Richie Mo’unga’s Remarkable Club Trophy Collection After Ending Toshiba Brave Lupus’ 14-Year Drought
All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga has added another title to his extensive list of club achievements by winning the Japan Rugby League One championship.
Mo’unga moved to Japan following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, signing a three-year contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, and made an immediate impact.
Before his arrival, the Brave Lupus had not won a JRLO – or its predecessor, the Top League – for 14 years.
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In his first season in Japan, the 30-year-old played a crucial role, especially in the final against the undefeated Saitama Wild Knights. Despite the challenge, he led his team to a 24-20 victory, ending the Brave Lupus’ long wait for a title.
Mo’unga’s exceptional performance earned him the Japan Rugby League One MVP of the season.
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The victory over the Wild Knights marked Mo’unga’s 12th domestic title, and his seventh consecutive win.
Mo’unga won his first title in 2013 with Canterbury under Scott Robertson in the NPC (then Mitre 10 Cup). Although he didn’t play in the 2013 final, he featured in the 2015 final, helping Canterbury to a 25-23 win over Auckland. Canterbury then achieved a three-peat, winning the 2016 and 2017 finals against Tasman with Mo’unga starting in both games.
2017 was particularly notable for Mo’unga as he led the Crusaders to their first Super Rugby title in nine years, beating the Lions 25-17 in the final at Ellis Park Stadium.
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Mo’unga repeated his heroics in 2018, inspiring the Crusaders to a 37-18 victory over the Lions in the Super Rugby final, and completed a three-peat in 2019 by defeating the Jaguares 19-3.
Over the next two years, he was instrumental in the Crusaders’ back-to-back Super Rugby Aotearoa titles. Although the Crusaders did not win the Super Rugby Trans Tasman in 2021 due to a smaller points difference compared to the Blues and Highlanders, they won all their matches.
In the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season, Mo’unga once again excelled, leading the Crusaders to a 21-7 win over the Blues in the final.
Richie Mo’unga’s Club Trophy Collection:
– Canterbury NPC titles: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
– Crusaders Super Rugby titles: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
– Toshiba Brave Lupus Japan Rugby League One title: 2023/24
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