The land of the rising son
It’s unlikely that anyone in New Zealand will be watching the Japan vs USA Rugby World Cup game on Monday at 8am NZT as closely as Marlborough’s Geoff Leitch, father of Michael Leitch, kiwi-born captain of Japan’s Brave Blossoms’ rugby team.
Marlborough-based Geoff, a highly experienced fitter, welder and turner here at SWE – known for his ability to fix pretty well anything – says he’s incredibly proud of his son and the Japan team in their extraordinary World Cup 2015 campaign which has seen them take a shock win over the Springboks, one of the best teams in the world.
“Michael has always done his best, and I know he’ll be fighting for his team right to the very end of the World Cup. The Springboks win was just the beginning.”
Born in Christchurch, with a Fijian mother and Kiwi-born Geoff his father, Michael studied in Japan from the age of 15 before moving professionally into the local rugby scene, and has been based there ever since.
At 6ft 2in and over 100kgs Michael’s bigger than most of his Japan team mates. His early Canterbury grounding in rugby gave him a great foundation to go on to become one of Japan’s best performers at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, join the Waikato Chiefs this year (nominated ‘rookie of the year’ in June by his team-mates) and now be named captain of the Japan team for the World Cup.
Geoff, Michael’s father, is known at work as the resident problem solver and it seems this ability to fix things and get on with it has been passed down to his son.
“All the best for Monday son, we’re all so proud of you, we know you’ll put your all into it and will be supporting you and the Brave Blossoms all the way.”
SWE wishes you and the team every success!
