Rugby World Cup: Craig Wing thrilled to make RWC debut for Japan

PLAYERS from all over the globe have congregated in England for the start of the Rugby World Cup, but few can boast a journey to match that of Craig Wing.

Japan's Craig Wing, second left, is tackled by Georgia's Konstantine Mikautadze during the rugby union World Cup warm up match against Georgia, at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, England Saturday Sept. 5, 2015. (Scott Heavey/PA Wire via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE

PLAYERS from all over the globe have congregated in England for the start of the Rugby World Cup, but few can boast a journey to match that of Craig Wing.

On Saturday (Sunday morning AEST), the former NRL premiership winner will line up against South Africa in Brighton — wearing the number 12 jersey for Japan.

“I’m still pinching myself,” the 10-Test veteran said he said. “I never dreamt anything like this. If you’d said I’d be playing in a Rugby World Cup for Japan against the Springboks at the age of 35, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Even to still be strapping on the boots five years after playing his last game of rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs wasn’t in the script.

“The idea was I’d play two years of rugby overseas, see a bit of the world, then hang up the boots, come home and find a job,” he said.

Craig Wing looks to break a tackle from Johnathan Thurston while playing for the Rabbitohs.

“I was talking to a couple of French clubs for four or five months but it was going backwards and forwards and then an offer came to play in Japan. I didn’t even know they played rugby in Japan, but I did the deal and five years later here I am.”

Wing had grown up in Sydney playing both rugby union and rugby league. In 1997 he was a member of the Australian Schoolboys rugby side alongside future Wallabies George Smith and Phil Waugh that played England Schools at North Sydney Oval.

Playing for England that day were 2003 World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson and future Test captain Steve Borthwick, now an assistant coach for Japan.

When he left Sydney Boys’ High he had the chance to play rugby with the NSW Waratahs or league with South Sydney.

“The Waratahs said I wouldn’t play in the top grade until I was 23 or 24. At Souths I was training with the first grade team when I was still at school. I signed with them and was playing first grade a month later.”

When Souths were thrown out of the competition two seasons later Wing was approached by rugby coach Eddie Jones to join the ACT Brumbies.

“He was a great rugby player as a schoolboy,” Jones said. “Smart, strong, aggressive. He would have revolutionised the way the Wallabies played.”

Craig Wing in action for Japan.

Jones met with Wing and his father over a steak at the Black Stump restaurant in Kensington, but couldn’t convince him to make the move back to the 15-man game. After also knocking back an offer from the Broncos, Wing signed with the Roosters.

It proved a good move. Over the next eight seasons he played in four grand finals, winning a premiership in 2002, and became a regular in NSW Origin and Test sides before returning for a final two years with the Rabbitohs.

“In my last season I made the Origin side after a few years out but I’d had a couple of shoulder reconstructions and started to realise I was human and couldn’t defy time,” he said.

“I’d lived in Randwick or Bondi all my life. I was in that Sydney bubble and I thought I’d just like to go somewhere different.

“Japan couldn’t be more different. It’s been a great experience. There are some things that you love one day, and the same things get to you on different days, but overall it has been incredible.”

With Japanese rugby being less damaging on the body, Wing signed a second two-year contract. Six months in, Eddie Jones re-entered the picture.

“Eddie told me after three years I was eligible to play for Japan,” Wing said. “The chance of playing in a World Cup was huge motivation for me to keep going.

“I just can’t wait to be out there and hear the national anthems. At 35 I think I’ll probably be the oldest World Cup debutant, but I’ll be as enthusiastic as anyone. I’m only going to get one chance at this.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Craig Wing thrilled to make RWC debut for Japan