Kaito Shigeno



Kaito Shigeno (茂野海人) is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the scrum-half position. He captains Toyota Verblitz in Japan's domestic Japan Rugby League One.

Early and provincial career
Shigeno was born in Osaka Prefecture but attended university in Tokyo after which he joined the NEC Green Rockets ahead of the 2013–14 Top League season. In 2015, he spent a year in New Zealand playing for Ponsonby in the local Auckland league after which he earned selection for 's squad for the 2015 ITM Cup where he made 6 appearances.

Super Rugby career
Shigeno was selected as a member of the first ever Sunwolves squad ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season. He played 11 matches in their debut campaign and scored 1 try.

International
Shigeno earned his first cap for Japan in a match against in Vancouver during the 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals and followed it up with 2 more appearances in Japan's home series against  which was played in Toyota and Tokyo. His first try for his country came in his third appearance, a 21–16 defeat to Scotland.