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Clubless England lock Joe Launchbury has named his new team
By Liam Heagney
Clubless England second row Joe Launchbury is set to relaunch his career in the 2023 Japanese League after he was confirmed as a new signing by Toyota Velblitz four-and-a-half weeks after the Wasps skipper was one of 167 players and staff made redundant when the Gallagher Premiership club collapsed on October 17.
Numerous players have since picked up new work in England, France and the URC. However, Launchbury has opted to venture further afield to get back in the game, a decision that will rule him out from England selection for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.
The 30-year-old was last capped by Eddie Jones in the Six Nations defeat to Ireland last March, but he missed the July tour to Australia through injury and hasn’t been involved since then. With his international days now seemingly over for the moment after 70 caps, Launchbury has decided to take up an offer in Japan, a place he claims he always wanted to get back to after featuring there for England at the 2019 World Cup.
“I'm so happy to be joining Toyota Verblitz for the 2022/23 Japan Rugby League One season. Since going to Japan for the World Cup in 2019, I have always wanted to come back. So to have the chance to sign for a great club like Toyota is something I am very excited about.
“My family and I are looking forward to experiencing Japan again and I’m personally looking forward to testing myself in the league and helping Toyota Verblitz have a good year.”
Toyota Verblitz general manager Akitomo Goto added: “We are looking forward to welcoming Joe Launchbury and his family to the team. Joe will be the first England international player who has joined Toyota Verblitz since the team's founding in 1941. His addition to the team will bring extra diversity and depth to the squad.”
Launchbury had been a one-club man in England, joining Wasps in 2010 and making 180 appearances - including playing in all four of their matches in this season’s Premiership before the club’s RFU suspension was followed by everyone being made redundant. Reports since the Toyota signing statement have linked the lock with a switch to Harlequins for the 2023/24 Premiership season rather than a move to Racing in the Top 14.
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Go to commentsYes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.
They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).
That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).
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