RiJ Vol.6 No.32

September 8, 2009

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Contents:

ˇ       Japan Rugby Top League 2009-10

s     Round One Results

ˇ       Changes to Top League for 2009-10

ˇ       2009-10 Top League Team Profiles

s     (2) Sanyo Wild Knights

 

RiJ brings the reader the results of the first round of Top League for the 2009-10 season. Further, RiJ outlines some of the changes to Top League for the new season. RiJ also continues with Top League team profiles with Sanyo Wild Knights the second cab off the rank.

 

 

 

TOP LEAGUE

 

2009-10 Round 1 Results

 

 

Round 1

Date

K/O

Teams

Score

Teams

Ground

Fri, 4 September

19:30

Sanyo (2Ts)

24-18

Toshiba (2Ts)

Chichibu, Tokyo

Sat, 5 September

17:00

Ricoh (2Ts)

23-15

Honda (2Ts)

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

19:00

NEC (1T)

11-29

Kubota (3Ts)

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

18:00

Toyota

18-18

Yamaha

Mizuho, Nagoya

 

18:00

Kobe (2Ts)

24-24

Suntory (3Ts)

Nagai, Osaka

 

17:00

Coca-Cola (1T)

19-12

Kintetsu

Level 5, Fukuoka

 

19:00

Sanix (3Ts)

25-15

Kyuden (2Ts)

Level 5, Fukuoka

 


 

Round One Wrap-up

In the opening game of the 2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League season defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus lost to Sanyo Wild Knights 24-18 in a re-run of the 2009 Microsoft Cup final. Toshiba took that final 17-6, but the slate was wiped clean over the off-season as the two finalists opened the new season under lights at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Friday night. This one was a tight affair as both sides tried to get their respective seasons off to a winning start. Sanyo got out to an early 13-0 lead but this was gradually pegged back over the remainder of the first half with Toshiba eventually taking a 15-13 lead into the break. However, Sanyo regained their momentum in the second half to blow out the score line to 24-15 late in the game before Toshiba five-eighth David Hill kicked a late penalty to salvage a losing bonus point for his side. Sanyo fullback Atsushi Tanabe got his side the victory on the back of his goal-kicking with a conversion and four penalties.

 

The remaining six round one games were all set down to be played on the Saturday. To start with, in the first game of a double-header back at Chichibu, Ricoh Black Rams and Honda Heat faced off as the two new sides in the league this season with Ricoh taking the honours 23-15. Honda are playing in Top League for the very first time and there was no room for stage fright against the Rams in what turned out to be a close tussle. Both sides kicked a penalty apiece in the first half with the score locked at 3-all at halftime. However, the game opened up in the second half with Stephen Larkham scoring the opening try of the match immediately after the recommencement of play. Honda once again levelled things up at 10-all through a try to wing Akihito Yamada and then briefly grabbed the lead after halfback Young-Han Yang nabbed the second try for his team. However, Ricoh finished the stronger with a try to wing Daisuke Komatsu and a conversion and a penalty to five-eighth Yoshimitsu Kawano during the period Honda had two players sinbinned.

 

In the second game at Chichibu, NEC Green Rockets battled fellow Chiba based side Kubota Spears. NEC beat Kubota 21-14 in their encounter last season but the tables were turned on this occasion with Kubota getting their revenge with a convincing 29-11 win. NEC took an early lead after Nili Latu touched down for the Rockets but Kubota five-eighth Shane Drahm narrowed the gap with a penalty and when new boy Mike Broadhurst scored the opening try for the Spears, NEC never regained the lead. Kubota held a slim 10-8 lead at the end of the first half but they gradually extended this margin over the course of the second stanza. Kubota scored a total of three tries with Drahm also contributing a conversion, three penalties and a drop goal.

 

At the Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Toyota Verblitz hosted Yamaha Jubilo. Both these sides had seasons to forget last year with Toyota finishing eighth and Yamaha seventh and so it was crucial to come away from this encounter with a win. However, Toyota and Yamaha ended up playing out an 18-all draw in one of two draws between top sides in the opening round. In a tryless affair dominated by the boot, Dustin Cooper kicked five penalties for Toyota with Orene Ai’i back in the ranks this season chipping in with a drop goal, while Ayumu Goromaru kicked six penalties for Yamaha. The scores were deadlocked at 9-all at the break with both sides doubling their respective scores in the second half. Toyota had some late chances to steal the game with cooper missing a penalty and a drop goal while Ai’i missed another attempted drop goal. Yamaha also had two players sinbinned throughout the game, but Toyota could not take advantage of the situation.

 

In an evening game at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Suntory Sungoliath played out a 24-all draw with Kobe Steelers. Suntory and Kobe finished third and fourth respectively last season and for Kobe this was something of a grudge match as Suntory soundly beat the Steelers 67-3 in the corresponding game last season. Suntory are brimming with talent but Kobe are a team based on a deep sense of pride and so this made for an exciting encounter. This game also gave Japan its first look at Kobe wing Fraser Anderson who recently switched to rugby from the NRL in Australia. Suntory finished the first half with a flourish scoring a converted try and a penalty to go to the halftime break leading 17-12. Suntory then extended the lead to 24-12 inside the opening minute of the second half when wing Hirotoki Onozawa scored the third try of the match for his team with centre Ryan Nicholas adding the extras. However, that was to be the end of the scoring for the Sungoliath as Kobe started their fight back. Fullback Thinus Delport kicked one penalty and five-eighth Kyohei Morita added another three, including his last attempt in the 41st minute of the half to salvage the draw.

 

In the first of two games played at the Level Five Stadium in Fukuoka, Coca-Cola West Red Sparks beat Kintetsu Liners 19-12. Kintetsu had the better of Coca-Cola last year when the Liners won the round two clash 18-14 and again fans got a similar kind of close tussle. Coca-Cola struggled to pick up bonus points last season and this hurt them somewhat at the end of the season and so the Red Sparks were trying to run the ball more this game, especially with Japan national player Shaun Webb now in their ranks. Playing at fullback Webb significantly contributed to the win with one conversion and four penalties. Kintetsu scored all their points through former IBM fullback Tadanobu Ko who kicked two penalties in each half. Kintetsu star recruit former All Black Leon MacDonald did not play in this match.

 

In the latter game at Fukuoka, the Sanix Blues beat Kyuden Voltex 25-15 in an all-Kyushu derby. Both these sides had to run the gauntlet of the promotion and relegation play-offs last season but survived to retain their places in Top League. Kyuden only produced three wins in 2008-9 but one of those was at the expense of Sanix when they stormed home 36-3. However, Voltex could not rest on their laurels as the Blues were out for revenge in this clash. As for Sanix, they started last season in fine form winning three of their first four games but then went on to lose all of their last nine games, so the pressure was on for a first up win. The pressure must have worked as the Blues never surrendered the lead with the score blowing out to 22-8 by the hour mark. Kyuden replacement forward Tom McVerry scored a late try with Nigel Staniforth kicking the conversion to narrow the gap but it was not enough with Sanix running out comfortable 25-15 winners.

 

 

2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League Round One

 

Team

P

W

L

D

F

A

Diff

BP1

BP2

Pts

1

Kubota

1

1

0

0

29

11

18

-

-

4

2

Sanix

1

1

0

0

25

15

10

-

-

4

3

Ricoh

1

1

0

0

23

15

8

-

-

4

4

Coca-Cola

1

1

0

0

19

12

7

-

-

4

5

Sanyo

1

1

0

0

24

18

6

-

-

4

6

Kobe

1

0

0

1

24

24

0

-

-

2

7

Suntory

1

0

0

1

24

24

0

-

-

2

8

Yamaha

1

0

0

1

18

18

0

-

-

2

9

Toyota

1

0

0

1

18

18

0

-

-

2

10

Toshiba

1

0

1

0

18

24

-6

-

1

1

11

Kintetsu

1

0

1

0

12

19

-7

-

1

1

12

Honda

1

0

1

0

15

23

-8

-

-

0

13

Kyuden

1

0

1

0

15

25

-10

-

-

0

14

NEC

1

0

1

0

11

29

-18

-

-

0

Four points for win, two for draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).

The top four finishers qualify for the Microsoft Cup 2010, the finals series for the 2009-10 Top League season.

The top four finishers automatically qualify for the 47th National Championship 2010 with the teams that finish 5th to 10th playing off to determine the final 2 Top League teams.

The bottom two finishers are automatically relegated to regional leagues for the 2010-11 season.

The teams that finish 11th and 12th go through the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers to retain their places in Top League for 2010-11.

 

 

Leading Point Scorers

Yamaha’s Ayumu Goromaru sits on top of the point scorers list after round one with 18 points.

 

 

Name

Team

T

G

PG

DG

Pts

1

Ayumu Goromaru

Yamaha

-

-

6

-

18

2

Dustin Cooper

Toyota

-

-

5

-

15

3

Shane Drahm

Kubota

-

1

3

1

14

3

Atsushi Tanabe

Sanyo

-

1

4

-

14

3

Shaun Webb

Coca-Cola

-

1

4

-

14

6

Yoshimitsu Kawano

Ricoh

-

2

3

-

13

7

Tadanobu Ko

Kintetsu

-

-

4

-

12

8

Kosei Ono

Sanix

-

2

2

-

10

9

Kyohei Morita

Kobe

-

-

3

-

9

9

Ryan Nicholas

Suntory

-

3

1

-

9

11

David Hill

Toshiba

-

1

2

0

8

 

 

 

Changes to Japan Rugby Top League for 2009-10

There are some slight changes to Japan Rugby Top league for the 2009-10 season as detailed below.

 

The Number of Overseas Players

From the 2003-04 season to the 2007-8 season only two overseas players were allowed on the field at any one time for each team participating in Japan Rugby Top League. Last year, in the 2008-9 season the number of overseas players allowed on the field at any one time for each team was increased from two to three players.

 

This year, in the 2009-10 season the number of overseas players allowed on the field at any one time for each team remains at three players, however, some new restrictions have been introduced. For the 2009-10 season, one of the three overseas players must have already represented Japan, be currently eligible to represent Japan or eligible to represent Japan in the future.

 

For a non-Japanese player to be eligible to represent Japan that player must have been born in Japan, have at least one parent or grandparent who is Japanese or have played and lived in Japan for the necessary qualifying period of three years.

 

Non-Japanese players who have represented another country at Test level and have been accorded cap status are not eligible to represent Japan. Furthermore, non-Japanese players who have represented another country at A level, that is, the representative level immediately below test level are also not eligible to represent Japan. Finally, non-Japanese players who have represented another country at Sevens level are also not eligible to represent Japan.

 

Non-Japanese players who have taken out Japanese citizenship are not included in this quota.

 

Teams are allowed to field one player from a member Union of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) outside the above restrictions on overseas players. That Asian player may have represented another country at Test, A or Sevens levels as long as that country is an ARFU member Union.

 

Qualification for the National Championship

Last year in the 2008-9 season, the top six finishers on the final Japan Rugby Top League table after the completion of all thirteen rounds automatically qualified for the National Championship. However, for the 2009-10 season, the top four finishers on the Japan Rugby Top League table automatically qualify for the National Championship with the teams that finish 5th to 10th playing off to determine the remaining two Top League qualifiers.

 

 

三洋電機ワイルドナイツ

Top League Profiles 2009-10: (2) Sanyo Wild Knights

 

http://jp.sanyo.com/social/rugby/

 

Established: Sanyo Rugby was established in 1960 and entered the Kanto Company League in 1963 in Division 4. Throughout the 1960s Sanyo worked their way up through the divisions to Division 1 in 1968. Over the subsequent few decades Sanyo were runners-up in the Corporate Championship a remarkable 8 times, while only taking the title once, in 1996 (Albeit shared with Suntory when the final was a 27-all draw). Higher success eluded the club until they won back-to-back National Championship titles in 2008 and 2009. They are not a team to be ignored and anything could again be possible this season. Sanyo jumped from seventh on the table in the first two years of TL to second the following year and were unlucky not to take the title. Three years ago, Sanyo fell off the pace slightly to finish just outside the final four in fifth place. In 2007-8 Sanyo topped the TL table undefeated but lost to Suntory in the Microsoft Cup final before winning the 2008 National Championship. 2008-9 was a similar story with Sanyo finishing second on the table before losing the Microsoft Cup final to Toshiba and then winning the National Championship. Sanyo rugby are based in Ota city in Gunma prefecture with the superb ground, clubhouse and facilities developed over the late nineties. In 2009 the Sanyo company was acquired by Panasonic and as such the long term future of Sanyo rugby remains to be seen. The team slogan for 2009-10 is “Sharpen the Sword. One Life, One Cut.”.

 

The Company: electrical and electronics maker.

 

Titles:

Top League

From the 2003-4 season to the 2005-6 season the team that finished on top of the table claimed the Top League (TL) title. From the 2006-7 season to present, the top four finishers on the TL ladder progress to the Microsoft Cup, the play-off series to determine the overall TL champion.

2008-9 (14 teams): 2nd on 58 points with 12 wins & 1 loss.

2007-8 (14 teams): 1st on 64 points with 13 straight wins.

2006-7 (14 teams): 5th on 43 points with 8 wins & 5 losses.

2005-6 (12 teams): 2nd on 42 points with 9 wins & 2 losses.

2004-5 (12 teams): 7th on 24 points with 4 wins & 7 losses.

2003-4 (12 teams): 7th on 24 points with 4 wins, 1 draw & 6 losses.

 

Microsoft Cup

From 2007 the Microsoft Cup (MC) has acted as the play-off finals series to determine the overall Top League (TL) champion with the top four finishers on the TL ladder progressing to the MC. From 2004 to 2006 the MC was a separate knock-out tournament for the top 8 finishers in TL.

2009: Runner-up. Beat Suntory 32-22 in semi-final, then lost to Toshiba 17-6 in the final.

2008: Runner-up. Beat Toshiba 25-21 in semi-final, then lost to Suntory 14-10 in the final.

2007: DNQ.

2006: Surprise defeat by Kubota 40-24 in first round.

2005: Lost to Toyota in first round 41-21.

2004: Beat Kubota 39-31 in first round only to lose 36-34 to Toshiba in semi-final.

 

National Championship – Twice (2008 and 2009).

2009 (10 teams): Champions. Beat Ricoh 59-3 in semi-final then beat Suntory 24-16 in the final.

2008 (8 teams): Champions. Beat Toyota 25-24 in semi-final then beat Suntory 40-18 in the final.

2007 (8 teams): DNQ.

2006 (8 teams): Came in as second seed but knocked out by NEC 24-16 in their only appearance.

2005 (8 teams): DNQ.

2004 (22 teams): Knocked out by Toyota 44-14 in their only appearance.

 

Corporate Championship (pre Top League era – 1949~2003) – once (1996 – joint premiers with Suntory after final tied at 27-all) & runners-up 8 times (1997, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1981, 1980, 1978 and 1976).

 

Colours: red jersey with black flashes through the flanks, black shorts and socks. Second strip is all white with red flashes.

 

Style of Play: Interestingly, Sanyo finished in the same 7th position on the same 24 points in the first 2 seasons of TL. However, they shot to prominence the following year only to fade at the end of the season to finish runner-up to Toshiba. Then, Sanyo was back in the bunch in 2006-7 and finished just outside the final four in fifth place. In 2007-8 Sanyo went through the 13 rounds of TL undefeated only to lose the Microsoft Cup final to Suntory. However, Sanyo had revenge over Suntory to take the National Championship title for the first time. Sanyo was the best team as far as consistency went getting nine players in the 2007-8 Top League Best XV list. 2008-9 was another good year for Sanyo although they were pushed into second place on the final table by one point by Toshiba. They lost the Microsoft Cup final to Toshiba but then won the National Championship for the second year in a row. The team has a settled and stable look about it this year and Toshiba and Suntory again look to be their main rivals.

 

After winning back-to-back National Championships over the past two years and finishing as runner-up in the last two Microsoft Cups, Sanyo are taking the ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ approach to the new season. However, head coach Hitoshi Iijima is looking to fine tune certain aspects of the Sanyo game and improving the level of confidence. It goes without saying that the blueprint of the Sanyo game plan will again be based around the kicking game of five-eight Brown and Masakazu Irie who alternates with Brown as first or second receiver.

 

One slight change to the Sanyo machine this season is the fact that Seiichi Shimomura takes over from centre partner Jumpei Enomoto as the new captain. Thus, Iijima will be looking to his new captain and the senior players in his squad to once again raise the bar another notch in 2009-10. Another positive for the Knights is the return of fullback Atsushi Tanabe who was forced to sit out last season with injury.

 

Players to Watch: A lot of the success or otherwise of Sanyo heavily centres around the all-round game of former All Black Tony Brown at five-eighth. Brown excels in the highly structured and less physical environment of rugby in Japan. His ad-libbing in attack, strong running and kicking game along with solid defence make him difficult for oppositions to accurately mark. Brown is also well served by halfback Fumiaki Tanaka. Sanyo are also very well served by a smart backline lead by leading try scorer from the last three seasons Tomoki Kitagawa. Although the real strength of Sanyo lies in the backs, a competent and well-balanced forward pack complements the outside men.

 

In the forwards, Daniel Heenan, Ryu Koliniasi Holani and Tomokazu Soma lead the way.

 

Jumpei Enomoto (centre), Seiichi Shimomura (centre /FB) and Takashi Miyake (wing) are others leading the way in the backs. Other exciting prospects in the backs include five-eighth Masakazu Irie, who spent 2 years plying his trade in NZ then played in Kyushu club rugby before joining Sanyo and Hiroaki Tainaka (five-eighth/fullback). At 185cms, Tainaka is a good utility back in being able to play in a number of positions. Halfback Fumiaki Tanaka is also developing into one of the best halves in Japan and he is now in his third year with the club after graduating from the university system. The controlling factor in all of this is ex-AB Tony Brown, now in his sixth year with the Knights. Brown has spent off-seasons playing for the Sharks and also the Stormers in South Africa during the S14 season and also turned out for the Classic All Blacks against Japan in May 2007. For the 2008~9 season, former Japan outside back Ryohei Miki returned to TL after playing for Honda for 3 seasons. Former Australian 7s and Waratahs representative Elia Tuqiri also joined the Sanyo backline last year.

 

In the forwards, hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto continues to impress while Korean international prop Kim Kwang-Mo at 187cms and 116kgs will hold his end up. In the backrow there is former captain Dai Kawaguchi. Former Wallabies, Brumbies and Reds lock Daniel Heenan is now in his third season and is set for another big year after making the TL Best XV last season. Tongan born Ryu Koliniasi Holani is set for more time on the field this season after taking out Japanese citizenship which allows Sanyo to play three other overseas players while Holani is on the field. Sione Vatuvei (Tonga), Kieran Black (NZ) and Justin Ives (NZ), along with Korean Young-Nam Yu are all in their second year in the Sanyo forwards pack. Up and coming lock Yuji Kitagawa joins Sanyo this year from Kanto Gakuin University and at 195cms and 114kgs the big man already has five test caps to his name.

 

Japan Cap holders in the current squad: (12)

Prop Naoki Kawamata added to his test count during the 2009 Asian Five Nations series, while lock Yuji Kitagawa and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka played in both the A5N and the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup.

 

In the two home tests against the USA in November 2008, prop Naoki Kawamata and five-eighth Masakazu Irie made their test debuts from the bench while prop Tomokazu Soma, backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka also took part in the series.

 

In the spring 2008 season, backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka debuted for Japan while prop Tomokazu Soma also captained the national side.

 

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Sanyo were represented by three players. Tomokazu Soma was the first choice tighthead prop for Japan at the WC and he started against Fiji, Wales and Canada. Loose forward Phil O’Reilly started as No7 against Fiji and Canada. While wing Tomoki Kitagawa was rushed over to France as a replacement for Daisuke Ohata and played against Australia on the right wing. Hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto was also part of the squad before he was injured at the Italian camp prior to the RWC and had to be replaced.

 

Sanyo lost backrower Phil O’Reilly to Yokogawa in the off-season.

 

Tomokazu SOMA 32 y/o, 24 caps at tighthead prop.

Fumiaki TANAKA 24 y/o, 14 caps at halfback.

Mitsugu YAMAMOTO 28 y/o, 10 caps at prop.

Ryohei MIKI 31 y/o, 9 caps at fullback/wing.

Ryu Koliniasi HOLANI 27 y/o, 8 caps in the backrow.

Yuji KITAGAWA 23 y/o, 5 caps at lock.

Takashi YOSHIDA, 34 y/o, 4 caps at wing/fullback.

Takashi MIYAKE 29 y/o, 4 caps at wing.

Seiichi SHIMOMURA 27 y/o, 3 caps at centre.

Tomoki KITAGAWA 26 y/o, 3 caps at wing.

Jumpei ENOMOTO 29 y/o, 1 cap at centre.

Masakazu IRIE 27 y/o, 1 cap at five-eighth.

 

The Coach: Hitoshi Iijima, (44) is in his second year as head coach at Sanyo this season. He previously coached Sanyo for 4 years from 1996 to 1999. He was also part of the Japan coaching team under Shogo Mukai from 2001 to 2003. He was an assistant coach under Miyamoto from 2005 to 2007. He attended Fuchu Nishi High School, then Daitobunka University and played as a flanker.

 

Before Iijima, Katsufumi Miyamoto was head coach for 4 seasons after taking over from Koichi Shibata. Miyamoto played his university rugby as a flanker at Doshisha in Kyoto before joining Sanyo in the senior ranks. He went on to earn 10 caps for Japan between 1986 and 1991, including starting in all three pool games against Australia, England and the USA at the 1987 RWC and also coming off the bench against Ireland in the 1991 RWC for his final cap. Over his years in charge, Miyamoto took Sanyo from seventh on the TL table to second then fifth then Sanyo topped the TL table and won the National Championship title for the first time.

 

The Captain: centre Seiichi Shimomura (27) is the new captain at Sanyo this year. Shimomura is in his sixth season with the Knights and is one of a number of products of Kanto Gakuin University at the club. He also has three test caps for Japan.

 

Jumpei Enomoto was captain for four seasons before Shimomura after taking over from flanker Dai Kawaguchi. During his first season as captain he was called up to the national side making his debut against Spain in November 2005 in the number 13 jersey. This remains his one and only cap to date.

 

Backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani is vice-captain in the forwards and wing Takashi Miyake is vice-captain in the backs for the 2009-10 season.

 

Gains: (7)

Takayuki KITAGAWA, 27 y/o, prop, 175/105, from Yamaha (2004-8).

Tetsuya SHITARA, 22 y/o, hooker, 175/100, from KGU.

Yuji KITAGAWA, 23 y/o, lock, 195/114, from KGU. He has 5 caps for Japan.

Kotaro WATANABE, 23 y/o, lock/flanker/No8, 192/92, from Kokushikan Univ.

Daniel SNEE (NZ), 25 y/o, five-eighth, 180/96, from Otago ANC.

Masayuki OSAWA, 23 y/o, five-eighth/fullback, 182/86, from Nihon Sports Univ.

Hiroya OKUDA, 22 y/o, wing/centre/fullback, 181/82, from Meiji Univ.

 

Losses: (6)

Yasumasa MIYAMOTO, 30 y/o, prop, 186/120, to Canon after 7 years with club.

Daisuke TACHIKAWA, 28 y/o, prop, 184/110, to Canon after 6 years with club.

Shota HORIE, hooker, he has gone overseas to pursue his rugby career.

Shozo FUKUNAGA, 33 y/o, lock, 190/102, to Ricoh after 10 years with club.

Yuichiro YONEMOTO, 30 y/o, flanker, 175/86, to Canon after 7 years with club.

Phil O’REILLY (NZ), 29 y/o, backrower, to Yokogawa after 7 seasons with club. He has 9 caps for Japan.

 

Overseas Players & Staff (10 & 3):

Tony BROWN (NZ) 34 y/o, five-eighth, 178/85, 6th year, 18 caps for All Blacks, Highlanders S12.

Kwan-Mo KIM (Korea) 29 y/o, prop, 187/116, 5th year, 19 caps for Korea.

Ryu Koliniasi HOLANI (Tonga/Japan) 27 y/o, lock/backrow, 188/111, 4th year, from Saitama Technical Univ. He has 8 caps for Japan.

Daniel HEENAN (Aus) 27 y/o, lock, 196/111, 3rd year, 2 caps for Wallabies, Reds (02-05), Brumbies (06-07).

Sione VATUVEI (Tonga) 26 y/o, lock/backrow, 189/100, 2nd year, NZ High Schools.

Young-Nam YU (Korea) 25 y/o, lock/flanker, 191/100, 2nd year, 10 caps for Korea. He has also represented Korea at 7s.

Justin IVES (NZ) 25 y/o, lock/backrow, 196/100, 2nd year, NPC Otago B.

Kieran BLACK (NZ) 22 y/o, flanker, 184/98, 2nd year, New Brighton.

Elia TUQIRI (Aus) 27 y/o, five-eighth/fullback, 173/86, Australian 7s, S12 Waratahs and Palma (Italy).

Daniel SNEE (NZ), 25 y/o, five-eighth, 180/96, 1st year, from Otago ANC.

 

Michael CRONO (54), adviser.

Ashley JONES (48), adviser.

Kym BROWN (47), adviser.

 

The 2009-10 Squad: (43) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks.

Seiichi Shimomura (c), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (v-c, forwards), Takashi Miyake (v-c, backs). Forwards: Tomokazu Soma, Kwang-Mo Kim, Takayuki Kitagawa, Jungo Kikawa, Yuki Kawano, Naoki Kawamata, Yoshitake Mizuma, Mitsugu Yamamoto, Hidemi Ota, Tetsuya Shitara, Dai Kawaguchi, Jun Sakaida, Daniel Heenan, Sione Vatuvei, Yoichi Iijima, Young-Nam Yu, Justin Ives, Kenta Ishii, Yohei Takisawa, Yuji Kitagawa, Kotaro Watanabe, Daishi Wakamatsu, Kieran Black. Backs: Atsushi Takayasu, Fumiaki Tanaka, Daisuke Motegi, Tony Brown, Masakazu Irie, Elia Tuqiri, Hiroaki Tainaka, Daniel Snee, Masayuki Osawa, Atsushi Tanabe, Jumpei Enomoto, Hiroshi Yamashita, Taisuke Hieida, Yuya Noguchi, Takashi Yoshida, Tomokazu Yamauchi, Ryohei Miki, Tomoki Kitagawa, Rikiya Asami and Hiroya Okuda. Coach: Hitoshi Iijima (44).