Shōta Horie

Shōta Horie (堀江 翔太) is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights and the Japan national team.

Early life
Horie is a native of Osaka Prefecture. He began playing rugby when he was a fifth-grade student, and later captained the Teikyo University rugby team.

Club career
Horie played for the Panasonic Wild Knights. He was named MVP for the 2015–16 Top League Season.

In 2012, Horie played for Japan, and in New Zealand for Otago in the National Provincial Championship, where he attracted the attention of the Melbourne Rebels recruiting staff. In November 2012, the Rebels announced Horie's signing to play Super Rugby in Australia. In 2013 he became the first Japanese player to play for an Australian Super Rugby side often on the reserves bench.

International career
Horie made his debut for Japan in 2009, and represented his country at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2024 he was named in the Barbarians F.C. squad to face the Japanese national rugby team.