|
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 Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The chief architect of the league was Hiroaki Shukuzawa who strongly felt the urgency of improving Japanese domestic company rugby to a professional level which would allow Japan to compete more convincingly at Rugby World Cups. Until 2022, it was an industrial league, where many players were employees of their company and the teams were all owned by major companies. While the competition was known for paying high salaries, only world-class foreign players and a small number of Japanese players played fully professionally, which meant most of the players still played in an a ... [...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] |
Jaque Fourie
''Jaque'' (Spanish for the Chess move ''check'') was a Spanish chess magazine, published twice a month in Valencia. It started in San Sebastian in 1970 and was the Spanish leading chess magazine since then. Some of the best chess players in the world contributed to the magazine. Its last issue was published in July 2012. See also * List of magazines in Spain Magazines in Spain are varied and numerous, but they have small circulation. In terms of frequency, the Spanish magazines are mostly weekly and monthly. Although there are news magazines and political magazines in the country, they mostly focus ... References External linksJaque 1970 in chess 2012 in chess 1970 establishments in Spain 2012 disestablishments in Spain Chess periodicals Chess in Spain Defunct magazines published in Spain Magazines established in 1970 Magazines disestablished in 2012 Mass media in San Sebastián Mass media in Valencia Spanish-language magazines {{Spain-sport-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanazono 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yokohama Canon Eagles
The Yokohama Canon Eagles is a Japanese rugby union team founded in 1981 that competes in the Japan Rugby League One and is owned by Canon. The team was previously based in Machida, Tokyo, Japan. According to the official website, it was founded as Canon Rugby Team in 1980, and determined the nickname ''Eagles'' in 2010. The team moved to Yokohama ahead of the rebranding of the Top League in 2022, becoming the Yokohama Canon Eagles. Team history When the rugby team was promoted to the '' Top East regional league'', it played there for the seasons 2008-2009 through 2011-12. With season 2009-2010 the team successfully established itself with place 8 of 12 teams, the next year it was undefeated in its league, and set up to win for two consecutive seasons 2010-11 and 2011–12, both times qualifying for the ''Top Challenge'' series of the next level ''Top League'', earning the nickname ''Eagles''. In the '' 2010–11 Top Challenge'' series, the best placed regional teams from East J ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. Verblitz is a portmanteau of ''verde'' (Spanish and Portuguese for 'green') and ''blitz'' (German for 'lightning'). The team is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation and is not to be confused with the Toyota Industries Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries. It shares Toyota Stadium in the city of Toyota, Aichi with the football club Nagoya Grampus which also used to be owned by Toyota Motors. Slogan for 2006 season: 克己 ''Kokki'' (Self-Control) Honours * All-Japan Championship ** Champions: 1969, 1968, 1987 ** Runners-up: 2007 Results Verblitz (surprisingly given the team's pedigree) failed to make the cut for the first season of the Top League (2003-4) but entered the Top League in the second season and were a contender for the second Microsoft Cup. They lost the Japan Championship final on February 27, 2005, to NEC Green Rockets 13–17. Current squad The Toyota Verblitz squad for the 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro Kunda, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created, the team was called Toshiba Fuchu after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season was "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)". The team rebranded as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Honours * All-Japan Championship ** Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 (joint champions with NEC Green Rockets), 2007 * Top League: ** Champions: 2004-05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009-10 Current squad The Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo squad for the 2023 season is: * * d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokyo Sungoliath
Tokyo Sungoliath (formerly known as Suntory Sungoliath) is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus. The team rebranded as Tokyo Sungoliath ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Suntory coached by Katsuyuki Kiyomiya won the Microsoft Cup on February 24, 2008 by defeating Sanyo Wild Knights in a close and exciting game, 14-10. Suntory therefore became the champion of the Top League for the 2007–08 season. On June 18, 2008 it was announced that George Gregan, the most-capped player in the sport's history, had joined the club on a two-year contract.Daily Yomiuri June 19, 2008) Gregan remained with the club until he announced his retirement at the end of the 2010–11 season. Honours * All-Japan Championship ** Champions: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2011, 2012 ** Runner-up: 2008 * Microsoft Cup ** Champi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shizuoka Blue Revs
Shizuoka Blue Revs (formerly the Yamaha Júbilo) are a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League (2004–05). They were coached by former All Black Grant Batty and Fijian player-coach Tabai Matson. Founded in 1984, its name was "Yamaha Motors Rugby Football Club". The team rebranded as the Shizuoka Blue Revs ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese, which has had a notable influence on the Japanese language. Current squad The Shizuoka Blue Revs squad for the 2023 season is: * * denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds. Former players *Siale Piutau (centre, wing) - 2012-2017 *Jerry Collins (flanker, number 8) - 2011–2013 seasons *Brendan Laney (fly half, centre, full back) - joined March 2005 *Leon MacDonald (fly half, full back) - ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu
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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka is a Japanese rugby union team owned by NTT DoCoMo. They qualified for the 2011–12 season and finished 12th place overall. The team rebranded in 2022, ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One 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 .... Squad The NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka squad for the 2023 season is: References External links * {{NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka squad Japan Rugby League One teams Nippon Telegraph and Telephone NTT Docomo 1993 establishments in Japan Rugby clubs established in 1993 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay
Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay (commonly known as the Kubota Spears) is a Japanese rugby union team based in Funabashi, Chiba participating in the Japan Rugby League One. The team rebranded as Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay ahead of the rebranding of the Top League as the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Current squad The Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay squad for the 2023 season is: * * denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds. Former players * Willie Ofahengaue * Joe Roff - Fullback/Wing * Barrie-Jon Mather - Centre/Wing * Marty Veale - Lock * Kōtarō Nakamura - Wing/Fullback * Jason O'Halloran * Cameron Pither * Shunji Ishikura - Lock * Joshua Fuimaono * Justin Sampson Justin "Sambo" Sampson (born 2 September 1966) is a sports television personality, professional speaker and former Australian rugby union player. Sampson has played representative rugby with New South Wales Country and North Harbour. He was ... ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kobelco Kobe Steelers
The Kobelco Kobe Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-2004 season. The team rebranded as Kobelco Kobe Steelers ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Honours * Top League: ** Champions: 2003–04, 2018-19 Personnel Current management team Current squad The current Kobelco Kobe Steelers squad for the 2023 season is: * * denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds. Past players Japanese players * Toshiyuki Hayashi * Ian Williams * Seiji Hirao * Yuya Saito * Kensuke Iwabuchi * Daisuke Ohata * Andrew Miller Foreign players * Brodie Retallick * Andy Ellis * Dan Carter * Adam Ashley-Cooper * Aaron Cruden * Andries Bekker * Jacque Fourie * Ron Cribb * Dave Bickle * Mark Egan * Simon Wensley * Pierre Hola Pierre Hola (born 9 June 1978) is an Austral ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
