Tosa takes chance with a lighter blue

MAKOTO Tosa will join an exclusive club on Saturday when he wins his second Blue in the Varsity Match – and make a piece of rugby history into the bargain.

- ROB COLE

The former Japan U20 back row forward has been picked to play for Cambridge against Oxford in the 142nd annual ‘Battle of the Blues’ at what will be a new venue at the StoneX Stadium, home of Saracens.

The 37-year-old made his debut in the fixture as an Oxford replacement back in 2009. It means he will become only the sixth player to play for both teams in the Varsity Match and the 15-year gap between his appearances will be a record for a game that kicked-off way back in 1872.

There were 11 years between the first and fifth of Richard Bartholomew’s Cambridge Blues (2005-16), while Jenny Greenwood first played for the Light Blues in 1910 and finally in 1919.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the British academic world after my professional athletic career with Japan Rugby Football Union, NEC Corporation Green Rockets, and Mitsubishi Dynaboars for the past 14 years,” said Tosa, who is studying for an Executive MBA at the Judge Business School.