By Sam Ryan

He’s played more than 300 first grade matches, won a premiership and represented both New South Wales and Australia in that other code.

Yet rugby union convert Craig Wing admitted representing Japan at this year’s Rugby World Cup would be one of his finest achievements.

“It’d be right up there with the most special of moments,” Wing told Rugby News.

“It’d be a huge achievement for me because I’ve had to work so much harder for this than anything I did when I was younger.”

After 12 years in the NRL, Wing joined NTT Shining Arcs in 2010 and then Kobelco Steelers in 2012, earning a handful of caps for the Japanese national team along the way.

At 35, the inside back said he’s as fit and strong as he’s ever been, but admitted 18 years in professional football has taken its toll.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d still be playing at this stage, but I’m giving it all that I’ve got to see if I can get there (the Rugby World Cup) this year,” Wing said whilst in camp with the Japanese side.

“Like any football player late in their career, there are a lot of psychological and physical things you have to deal with and a whole lot of extra hurdles that you need to try and jump to give yourself the opportunity.”

Those hurdles kept Wing from playing in this year’s Asian Rugby Championships, however he doesn’t think that will affect his chances of being selected in the Cherry Blossoms World Cup squad, led by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

“I’ve got no major injuries, just little niggly ones that keep reoccurring which is quite frustrating,” he said.

“But I know in myself, that if I’m running as well as I can run and if I am as fit and strong as I can be, then I can make the team.”

Wing said Jones has played a big part in keeping him in Japan ahead of the World Cup.

“It makes a huge difference having Eddie as head coach and him knowing how I play and what I do. It’s very easy to talk to him, he understands where I am physically and where I can be,” Wing said.

Japan has played in all seven World Cups since 1987, but has won just one match at the tournament – a 52-8 victory over Zimbabwe in 1991.

Whilst that might not fill Cherry Blossom fans with confidence, pool matches against South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and the USA give Japan a realistic chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

“That’s the goal,” Wing said.

“We’ve had a few different goals over the past few years, we wanted to beat a top ten team – we beat Wales.

“Then we wanted to get in that top ten and we’ve done that. The quarter-finals are the next step.”

Wing admitted South Africa are the team to beat in pool B, but likes his side’s chances in the remainder of the matches.

“We played Scotland a few years ago, that was a game I felt we could have won if we had a little bit more composure,” he said.

“Those other games (against Samoa and USA) are games that we are looking to win, not just compete in.”

With a franchise set to enter the Super Rugby competition next year and Japan to host the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympics (featuring Rugby 7s), Japan’s performance in the UK could have monumental ramifications.

“The players are all aware of how important it will be for the sport in Japan if we have a good showing in this year’s World Cup, leading into the next World Cup in Japan and the Olympics the year after that,” Wing said.

While he admitted the sport had a long way to go in Japan, Wing believes the framework is in place to allow for considerable growth.

“There are a hell of a lot of junior teams playing rugby, particularly in schools, but there is not a lot of synergy between junior development and senior football,” Wing explained.

“If they can work on that off the back of more awareness through Super Rugby, I think years down the line, rugby can be quite a big deal over here.”

At 35, Wing and his Japanese side may not be the biggest names at this year’s World Cup, but with a bit of luck, the Cherry Blossoms may become one of its biggest stories.