How ‘shy boy’ Leitch was moulded into a leader at Yamanote High | Andy Bull

Japan’s captain joined Yamanote High at 15 – his success has inspired others to follow him from New Zealand to the best rugby school in all HokkaidoStumbling blind through suburbs of Sapporo, following a sketchy set of directions from a stranger who took pity on me, I find a 6ft x 10ft picture of Japan’s captain, Michael Leitch, scoring a try in that famous game against the Springboks in 2015. It is posted above a set of double doors set in what looks like another office block. This must be the place. And around the side of the building, in a muddy yard surrounded by a chain fence, 15 kids are…