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Top Challenge League
The Top Challenge League was a professional rugby union competition in Japan. It was the second-highest level of rugby competition in the country and is a companies league; all the teams are owned by major companies and the players are generally employees of their company. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the Top League Challenge Series in 2003 in order to give teams playing in the second-tier regional leagues a pathway to progress to the top tier Top League; this became the Top Challenge League in 2017 when a second-tier league was introduced. The competition was disbanded following the creation of the fully-professional Japan Rugby League One ahead of 2022, with the Top League and Top Challenge League being absorbed together to form one three division tournament. History For the 2003–04 season, a Top League competition was created as the top-tier competition in Japan, consisting of twelve teams. All remaining teams were placed in one of three regional leagues, as follows ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rugby Union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends. Rugby union is a popular sport around the world, played by people of all genders, ages and sizes. In 2014, there were more than 6 million people playing worldwide, of whom 2.36 million were registered players. World Rugby, previously called the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), has been the governing body for rugby union since 1886, and currently has 101 countries as full members and 18 associate members. In 1845, the first laws were written by students attending Rugby School; other significant even ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secom Rugguts
Secom Rugguts is a Japanese rugby union team founded in 1985 by SECOM. Its name is a portmanteau of "Rugger" and "Guts". The club was in the Top League for the first season of the league but was demoted at the end of the season. As the top team of the Top East league and by then coming second after Fukuoka Sanix Bombs in the three-way Top League Challenge Series, Secom got back into the Top League for the 2005-6 season but was relegated again in 2006-7. On February 10, 2008 Secom's 3-10 loss to World Fighting Bull in the Top Challenge Two series ended its challenge to return to the Top League for the 2008-9 season. Slogan for 2006 season: "Seize the day" Squad Notable players Japan * Motohiro Akagi * Kensuke Iwabuchi (Former Japan international) * Tomohiro Oinuma (currently playing for Ricoh Black Rams) * Noriyoshi Ohara (currently Iwate Morioka High School RFC coach) * Kota Kawashima (currently playing for Kintetsu Liners) * Takashi Kamio * Yoshiyuki Koike * Taka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ricoh Black Rams
Black Rams Tokyo (formerly Ricoh Black Rams) is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. Placed 10th in the 2004-2005 season which meant it had to win a play-off against one of the top regional teams to stay in the league, as it did. Slogan for 2006 season: TAFU ("Tough" in English). The acronym stands for Team, Aggression, Faith, Unity. In January 2008 it was announced that Stephen Larkham will be joining the team next season, but the team was relegated back to the Japan East League where Larkham will begin his career in Japan. In April 2008 Todd Louden was announced as head coach, to be assisted by Pote Human (''Daily Yomiuri'', April 26, 2008). The team rebranded as Black Rams Tokyo following the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One ahead of 2022. Schedule/Results 2005 February 13. Ricoh Black Rams v Toyota Jido Shokki - placed third in the Top League Challenge Series. Players Current squad The Black Rams Tokyo squad for the 2023 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2009 Top League Challenge Series
The 2009 Top League Challenge Series was the 2009 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2009–10 season. The competition was contested from 11 to 25 January 2009. Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams won promotion to the 2009–10 Top League, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and Toyota Industries Shuttles progressed to the promotion play-offs. Competition rules and information The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2. The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2009–10 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs. Qualification The teams qualifi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Fighting Bull
World Fighting Bull were a Japanese rugby union team that played in the county's Top League Japan Rugby League One (formerly the Top League) is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by absorbing the ... competition. The team was the rugby team of clothing company World Co., based in Kobe in the Kansai area of Japan. The team was founded in 1984, and spent their formative seasons playing in the Kansai League. They were one of the founding members of the Top League, playing in the inaugural season in 2003–04. The team played in the first four editions of the competition, before being relegated at the end of the 2006–07. After two more seasons playing in the Top West League, World Fighting Bull were dissolved in March 2009 after financial difficulties at World Co. Season history World Fighting Bull's record since the inception of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mazda Blue Zoomers
Skyactivs Hiroshima (formerly Mazda Blue Zoomers) are a Japanese rugby union team who compete in the Japan Rugby League One. They were formerly owned by car manufacturers Mazda based in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. The team rebranded as Skyactivs Hiroshima, dropping the Mazda name, ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Squad The Skyactivs Hiroshima squad for the 2023 season is: See also *2007–08 Top League The 2007–08 Top League was the fifth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. The Sanyo Wild Knights became the first ever team in the Top League to win all their league games, but were defeated for the Top League ti ... References External links * {{Skyactivs Hiroshima squad Sports teams in Hiroshima Prefecture Blue Zoomers Japan Rugby League One teams ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars
Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars is a Japanese rugby union team based in Musashino, Tokyo. They won promotion to the Top League for one season in 2008–09 being relegated that same season. History The team was founded as Yokogawa Denki in 1946. Squad Former players and coaches *Yoshihito Yoshida - former Japan wing * Daisuke Mori - wing three-quarter back *Radike Samo Radike Samo (born 9 July 1976 in Nadi, Fiji) is a retired Australian rugby union player. He plays lock (rugby union), lock, flanker (rugby union), flanker, number 8 and can even play on the wing. Rugby career Between 2000 and 2006 Samo played 35 ... - Australian back-row Fa'atonu Fili Signed on 2 year deal with option of 3rd External links Official Site {{Rugby union in Japan Rugby union teams in Japan Rugby clubs established in 1946 Rugby in Kantō 1946 establishments in Japan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2008 Top League Challenge Series
The 2008 Top League Challenge Series was the 2008 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2008–09 season. The competition was contested from 27 January to 10 February 2008. Kintetsu Liners and Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars won promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and World Fighting Bull progressed to the promotion play-offs. Competition rules and information The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2. The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs. Qualification ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars
also known as Mitsubishi Juko Sagamihara Rugby Club, are a Japanese rugby union team based in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The owner of this club is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The club was founded in 1981. It came second in the Top East 10 league in 2004-5 and entered the Top League (Japan Rugby)#Top League Challenge series, Top League challenge series play-off. The club won the Top East 11 league in 2006–07 and entered the Top League in 2007–08. The team was named Dynaboars (a conflation of "dynamic" and "boars") as part of their promotion to the Top League; however, they were demoted at the end of the season. The Dynaboars signed ex-Wales international and IRB World Player of the Year 2008 Shane Williams in 2012, retiring in 2014. Players Current squad The Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars squad for the 2023 season is: Former players * Simon Kasprowicz - lock * Blair Urlich - No. 8 * Kohei Matsui - center three-quarter back * Troy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2007 Top League Challenge Series
The 2007 Top League Challenge Series was the 2007 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2007–08 season. The competition was contested from 14 to 27 January 2007. Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars won promotion to the 2007–08 Top League, while Honda Heat and Kintetsu Liners progressed to the promotion play-offs. Competition rules and information The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2. The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2007–08 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs. Qualification The teams qualified to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Urayasu D-Rocks, commonly known as the D-Rocks, or the Shining Arcs, is a rugby union team owned by NTT Communications and is part of Japan's Rugby League One competition, currently in Division 2. Given the name, the team is based in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture in the Kantō region. The team has undergone sevenral ''re-brands'' throughout is history, most recently in 2022, rebranding from Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu in line with the newsly formed Japan Rugby League One competition in 2021/22, to the Urayasu D-Rocks in 2022 onwards. History and name NTT Communications RFC was founded in 1976. They won promotion to the expanded Top League of 14 teams at the end of the 2009–10 season. They made their Top League debut for the 2010–11 season. After their first season, they finished 12th place with 4 wins and 9 losses. They had to play a play-off to keep themselves in the Top League, in which they beat Canon Eagles 31–19. In the 2011–12 season, they finished in n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kintetsu Liners
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners rugby team are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kintetsu Corporation which was founded in 1929. They have won the All-Japan Championship three times as an amateur team. Their home is at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka, Japan, which was also opened in 1929. Early in 2008 Kintetsu won promotion back to the Top League for the 2008-9 season, and it was announced that former All Blacks coach Peter Sloane would be head coach. After 3 years with Peter Sloane, Ryusuke Maeda become head coach in 2011. The team rebranded as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Honours * All-Japan Championship ** Champions: 1966, 1967, 1974 ** Runner-up: 1961(NHK Cup), 1963 * Company Championship ** Champions: 1953, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1974 ** Runner-up: 1948, 1951, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1965, 1973 History Early Periods In 1927, this team was founded by some employees of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
