New Japanese flanker Tiennan Costley shows value on the big stage

Despite a lopsided 52-17 defeat to England in his first match as a Japanese side, Eddie Jones saw many positives in the performance of his new Brave Blossoms team.

One of the positives the head coach mentioned after Saturday’s test at Tokyo’s National Stadium was the performance of flanker Tiennan Costley, one of eight debutants in Matchday 23.

Flanker Tiennan Costley (C) practices with Japan national rugby teammates including captain Michael Leitch (R) during a training camp in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, on June 10, 2024. (Kyodo)

The 24-year-old Kobe Steelers standout has shown value on both ends: as a strong tackler and as a quick, powerful ball carrier who can play defense when needed.

He looked to cross for a memorable first try late in the first half, only to see it disallowed for a knock-on.

“(He was) really good,” Jones said. “We want a really fast back rower who can play particularly as a hybrid player with the backs.”

The Australian-born and New Zealand-raised Costley joined the Steelers in 2022-23 after four years of college rugby for International Pacific University in Okayama Prefecture in western Japan.

In the most recent season in Japan’s Rugby League One, he became a regular part of a Kobe team featuring experienced All Black forwards Ardie Savea and Brodie Retallick.

Costley acknowledged England were a step up from his usual opponents, but he didn’t feel he would feel comfortable anywhere else thanks to his experience playing with and against established internationals in League One.

“I trained in Kobe with really high-level athletes like Retallick and Savea, and I’m grateful to them for pushing me and going hard during training so that I was prepared for moments like this,” he said . .

Japanese players line up for a rugby test match against England at the National Stadium in Tokyo on June 22, 2024. (Kyodo)

“We have some great athletes here in Japan, some of the best in the world, who come here to play the entire regular season. Shooting guys like that all year round builds confidence.”

Costley, a child of Auckland’s Westlake Boys High School, said he “dreamed” of playing test rugby and set his sights on a Brave Blossoms cap shortly after deciding to continue his career in Japan .

“Since I came to Japan, this was a huge goal for me (but) I wasn’t too nervous. I was confident in my ability.”

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