RiJ Vol

RiJ Vol.6 No.29

July 21, 2009

Contact Ian McDonnell at all.4.one@hotmail.com

Contents:

¡ 2009 Spring international Season Review

s Tests Played

s Caps

s Scorers

¡ The Grubber Kick:

s IRB Ranking: 14 (13 July 2009)

s Backchat:

¡ The Draw:

s IRB Announcements for RWCs 2015 & 2019: 8 days to go!

s 2009-10 Top League: Season Starts on 4 September 2009

s Tokyo Bledisloe Cup: 31 October 2009

s Canada: to Tour Japan in November 2009

s Etc

RiJ is wrapping things up before summer break over August. In this issue, RiJ reviews the eight tests played over the 2009 spring international season for Japan with a look at the results, players used and the point scorers. Then, of course, there are only EIGHT days to go before the big announcements for the 2015 and 2019 RWCs. As RiJ has now been saying for months, let it be England and Japan.

PS: RiJ is having the month of August off, so please take note.

2009 Spring International Season Review:

April to July 2009.

Japan played eight tests in the 2009 spring international season for five wins and three losses.

HSBC Asian Five Nations 2009

Japan 87 d Kazakhstan 10, Sunday, 25 April 2009, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No. 242)

Japan 59 d Hong Kong 6, Sunday, 2 May 2009, Hong Kong. (Test No. 243)

Japan 80 d Korea 9, Sunday, 16 May 2009, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No. 244)

Japan 45 d Singapore 15, Sunday, 23 May 2009, Singapore. (Test No. 245)

Queensland Reds 24 d Japan XV 17, Wednesday,10 June 2009, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane. (Non-test)

2009 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup

Samoa 34 d Japan 15, Thursday, 18 June 2009, Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, Fiji. (Test No. 246)

Junior All Blacks 52 d Japan 21, Tuesday, 23 June 2009, Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji. (Test No. 247)

Japan 21 d Tonga 19, Saturday, 27 June 2009, Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji. (Test No. 248)

Fiji 40 d Japan 39, Friday, 3 July 2009, National Stadium, Suva, Fiji. (Test No. 249)

Japan Players Used in the 2009 Spring International Season

Below is a list of the players used in the eight tests played in the 2009 spring international season. Four tests were played in the HSBC Asian Five Nations and a further four tests were played in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup. It should be noted that the game against the Junior All Blacks in the PNC counted as a full test for Japan with caps awarded accordingly. A Japan XV side also played the Queensland Reds at Ballymore on the way to Fiji for the PNC, but this was a non-test match.

The table lists the eight tests in chronological order, that is, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Singapore in the A5N and Samoa, Junior All Blacks, Tonga and Fiji in the PNC. This is followed by a cap sub-total for the two tournaments and finally the total cap count for each player. Column numbers for the tests indicate jersey numbers worn by players. A number in brackets indicates unused reserve player and thus no cap awarded. A dash indicates the player did not play in that game. The captain for each match is indicated by (c).

Captain and No8 Takashi Kikutani started in all eight games, while prop Hiroshi Yamashita also saw game time in all eight games.

No player debuted during the PNC but 7 players made their international debuts during the A5N. That is, props Yamashita and Shinsuke Nakamura, hookers Tateo Kanai and Yoshimitsu Yasue, loose forwards Toetu’u Taufa and Masakazu Toyota and wing/fullback Jack Tarrant.

Wing Hirotoki Onozawa is the most capped player in the current squad with 52 caps. Onozawa passed a personal milestone against Korea in the A5N series this year becoming only the fourth Japanese player to earn fifty caps for Japan behind former centre Yukio Motoki (79), former No8 Takeomi Ito (62) and former wing Daisuke Ohata (58). Lock Hitoshi Ono is the next most capped player with 35 caps. Captain Takashi Kikutani is gaining invaluable experience as leader after he captained Japan in all eight spring tests this year, following on from his two tests as captain against the USA last November (2008).

A total of 33 players were used by Japan in the 2009 spring internationals.

Name	Club	Age	Kaz	HK	Kor	Sin	Sam	JAB	Ton	Fiji	Sub	Caps
Hisateru HIRASHIMA	Kobe	26	1	-	1	-	1	1	1	1	6	8
Naoki KAWAMATA	Sanyo	23	-	1	17	-	-	-	-	-	2	3
Shinsuke NAKAMURA	Nihon Univ.	21	17	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	2
Yusuke AOKI	Suntory	25	2	-	(16)	2	2	2	2	2	6	18
Tateo KANAI	Suntory	24	16	2	-	16	(16)	16	(16)	(16)	4	4
Yoshimitsu YASUE	Kobe	24	-	16	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	2
Hiroshi YAMASHITA	Kobe	23	3	17	3	17	3	17	17	17	8	8
Kensuke HATAKEYAMA	Suntory	23	-	3	-	3	17	3	3	3	6	8
Luke THOMPSON	Kintetsu	28	5	(18)	4	-	4	-	4	4	5	18
Toshizumi KITAGAWA	Toyota	28	4	-	5	(18)	5	5	5	5	6	23
Hitoshi ONO	Toshiba	31	(19)	4	-	4	18	4	18	(18)	5	35
Yuji KITAGAWA	Sanyo	22	-	5	18	5	-	18	-	-	4	5
Phil O’REILLY	Yokogawa	28	6	(19)	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	9
Michael LEITCH	Tokai Univ.	20	18	6	6	-	6	6	-	-	5	7
Masakazu TOYOTA	Coca-Cola	23	-	-	-	19	19	19	6	6	5	5
Yoshitaka NAKAYAMA	Toyota	26	-	7	7	7	-	-	19	19	5	11
Toetu’u TAUFA	Kintetsu	28	8	-	19	8	7	7	7	7	7	7
Takashi KIKUTANI	Toyota	29	7(c)	8(c)	8(c)	6(c)	8(c)	8(c)	8(c)	8(c)	8	26
Fumiaki TANAKA	Sanyo	24	20	9	-	9	9	-	9	9	6	14
Tomoki YOSHIDA	Toshiba	27	-	(20)	9	(20)	20	9	(20)	(20)	3	18
Yuki YATOMI	Yamaha	24	9	-	20	-	-	20	-	-	3	12
Shaun WEBB	Coca-Cola	27	10	(21)	10	(21)	10	-	15	15	5	14
James ARLIDGE	Newport (Wales)	29	-	-	-	-	21	10	10	10	4	14
Tatsuhiko OTAO	Yamaha	27	21	10	21	10	-	21	21	-	6	7
Hirotoki ONOZAWA	Suntory	31	11	11	11	-	11	-	11	-	5	52
Ryan NICHOLAS	Suntory	30	-	12	12	(22)	12	12	12	12	6	15
Koji TAIRA	Suntory	26	-	13	-	13	13	13	22	13	6	17
Yuta IMAMURA	Kobe	23	12	-	13	12	22	22	13	14	7	27
Bryce ROBINS	NEC	28	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	22
Koji TOMIOKA	NTT Docomo	29	-	-	22	11	14	11	-	(22)	4	6
Hiroki YOSHIDA	Toshiba	27	14	14	-	14	-	-	-	-	3	7
Jack TARRANT	JRFU	29	22	15	15	-	15	14	14	11	7	7
Ayumu GOROMARU	Yamaha	23	15	22	14	15	-	15	-	(21)	5	9

At the completion of the 2009 spring international season, Japan head coach John Kirwan has coached the national side in 31 tests, for 15 wins, a draw and 15 losses. JK officially took up the appointment as national coach on 1 January 2007, taking over from Frenchmen Jean-Pierre Elissalde.

Japan Point Scorers in the 2009 Spring International Season

Below is a list of the point scorers for Japan in the eight tests played during the 2009 spring international season.

Inside centre Ryan Nicholas was the leading point scorer over the season with 58 points from 2 tries, 21 conversions and 2 penalties. Five-eight or fullback Shaun Webb was next on 54 points from 6 tries and 12 conversions. Fullback/wing Jack Tarrant was the leading try scorer with seven 5-pointers.

Name	T	C	P	Total
Ryan NICHOLAS	2	21	2	58
Shaun WEBB	6	12	-	54
Jack TARRANT	7	-	-	35
Hirotoki ONOZAWA	6	-	-	30
Takashi KIKUTANI	6	-	-	30
Yuta IMAMURA	4	-	-	20
Ayumu GOROMARU	3	2	-	19
James ARLIDGE	-	2	4	16
Hiroki YOSHIDA	1	5	-	15
Hitoshi ONO	3	-	-	15
Kensuke HATAKEYAMA	2	-	-	10
Yusuke AOKI	2		-	10
Koji TAIRA	2	-	-	10
Bryce ROBINS	1	-	-	5
Yoshitaka NAKAMURA	1	-	-	5
Naoki KAWAMATA	1	-	-	5
Yuki YATOMI	1	-	-	5
Luke THOMPSON	1	-	-	5
Michael LEITCH	1	-	-	5
Fumiaki TANAKA	1	-	-	5
Masakazu TOYOTA	1	-	-	5
Toetu’u TAUFA	1	-	-	5
TOTALS	53	42	6	367

The Grubber Kick

The Grubber Kick brings the reader weekly news shorts, gossip and general happenings from the world of Rugby in Japan.

IRB ranking on 13 July 2009 - Japan was 14 (68.37).

Backchat:

The Draw

The Draw gives the reader future dates for the diary and other great things to look forward to in Rugby in Japan.

IRB RWCs 2015 and 2019:

Including today, there are 8 days till the announcements are made at IRB HQ in Dublin on 28 July 2009.

The JRFU held a press conference on 2 March 2009 to outline its thought on the 2015 and 2019 bids. In attendance were Chairman Yoshiro Mori, Vice-Chairman Noboru Mashimo and world record test scorer of tries Daisuke Ohata (69 tries from 58 tests). Mashimo noted that at this stage, England has come out of the blocks hard with its bid for 2015 and Australia, SA and Italy are firming for 2019. Further, Japan is balking at the tournament fee the IRB requires the host nation to cough up for the rights. For 2015, the price is 80 million pounds and for 2019, it is 96 million pounds. Japan is not in a position to receive government financial assistance or guarantees for such events under law so the Union will be scratching its collective head on how to raise the dough. England and the RFU received a boost for their solo bid with the support of PM Gordon Brown on 19 February 2009. South Africa (3 February 2009) and Italy (28 February 2009) have received guarantees of financial backing from their respective governments.

On 13 March 2009, the talk coming out of England was a joint bid for 2015 with Scotland, Ireland and Wales in order to cover the 80m pound tournament fee. The issue is political though as the RFU still favours the solo bid but government ministers are looking at the broader funding base.

Mashimo further noted that the call to make the bid as Asian RWC rather than solely a Japan based tournament has a lot of merit. He also hinted at the inclusion of teams from Hong Kong, Korea and China playing in Top League sometime in the future. In looking to the future Mashimo also put emphasis on youth rugby, noting that Japan will host the IRB U20 Junior World Championship this June. He also indicated that the rugby playing population was on the increase at about 5-7% PA. The current playing population stood at about 125,000 and is expected to project to 200,000 by 2015.

Eight Unions are bidding for 2015 (Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Wales) while the number bidding for 2019 (Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Wales) has been reduced to seven with the withdrawal of Russia on 16 February 2009.

In these constrained economic times, Tokyo is also bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics while soccer is bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to be held in Japan. Thus, rugby has a lot of competition for the corporate yen, particularly given the fact that the Japanese government will not back the financial costs of the RWC. However, the Japan Union is supporting the Tokyo 2016 Olympic bid, particularly if rugby sevens can be included.

On Tuesday, 7 April 2009, the Japan government offered its full support for the Japan bidding process. Although this does not equate to total financial backing the governmental support in nonetheless highly significant. Prime Minister Taro Aso has also joined the bid committee.

On Thursday, 9 April 2009 the JRFU announced that a RWC in Japan would include games in Singapore and Hong Kong, and possibly also Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul.

IRB representatives chairman Bernard Lapasset, chief executive and general secretary Mike Miller and RWC head Kit McConnell visited Japan in mid April 2009.

The Bid Outlines.

Then there were FOUR. By early May 2009, England, Italy, Japan and South Africa were the last ones standing in the bidding process for 2015, while Italy, Japan and South Africa were also in it for 2019. Australia was the latest casualty with the ARU withdrawing from the process because they could not justify the high costs demanded by the IRB. The four countries submitted their formal tenders to the IRB by the deadline of 5PM on 8 May 2009 and outlined their bids to the IRB Council in Dublin on 13 May 2009. Yoshiro Mori, Noboru Mashimo, John Kirwan and Claude XXXX (Ache??) made up the Japan representatives at the presentation. The presentations were conducted in alphabetical order for the countries involved with each bidding Union given 30 minutes to outline their bid. Mashimo emphasised that the rugby market in Asia cannot be ignored and also that the JRFU had learned a lot since its failed bid to host 2011. Kirwan used the Apollo phrase of a small step for the IRB but a giant step for Asian rugby.

A Tender for Asia.

The JRFU is setting the bar high in its bid to host the RWC. The Japan Union is aiming to have Japan in the quarterfinals at the 2015 RWC while on the domestic front, the Union is aiming to increase the rugby playing population from its present 125,000 up to 200,000. Furthermore, the Union is aiming to have an average of 40,000 people at domestic rugby internationals.

The model schedule for 2015 would see the RWC run from 4 September 2015 to 18 October 2015, while 2019 would run from 6 September 2019 to 20 October 2019.

The stadia involved would include the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, the National Stadium and the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, the Yurtec Stadium in Sendai, the Level Five Stadium in Fukuoka, the Toyota Stadium in Nagoya, the Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido and the Homes Stadium in Kobe. Furthermore, ten pool games would also be played in Hong Kong and Singapore.

RWCL

The plot thickens. On 30 June 2009, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) chairman Bernard Lapasset recommended to the IRB council that it should be England for 2015 and Japan for 2019. Lapasset put it this way, “England would allow the IRB to maximise investment while Japan would provide further development and expansion in Asia.”

Summer in Sugadaira

Of course, a summer of rugby in Japan would not be complete without a natsu gashuku (summer camp) in the mountains of Sugadaira in Nagano prefecture. The cool highland area is about 1,200 metres above sea level and it literally lives and breathes rugby over July, August and September with everything from rugby festivals, rugby jamborees and trial matches for the Japan schoolboys side taking place. That is not to mention, universities, companies and clubs that join the pilgrimage to the rugby Mecca of Japan at this time of the year. This year will also celebrate the tenth anniversary of Sania Park with Teikyo University taking on Meiji University on 22 August while Waseda and Hosei play on 23 August.

2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League:

The seventh season of Top League kicks off on Friday, fourth September 2009 with a night game at Chichibu in Tokyo between the finalists from last season in Toshiba and Sanyo.

Bledisloe Cup:

ARU CEO John O’Neill announced on 20 April 2009 that along with a rare Grand Slam tour in November, the Wallabies would also play a fourth Bledisloe Cup game for 2009 in Tokyo at the 57,000 seat National Stadium on 31 October 2009. Although the deal was not yet set in concrete it was “virtually done and dusted” he said. The above details were confirmed on Thursday, 25 June 2009. On 30 June 2009, the JRFU formally announced the deal at a news conference as the Bledisloe in Tokyo news took off around the rugby world. NZRU CE, Steve Tew and ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll were at the Tokyo news conference.

Super Powers Cup??:

There was the persistent rumour of the revival of the concept of the Super Powers Cup involving Japan, the USA, Canada and Russia for the November window, but with Canada touring Japan for two tests in November the SPC now seems to be dead in the water.

Canada Tour to Japan 2009

On 6 July 2009 the Japan Rugby Football Union announced that Canada would tour Japan for two test matches in November 2009. The tour is to be known as the Lipovitan D Challenge 2009 with Taisho Pharmaceuticals the official sponsor. Meanwhile, Canterbury of New Zealand Japan and Coca-Cola West are the official suppliers for the series. The first test will be played at the Yurtec Stadium in Sendai City in north-eastern Japan, while the second test will be held in Tokyo.

First Test: Japan v Canada, Sunday, 15 November 2009, kick-off at 2:00 PM, Yurtec Stadium, Sendai.

Second Test: Japan v Canada, Saturday, 21 November 2009, kick-off at 2:00 PM, Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

In July 2009 the Emperor and Empress of Japan toured Canada to mark the 80^th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1929. Canada and Japan also have deep rugby links with the first tour by the Japan national side taking place to Canada in 1930. Japan played their first official test on that tour, a 3-all draw against British Columbia in Vancouver on September 24. Canada reciprocated in 1932 as the first country to visit Japan on a full test match tour. Japan beat Canada in the two tests played, winning 9-8 at the Hanazono Ground in Osaka on January 31 and then winning 38-5 at the Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on February 11.

Previous Encounters:

Japan and Canada or British Columbia have met on 24 previous occasions with Japan winning 11, Canada/British Columbia 9 and there have been three draws.

Japan 12 drew with Canada 12, Tuesday, 25 September 2007, Bordeaux, 6^th RWC. (Test No.230)

Canada 15 d Japan 10, 29 May 2005, Chichibu, Tokyo, Super Cup final. (Test No.205)

Japan 34 d Canada 21, 30 May 2004, Chichibu, Tokyo, Super Powers Cup final. (Test No.195)

Japan 39 d Canada 7, 8 July 2001, Chichibu, Tokyo, 6^th PRC, play-off for 3^rd. (Test No.174)

Canada 62 d Japan 18, 15 July 2000, Toronto, 5^th PRC. (Test No.167)

Japan 23 d Canada 21, 1 May 1999, Chichibu, Tokyo, 4^th PRC. (Test No.153)

Canada 34 d Japan 25, 20 June 1998, Vancouver, 3^rd PRC. (Test No.147)

Canada 30 d Japan 22, 3 May 1998, Chichibu, Tokyo, 3^rd PRC. (Test No.142)

Canada 42 d Japan 18, 14 June 1997, Vancouver, 2^nd PRC. (Test No.140)

Japan 32 d Canada 31, 18 May 1997, Chichibu, Tokyo, 2^nd PRC. (Test No.137)

Canada 51 d Japan 30, 13 July 1996, Vancouver, 1^st PRC. (Test No.134)

Canada 45 d Japan 18, 9 June 1996, Chichibu, Tokyo, 1^st Pacific Rim Championship (PRC). (Test No.131)

Canada 49 d Japan 26, 11 May 1991, Vancouver. (Test No.110)

Japan 26 d Canada 21, 7 June 1986, Vancouver. (Test No.89)

Japan 16 d Canada 6, 18 April 1982, Chichibu, Tokyo. (Test No.72)

Japan 24 d Canada 18, 11 April 1982, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No.71)

British Columbia 38 d Japan 7, 12 May 1976, Vancouver. (Test No.51)

Japan 32 d British Columbia 3, 22 March 1970, Chichibu, Tokyo. (Test No.31)

Japan 33 d British Columbia 6, 13 April 1963, Vancouver. (Test No.22)

Japan 11 drew with Canada (British Columbia) 11, 22 March 1959, Chichibu, Tokyo. (Test No.19)

Canada (British Columbia) 21 d Japan 17, 15 March 1959, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No.18)

Japan 38 d Canada 5, 11 February 1932, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo. (Test No.3)

Japan 9 d Canada 8, 31 January 1932, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No.2)

Japan 3 drew with British Columbia 3, 24 September 1930, Vancouver. (Test No.1)

Sevens

East Asia Championship to be held in Hong Kong in December 2009. The IRB is pushing for the abbreviated form of the game to be included in the Summer Olympics programme and as part of this there is talk of cancelling the Sevens RWC and moving it into the Olympics with the proviso that players must have the nationality of the country they are representing. The JRFU announced an expanded 40-man Sevens squad on 12 June 2009 under head coach Wataru Murata.