Lomano Lemeki (レメキロマノラヴァ, born 20 January 1989) is a New Zealand-born Tongan-Japanese rugby union player. He is known for playing for Japan's sevens team and the Honda Heat in Japan's Top League.
Lemeki grew up in New Zealand before relocating to Japan in 2009. After playing for Sunnybank Colts in Brisbane, Australia, he moved to Japan at the age of 20 to pursue a professional rugby career with Canon.
He made significant contributions to Japan's sevens team, including helping them win the 2013 Thailand Sevens by scoring the match-winning try against Hong Kong.
In 2014, Lemeki married a Japanese woman and subsequently obtained Japanese citizenship. He was included in the Japan squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Lemeki made his debut for the national team, known as the Brave Blossoms, in November 2016, scoring a try on debut and adding two more against Georgia in the following weekend's match.
Throughout his eight seasons in Japan, Lemeki has played for the Honda Heat, a team that was relegated to the second-tier of Japanese rugby at the end of 2016. In November 2017, he was named in Jamie Joseph's Japan squad for the November Internationals.
Additionally, in December, he was selected for the Sunwolves' 2018 Super Rugby squad.
Lemeki's notable inclusion came when he was named in Japan's 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where he represented his country on the international stage.
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Lemeki has been named in the training squad for Japan.
KG(30/06/2023)
Career
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Green Rockets Tokatsu No. 8 |
2022 - present |
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Japan 7's Fullback |
2014 - 2016 |
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Sunwolves Fullback |
2018 - 2020 |
 |
Honda Heat Left Wing |
2016 - 2020 |
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Munakata Sanix Blues Right Wing |
2021 - 2021 |
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Japan XV Outside Centre |
2023 - 2024 |
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Japan Outside Centre |
2016 - 2024 |
