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Nathan Hirayama has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 33. The Richmond, British Columbia, native brings to a close a 15-year international career that was capped by the honor of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
He confirmed the decision on social media:
“Grateful for my family and friends, the supporters, the staff, my opposition. But mostly I’m grateful for my teammates and to this game that has given me so much. It’s been an honour to wear the maple leaf on my chest and to have been able to compete against the world’s best, alongside my friends. Truly a dream come true for a kid from Richmond who fell in love with rugby in high school.”
Hirayama won 23 test caps and was selected for three World Cups, following in the footsteps of his father Garry who also played flyhalf for Canada. It was in the shortened code, however, where ‘Nate’ would secure his place among the best in the world.
Since making his first appearance at the Dubai Sevens in 2006, Hirayama would play in a Canadian record 79 World Sevens Series tournaments with his 1,859 career points good enough for third place all-time on the circuit. Only England’s Ben Gollings and New Zealand’s Tomasi Cama scored more.
Other career highlights include Gold Medals at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara and Toronto respectively, and a Silver at the 2019 Games in Lima. He also played at three Commonwealth Games and starred in Canada’s first and only Sevens Series Cup Final victory at Singapore in 2017.
