Like every other sport in the world, victory in rugby is determined by the number of points an individual or a team scores against their opponent(s). One could however argue, and quite convincingly at that, that scoring in the rugby union is considerably more difficult as compared to their peers. This is so because of many reasons with the heightened level of physicality and the carefully-crafted offensive and defensive schemes topping the list. There are nevertheless those who have overcome these near-insurmountable odds to establish themselves as reliable and routine try-scorers. Who has scored the most tries in Rugby Union? Former Japanese ace Daisuke Ohata currently holds the record for the most tries scored in the Rugby Union with an impressive 69. The retired speedster also boasts of the highest try per match ratio of 1.19 having attained the feat in only 58 test matches.
Born to Play
Though little is known of Ohata’s early life, one thing is for sure – the Japanese ace was made for the sport of rugby. Growing up, Ohata was an obviously talented and athletic boy. Hailing from the Kansai region in the southern-central region of Honshū (Japan’s main island), Ohata display an early preference for rugby which led him to be enrolled in several rugby nurseries.
Rugby can only be described as a moderately popular sport in Japan. It makes the list of the top five most popular sports in the country but plays second fiddle to baseball, soccer, and arguably one of the oldest sports in the history of the world in Sumo Wrestling.
Ohata then transitioned to Tokai Dai Gyosei High School where he continued to sharpen his skills. It was at this high school that the 2016 World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee met his classmates and future baseball stars Yoshinori Tateyama and Koji Uehara.
The speedster stayed the course and developed the necessary speed and stamina to distinguish him from the rest of the field. Ohata then attended Kyoto Sangyo University. It is at the higher education institution that the former Kobelco Steelers is believed to have developed a flair for playing on the wing and occasionally at centre. Ohata had a notable club career having made a total of 69 appearances and scored 230 points for the Kobelco Steelers and top-flight French rugby union side and two-time French champions ASM Clermont Auvergne. He is however renowned for his stellar exploits on the international stage, which have carved out a place for him in rugby history.
Style of Play
A glance at the soft-spoken character that is Ohata can hardly provide a hint of his greatness. Even in his stellar rugby career that spanned over a decade, the Japanese could only be best described as a quiet professional – a player who let his actions, and not his words, speak for him.
Some may want to water down Ohata’s achievements by alleging that he competed against a field of somewhat inferior talent. Such arguments are especially common among the fans of former record holder David Campese of Australia.
That couldn’t however be further from the truth as an objective look at the era shows that it was dominated by a number of greats including James “The Bullet” Dalton (South Africa), ex-Australian skipper John “Nobody” Eales, and strongman Craig Dowd of New Zealand and fellow teammate Josh Kronfeld and Keven Mealamu.
For Ohata to have made a name for himself, let alone wind up as the all-time leading try-scorer, only one explanation can be offered up – he excelled regardless of the opposition which included rugby-centric countries like Wales, Argentina, France, and Ireland. Rugby historians have gone on the record to describe Ohata as having been a brilliant and crafty player whose natural ability to read and take apart defenses was only but complemented by his ridiculous and almost inhuman speed.
Proof of Concept
For one to truly appreciate Ohata’s greatness, one need only look at his performance at the 2000 Tok