View source for Hitoshi Ono

{{Short description|Japanese rugby player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Hitoshi Ono<br><small>大野均</small>
| image = 大野均 Hitoshi Ono.jpg
| birth_name = Hitoshi Ono
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|5|6}}
| birth_place = [[Kōriyama, Fukushima|Kōriyama]], [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]], [[Japan]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.minpo.jp/news/detail/2014062716548|title=ラグビー日本代表の大野 古里郡山で講演 Ｗ杯への思い語る|language=ja|newspaper=[[Fukushima Mimpo]]|date=27 June 2014|access-date=1 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052656/http://www.minpo.jp/news/detail/2014062716548|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| height = {{convert|1.96|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=2}}
| weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb lb}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/japan/player/24148 |title=Rugby World Cup: Hitoshi Ono |publisher=Rugby World Cup |access-date=2015-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007183523/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/japan/player/24148 |archive-date=2015-10-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| school = [[Seiryo High School]]
| university = [[Nihon University]]
| ru_position = Lock
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amateurclubs =
| ru_clubyears = 2001–2020 <br> 2015–2020
| ru_proclubs = [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] <br> {{Rut|Sunwolves}}
| ru_clubcaps = 85<br/> 12
| ru_clubpoints = (30)<br/> (0)
| ru_clubupdate = 15 January 2017
| ru_nationalyears = 2004–2016
| ru_nationalteam = {{ru|Japan}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 98
| ru_nationalpoints = (65)
| ru_ntupdate = 25 June 2016
| repsevensyears1 = &nbsp;
| repsevensteam1 = 
| repsevenscomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Hitoshi Ono'''|大野均|Ōno Hitoshi|born May 6, 1978, in [[Kōriyama, Fukushima|Kōriyama]], [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]}} is a retired [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[Rugby union|rugby player]]. He plays at lock for the [[Japan national rugby union team]]. He is nicknamed the "'''Iron Man'''".

Ono started playing rugby after converting from [[baseball]] at [[Nihon University]] where he was studying to become a [[firefighter]]. However, he changed careers and joined [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] in 2001, with whom he has gone on to win the [[Top League]] four times.

He made his international debut for {{nrut|Japan}} in 2004 against {{nrut|Korea}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/24681.html|title=Japan v Korea at Tokyo, May 16, 2004}}</ref> He became a regular member of the national team from there onwards and represented his country at both the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]] and [[2011 Rugby World Cup]]. Since [[Eddie Jones (rugby union)|Eddie Jones]] took over as Japan coach in 2012, he has not missed an international match, and has become the most capped player for Japan of all time.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ono set to be Japan's most capped player| url=http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/latest/item/225-ono-set-to-be-japan-s-most-capped-player| publisher=Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU)| access-date=January 28, 2015| archive-date=July 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705015917/http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/latest/item/225-ono-set-to-be-japan-s-most-capped-player| url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] and [[Fukushima nuclear disaster]] in 2011, Ono's family dairy farm suffered greatly, and alongside prop [[Kensuke Hatakeyama]] who lost his home, he was named honorary captain for the [[2011 Asian Five Nations|Asian 5 Nations]] match with the {{nrut|UAE}} by coach [[John Kirwan (rugby)|John Kirwan]] to mark the team's solidarity for the cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2061455.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203100936/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2061455.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 3, 2014|title=One year on Rugby remembers in Japan}}</ref>

Ono is one of the 'Frontier Ambassadors' of his hometown Koriyama City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.city.koriyama.lg.jp/shiseijoho/kokogaiine_koriyama/5/9811.html|title=フロンティア大使のプロフィール等{{!}}郡山市公式ウェブサイト|website=www.city.koriyama.lg.jp|language=ja|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=2020-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225023848/https://www.city.koriyama.lg.jp/shiseijoho/kokogaiine_koriyama/5/9811.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He retired from professional rugby in 2020 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/05/19/rugby/iron-man-hitoshi-ono-retires-98-caps/#.XskkuhMzai4}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kosei Ono]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{ESPNscrum|14456}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Squads
|list1 = 
{{Japan Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Japan Squad 2011 World Cup}}
{{Japan Squad 2007 World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ono, Hitoshi}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Japanese rugby union players]]
[[Category:Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players]]
[[Category:Rugby union locks]]
[[Category:Japan international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Nihon University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Kōriyama]]
[[Category:Sunwolves players]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen]]
[[Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Fukushima Prefecture]]
[[Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players]]