
2017–2020 Osaka Tōin High School
2020–2024 Teikyo University
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024– Kubota Spears 37 (40)
Correct as of 10 November 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Japan U17
2025 Japan XV 1 (0)
2025– Japan 11 (20)
Correct as of 10 November 2026

Hayate Era (Japanese: 江良颯, romanized: Era Hayate; born 18 September 2001) is a Japanese rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for the Japan Rugby League One club the Kubota Spears and the Japan national team.

Youth career

Era was born in Higashiōsaka, Osaka Prefecture in 2001 and began playing rugby at 2-years-old, attending OTJ Rugby School and Higashiōsaka Rugby School in his early years where his primary position was in the backline. In junior and senior grade, Era made the transition to the hooker position while attending Hiraoka Junior High School and Osaka Tōin High School between 2017 and 2020. During his time at the latter institution, Era represented Kinki U17 at the Kobelco Cup, the national high school representative tournament, winning the competition in 2018. He was later selected in a Japan U17 squad, also known as the Japan high school national team.

In 2020, Era joined Teikyo University. Upon his acquisition, Japanese publication 4 years. noted his ball-carrying ability, and mentioned his potential as a first-team hooker. During his tenure at Teikyo, Era won three back-to-back All-Japan University Rugby Championship titles as the teams starting hooker, captaining the side in his fourth and final year at the school.

Career

Kubota Spears

As one of the most sought-after young forwards in Japan, it was speculated that Era would likely be recruited by the Tokyo Sungoliath or the Mie Honda Heat in the Japan Rugby League One ahead of the 2023–24 season. In January 2024, the Kubota Spears announced the signing of Era via their Instagram. He played his first game for the club against the Chiefs from the Super Rugby in a pre-season fixture.

In the 2023–24 season, Era played six matches for the Spears after returning from university, scoring three tries from his opening three games. Following his sixth appearance, the Spears announced that Era would be out of the squad for an extended period to undergo surgery after sustaining an injury.

Era returned to the squad ahead of their pre-season for the following season (2024–25). He played 19 games, starting in just under half below starting hooker Malcolm Marx, which saw the Spears run into the final where Era scored three tries. Era's presence declined in 2025–26 as he returned from injury sustained while playing for the Japan national team in late 2025. Era played 12 games, starting in four, scoring two tries as the Kubota Spears finished runners-up for the second year in a row.

International career

In June 2025, Era was announced in the Japan XV squad for their June match against the Māori All Blacks. He made his international debut against the Māori All Blacks on 28 June at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Japan XV lost 20–53. The following month, Era was named as the reserve hooker for Japan in their opening match of the Welsh tour, although he did not make an appearance. He subsequently made his official Test debut against Wales in the second Test, coming off the bench for Mamoru Harada in the 37th minute at Noevir Stadium Kobe. Although Japan lost the match, the series was drawn 1–1.

Era made his first Test start for Japan at hooker against Canada in their first match of the Pacific Nations Cup in what was a record win against the side. Era scored his first Test try for Japan against Tonga in the tournaments semi-final match, which was subsequently another record win by the Japan team. In the tournament final, Era, starting in his fourth straight Test for Japan, scored a double against Fiji at America First Field in Salt Lake City.

Following Japan's Test match against Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals, Era suffered a serious injury and did not return to fitness for several months. He made his Test return in the inaugural Nations Championship in July 2026, playing in all three of Japan's Tests against Italy, Ireland, and France, respectively.

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 November 2026.
Statistics by club, season and competition
Club Season League
DivisionAppsTriesPoints
Kubota Spears 2023–24 Japan Rugby League One 6315
2024–25 19315
2025–26 12210
Total 37840

International

As of 11 November 2026.
Statistics by team and year
Team Year Statistic
AppsTriesPoints
Japan XV 2025 100
Japan 2025 6315
2026 515
Total 11420

International tries

List of international tries scored by Hayate Era
No. Opponent Location Competition Date Result Ref.
1  Tonga Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City 2025 Pacific Nations Cup 14 September 2025 62–24
2  Fiji America First Field, Salt Lake City 20 September 2025 27–33
3
4  Ireland Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 2026 Nations Championship 11 July 2026 20–36

Awards and honours

Teikyo University

References

  1. 1 2 3 "選手プロフィール | 江良颯" [Player Profiles | Hayate Era]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union.
  2. 1 2 "【ネクストスター候補（３０）】帝京大１年のＨＯ江良　堀江翔太を追いかけて…目指せ日本代表入り／ラグビー" [[Next Star Candidate (30)] Teikyo University freshman hooker Era follows in the footsteps of Shota Horie... Aiming to join the Japan national team]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 12 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "江良颯が「のびのびできている」。帝京大、開幕２連勝。" [Hayate Era says he "feels like he can play freely." Teikyo University starts the season with two consecutive win]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 11 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "S東京ベイ – 江良颯 | ラグビーデータベース" [Kubota Spears – Hayate Era | Rugby Database]. rugbydb.tokyo (in Japanese). RugbyDB | Tokyo.
  5. ↑ "【 1年生インタビュー 】江良颯" [[First-year student interview] Hayate Era]. teikyo-sports.jp (in Japanese). Teikyo University. 15 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Saito, Kenji (18 April 2020). "早稲田・伊藤大祐や帝京・奥井章仁ら大物続々　期待のルーキー関東対抗戦" [Waseda's Daisuke Ito, Teikyo's Akihito Okui, and other big names are expected to make their mark in the Kanto Intercollegiate Tournament]. 4 years. (in Japanese).
  7. ↑ Saito, Kenji (14 January 2024). "帝京大学・奥井章仁　高校からの盟友・江良颯とつかんだ日本一「もっと泣くと思った」" [Teikyo University's Akihito Okui, who achieved the national championship with his high school friend Hayate Era, said, "I thought I would cry more."]. 4 years. (in Japanese).
  8. ↑ Miya, Miyakaze (27 October 2023). "もしもラグビーでドラフト会議をしたら2023【ラグビー雑記帳】" [What if there was a rugby draft in 2023? [Rugby Musings]]. Yahoo Japan (in Japanese).
  9. ↑ @kubotaspears; (15 January 2024). "【新入団選手のお知らせ】 2024年度の新入団選手として、 江良 颯選手の入団が決定いたしました。" [[Announcement of New Player Signing] We are pleased to announce that Hayate Era has joined the team as a new player for the 2024 season] (in Japanese) – via Instagram.
  10. ↑ Foote, Stephen (10 February 2024). "Rugby: Chiefs bounce back to edge Kubota Spears in final Japan pre-season hitout". Stuff. Stuff Ltd.
  11. ↑ "長期欠場のお知らせ（江良颯選手）" [Announcement regarding long-term absence (Hayate Era)]. kubota-spears.com (in Japanese). Kubota Spears. 23 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "怪我から復活。マルコム・マークスから学び。スピアーズの江良颯が描く未来。" [Coming back from injury. Learning from Malcolm Marx. The future envisioned by Hayate Era of the Spears]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 11 January 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Muka, Kazuya (19 February 2026). "【Just TALK】「出るからには最大限の力で爪痕を残さないといけない」。江良颯［クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ］" [【Just TALK】 "If I'm going to play, I have to give it my all and leave a mark." Hayate Era [Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay]]. JustRugby.jp (in Japanese).
  14. ↑ "【リーグワンプレーオフ】東芝ブレイブルーパス東京がV2達成！クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイとの頂上決戦を制す。" [[League One Playoffs] Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo achieves its second consecutive victory! They win the championship against Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 1 June 2025.
  15. ↑ Lee, Henry (7 June 2026). "Kobelco Kobe Steelers claim JRLO title in thriller as Dave Rennie ends title drought". RugbyPass.
  16. ↑ "JAPAN XV、6.28マオリ・オールブラックス戦のメンバーを発表。キャプテンは下川甲嗣。" [JAPAN XV has announced their squad for the June 28th match against the Maori All Blacks. The captain is Koji Shimokawa]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 26 June 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Rugby: Maori All Blacks run away with 53-20 win over Japan XV". Kyodo News. 28 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Jones Names Brave Blossoms Side to Face Wales". en.rugby-japan.jp. Japan Rugby Football Union. 3 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "リポビタンDチャレンジカップ2025 　日本代表vsウェールズ代表" [Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025: Japan vs. Wales]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union. 5 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "リポビタンDチャレンジカップ2025 　日本代表vsウェールズ代表" [Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025: Japan vs. Wales]. rugby-japan.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby Football Union. 12 July 2025.
  21. ↑ Sansom, Tom (1 November 2025). "Japan team to face South Africa - Eddie Jones names squad for Wembley clash with Springboks". Ruck.co.uk. Japan enter the Autumn Internationals following a mixed bag of form upon their recent Test match outings. Eddie Jones' men hosted Wales for a two-match series throughout the Summer, for an overall drawn series at 1–1.
  22. ↑ Newcombe, Jon (4 September 2026). "Dearns out, Japan change captain for Centenary Test vs Canada". RugbyPass.
  23. 1 2 "【ラグビー】エディー日本　トンガ戦最多8T62点で快勝　超速ラグビーを体現" [【Rugby】Eddie Japan: Dominant victory over Tonga with record 8 tries and 62 points, embodying lightning-fast rugby] (in Japanese). 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Fiji beats Japan 33–27 to win the Pacific Nations Cup for the 6th time". AP News. 21 September 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 "Hayate Era: Stats – All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
  26. ↑ "2023–24 Season | Hayate Era (HO)". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  27. ↑ "2024–25 Season | Hayate Era (HO)". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  28. ↑ "2025–26 Season | Hayate Era (HO)". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  29. ↑ Hodge, Stuart (11 July 2026). "Nations Championship: Much-changed Ireland overcome Japan 36–20 as debutants impress". Sky News.
  30. ↑ Morita, Hiroshi (10 January 2022). "帝京大攻守スキなく10度目の大学日本一、勇退の岩出監督「一番いい時に渡せる」" [Teikyo University's offense and defense were flawless, securing their 10th national university championship. Retiring coach Iwade said, "I was able to hand over the reins at the best possible time."]. 4 years. (in Japanese).
  31. ↑ Saito, Kenji (16 January 2023). "全国2連覇の帝京大・松山千大主将　仲間のため全ての瞬間に全力を尽くす勇気の塊" [Teikyo University's captain, Chihiro Matsuyama, who led his team to two consecutive national championships, is a bundle of courage who gives his all in every moment for his teammates]. 4 years. (in Japanese).
  32. ↑ "2024/1/13【 第60全国大学ラグビーフットボール選手権大会 】vs明治大学 マッチレポート" [2024/1/13 [60th All Japan University Rugby Football Championship] vs Meiji University Match Report]. teikyo-sports.jp (in Japanese). Teikyo University. 16 January 2024.