IBM Big Blue is a Japanese semi-professional
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 it ...
team in the
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 ...
, founded in 1976 by
IBM. The company decided to make rugby, along with
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
and
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
, one of the official company sports in 1989, which allowed the rugby club to gain support and momentum.
Big Blue won promotion from the
Japan East Ten league to the Top League at the end of the League's first season (2003-4) but was then automatically relegated by coming 12th in the second season (2004-5). The team returned to the Top League for the 2006-7 season. It is based in Chiba prefecture in the Kanto area.
The former head Coach, Ippei Onishi, is a former captain of
Kobe Kobelco Steelers. As of 2007–2008, the coach is Hiroki Ando. USA Eagle flyhalf
Mike Hercus is a notable alumnus.
Squad 2011/2012
[ ]
See also
IBM Big Blue (X-League)
The IBM Big Blue are an American football team located in the Tsukuba, Ibaraki. They are a member of the X-League.
Team history
*1976 Team founded as the IBM Thinkers.
*1977 Joined the X-League.
*1989 Team name changed to IBM Big Blue.
*1996 Wo ...
References
External links
IBM Big Blue RFC- official home page
Japanese rugby union teams
Rugby in Kantō
Rugby clubs established in 1976
Sports teams in Chiba Prefecture
Big Blue
1976 establishments in Japan
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