PEOPLE, People

The Handsome “Spicy Nate”

Written by Maari Sugawara（Managing Editor） on

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The Japanese-Canadian rugby player, Nate Hirayama made his debut in the 2006 Dubai Sevens, at the age of 18. Just two years later, he was selected for the 2013 Rugby World Cups Sevens in Russia, helping Canada win the Plate competition and finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 49 points. Hirayama was also a part of Canada’s rugby sevens team at the 2010, 2014, and 2018, tournament and was selected for the Canadian national team to attend the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. (https://rugby.ca/en/athletes/nathan-hirayama)

Nate is from an athletic family. His younger sister, Natalie plays varsity soccer and his father was also a Canadian international rugby player.
Nate started playing rugby at age 14 when he joined the grade eight rugby team at Hugh McRoberts Secondary High School. Throughout the years, the 31-year-old has become Canada’s all-time leading scorer and now plays for the BC Bears and resides in Victoria.

“Spicy Nate”, as some of his teammates call him, likes to listen to music ahead of games to prepare and go out for a walk for fresh air before a game. However, The Canadian men’s team didn’t make the Olympics. They finished well below top 4 in the World Rugby series, were beaten by the US in the regional qualifier and lost out to Spain in the repechage. Let’s take a look back at some of Nate’s top plays from the World Series (https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/video/330834?lang=en).


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