RiJ Vol.6 No.41

November 10, 2009

Contact Ian McDonnell at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp

 


 

Contents:

ˇ       Canada Tour to Japan 2009

s     Japan Squad + 2009 Schedule & Results

s     Canada Squad + 2009 Schedule & Results

ˇ       2009-10 Top League Team Profiles

s     (11) Sanix

ˇ       The Grubber Kick:

s     IRB Ranking: 14 (9 November 2009)

s      Backchat:

 

RiJ brings the reader a preview of the Canada tour to Japan. Canada will visit Japan for the first time since the Super Cup in May 2005, although the two countries did meet after that in a pool match in Bordeaux at the RWC in France in September 2007. This is shaping as a competitive two test tour with Canada sitting in 13th place in the IRB rankings while Japan is in 14th place. Should Japan manage to win both tests their positions in the rankings could very well be reversed come the end of November. RiJ lists the expanded training squad for Japan and the touring Canadian squad. Further, RiJ has a look at Sanix this issue in the on-going Top League team profiles series. Enjoy the read.

 

 

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 80th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1929. Canada and Japan also have deep rugby links with the inaugural 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 10 and there have been three draws.

 

Japan 12 drew with Canada 12, Tuesday, 25 September 2007, Bordeaux, 6th 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, 6th PRC, play-off for 3rd. (Test No.174)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canada 45 d Japan 18, 9 June 1996, Chichibu, Tokyo, 1st 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)

 

 

Japan Squad

On 19 October 2009 the Japan Rugby Football Union announced the following 44-man Japan squad for the two test Lipovitan D Challenge 2009 series against Canada in November 2009.

 

Masato Toyoda and Young-Dae Kim were added to the squad on 30 October 2009.

Yoshimitsu Yasue was added on 3 November 2009.

Takashi Miyake and Ryo Kanazawa were added on 5 November 2009.

 

Position

Name

Club

Age

Hgt/Wgt

Caps

Loose head props

Hisateru HIRASHIMA

Kobe

26

180/115

8

 

Naoki KAWAMATA

Sanyo

23

184/118

3

 

Tomohiro KUBO

Toshiba

28

175/105

-

Hookers

Yuji MATSUBARA

Kobe

30

180/95

23

 

Yusuke AOKI

Suntory

26

176/97

18

 

Shota HORIE

Sanyo

23

180/104

-

 

Takeshi KIZU

Tokai Univ.

21

183/110

-

 

Yoshimitsu YASUE

Kobe

25

175/100

2

Tight head props

Kensuke HATAKEYAMA

Suntory

24

178/122

8

 

Hiroshi YAMASHITA

Kobe

23

183/125

8

 

Shinsuke NAKAMURA

Nihon Univ.

22

190/115

2

Locks

Hitoshi ONO

Toshiba

31

192/105

35

 

Toshizumi KITAGAWA

Toyota

28

195/110

23

 

Yuji KITAGAWA

Sanyo

23

195/114

5

 

Daniel QUATE

Toyota

29

195/111

-

 

Shinya MAKABE

Suntory

22

192/110

-

 

Eiri NAKADA

Waseda Univ.

20

193/104

-

Flankers/ No8s

Takashi KIKUTANI

Toyota

29

187/100

26

 

Phil O’REILLY

Yokogawa

29

190/105

9

 

Ryu Koliniasi HOLANI

Sanyo

27

188/111

8

 

Toetu’u TAUFA

Kintetsu

29

183/108

7

 

Michael LEITCH

Tokai Univ.

21

189/99

7

 

Sione VATUVEI

Sanyo

26

189/100

-

 

Juntaro TAKEMOTO

Suntory

26

183/98

-

 

Masato TOYODA

Toshiba

24

186/108

1

 

Young-Dae KIM

Honda

27

179/94

-

Halfbacks

Tomoki YOSHIDA

Toshiba

27

172/78

18

 

Fumiaki TANAKA

Sanyo

24

166/75

14

 

Yuki YATOMI

Yamaha

24

176/83

12

 

Shota GOTO

Kobe

26

170/78

8

Five-eighths

James ARLIDGE

Newport (Wales)

30

187/93

14

 

Shaun WEBB

Coca-Cola

27

180/90

14

 

Masakazu IRIE

Sanyo

28

173/80

1

 

Ryohei YAMANAKA

Waseda Univ.

21

187/95

-

Wings

Hirotoki ONOZAWA

Suntory

31

180/87

52

 

Kosuke ENDO

Toyota

28

186/90

23

 

Tomoki KITAGAWA

Sanyo

26

174/80

3

 

Yasunori NAGATOMO

Suntory

24

176/85

-

 

Takashi Miyake

Sanyo

29

175/82

4

 

Ryo Kanazawa

Ricoh

28

174/86

-

Centres

Yuta IMAMURA

Kobe

24

178/95

27

 

Bryce ROBINS

NEC

29

183/90

22

 

Koji TAIRA

Suntory

26

185/95

17

 

Ryan NICHOLAS

Suntory

29

192/100

7

 

Alisi TUPUAILEI

Honda

29

187/116

-

Fullbacks

Go ARUGA

Suntory

25

175/84

12

 

Ayumu GOROMARU

Yamaha

23

185/98

9

 

Kaoru MATSUSHITA

Yamaha

25

185/86

2

Head Coach: John Kirwan (NZ).

 

Japan’s 2009 Schedule and Results

Canada Tour to Japan

Japan - Canada, Saturday, 21 November 2009, kick-off at 2:00 PM, Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo. (Test No. 251)

Japan - Canada, Sunday, 15 November 2009, kick-off at 2:00 PM, Yurtec Stadium, Sendai. (Test No. 250)

 

2009 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

HSBC Asian Five Nations 2009

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

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

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

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

 

 

Canada Squad

On 28 October 2009, Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley announced the following squad for the two-test tour of Japan and the home test against Russia set down for November 2009.

 

Position

Name

Club

Age

Hgt/Wgt

Caps

LH Prop

Dan Pletch

Oakville Crusaders

26

180/108

21

Prop

Tom Dolezel

Otago Univ (NZ)

25

172/104

-

Hooker

Mike Pletch

Velox Valhallians

26

180/111

21

Hooker

Pat Riordan (c)

University of Victoria

30

185/106

24

TH Prop

Kevin Tkachuk

Glasgow Warriors (Sco)

33

180/115

50

TH Prop

Doug Woolridge

Cowichan

23

184/99

3

Lock

Brian Erichsen

Meralomas

-

190/120

-

Lock

Tyler Hotson

Plymouth Albion (Eng)

24

196/112

10

Lock

Josh Jackson

Bordeaux (Fra)

29

198/111

19

Flanker

Adam Kleeberger

Rotherham Titans (Eng)

25

195/95

19

Flanker

Chauncey O’Toole

Castaway Wanderers

23

184/80

2

Flanker

Nanyak Dala

Castaway Wanderers

25

178/94

7

No8

Mark MacSween

Balmy Beach

23

190/97

-

No8

Aaron Carpenter

Coventry (Eng)

26

183/104

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halfback

Phil Mack

University of Victoria

24

170/77

13

Halfback

Sean White

JBAA

21

180/83

-

Five-eighth

Matt Evans

Hartpury College (Eng)

21

183/89

7

Five-eighth

Ander Monro

Castaway Wanderers

28

178/88

16

Five-eighth

Nathan Hirayama

University of Victoria

21

183/88

2

Centre

Bryn Keys

Moseley (Eng)

24

187/96

8

Centre

Nick Blevins

Velox Valhallians

20

188/98

-

Centre

Michael Scholz

Oakville Crusaders

20

-

-

Wing

Sean Duke

University of Victoria

21

189/89

3

Wing

Justin Mensar-Coker

Moseley (Eng)

25

196/107

16

Fullback

Ciaran Hearn

Castaway Wanderers

23

190/100

7

Fullback

James Pritchard

Bedford Blues (Eng)

30

175/85

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head Coach: Kieran Crowley (NZ).

 

Canada’s 2009 Schedule and Results

Autumn Tests

Canada – Russia, Saturday, 28 November 2009, Vancouver.

Japan – Canada, Saturday, 21 November 2009, Tokyo.

Japan – Canada, Sunday, 15 November 2009, Sendai.

 

2011 RWC Qualifiers

Canada 41 – USA 18, Saturday, 11 July 2009, Edmonton,

USA 12 – Canada 6, Saturday, 4 July 2009, Charleston.

 

Churchill Cup

Argentina Jaguars 44 – Canada 29, Sunday, 21 June 2009, Denver, Colorado. (Non-test status)

Ireland A 30 – Canada 19, Wednesday, 10 June 2009, Glendale, Colorado, Churchill Cup. (Non-test status)

Canada 42 – Georgia 10, Saturday, 6 June 2009, , Glendale, Colorado, Churchill Cup.

 

Spring Tests

Canada 23 – Wales 32, Saturday, 30 May 2009, Toronto.

Canada 6 – Ireland 25,  Saturday, 23 May 2009, Vancouver.

 

 

 

福岡サニックスブルース

 

Top League Profiles 2009-10: (11) Fukuoka Sanix Blues

http://rugby.sanix.jp//

 

Established: Sanix rugby was only established in 1994 and they are one of three current Top League teams based on the of Kyushu (The others two being Coca-Cola and Kyuden). The full name for the club is Fukuoka Sanix Blues. The blue refers to the sky and sea that surrounds their hometown of Fukuoka, as well as a more obscure reference to the musical variety of Blues. The slogan for the 2009-10 season is: “PRESSURE!.” This builds on the theme of the previous season with more emphasis on speed.

 

The Company: The company has three main divisions: Home Sanitation, that includes protecting homes from humidity and pests, as well as developing better earthquake resistant homes; Establishment Sanitation, including the sanitation needs of hospitals, hotels office buildings and the like and Environmental Resources Development, including the development of technologies to reprocess waste resources. Have a look at www.sanix.co.jp

 

Titles:

Top League

For the three seasons from 2003-4 to 2005-6 Top League (TL) consisted of 12 teams and the team that finished on top of the table claimed the title. From the 2006-7 season, TL was increased to 14 teams with the top four finishers on the ladder progressing to the Microsoft Cup, the play-off series to determine the overall TL champion.

2008-9: 11th on 21 points with 3 wins & 10 losses.

2007-8: 12th on 19 points with 4 wins & 9 losses.

2006-7: 9th on 28 points with 5 wins, 1 draw & 7 losses.

2005-6: 12th (last) on 2 points with no wins & 11 losses.

2004-5: Played in Top Kyushu competition.

2003-4: 12th (last) on 12 points with 2 wins & 9 losses. (Relegated)

 

Microsoft Cup

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

2009: DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2008: DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2007: DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2006: DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

2005: Played in Top Kyushu competition.

2004: DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

 

National Championship – none.

From 2005, the NC consisted of 8 teams: the top 4 Top League sides, the top 2 universities, the top challenger from lower divisions and the top club side. From 2009 the number of teams was increased to ten with two additional TL sides.

2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): DNQ as only top 6 TL teams qualified.

2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): Qualified as Top Challenger. Beat KGU 47-36 in first round then lost to NEC 55-21 in second round.

2004 (41st NC - 22 teams): DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

 

Corporate Championships – none.

 

Colours: in line with their name of Sanix Blues, blue is prominent in the strip with dark blue jersey with lighter blue flashes, black shorts and blue socks. The second jersey has a light grey instead of the dark blue.

 

Style of Play: Sanix finished last in the first season of Top League in 2003-4 and thus found themselves playing back in the provinces in the weak Top Kyushu competition. In Top Kyushu, Sanix were undefeated and racked up four 3-figure scores in 8 games including 167-0 against Chugoku Denryoku. They were promoted back to Top League for the 2005-6 season where they again finished on the bottom of the table, only this time winless. They were saved from relegation because of the expansion of Top League from 12 to 14 teams. Sanix revamped their operations during that off-season and cut or lost 13 players from the previous season and topped things up with 10 new names. Sanix bounced back with a much improved 2006-7 season to finish ninth on the table with five wins, a draw and seven losses. They were not competitive with teams above them on the table but they successfully avoided the relegation zone for the first time. In the 2007-8 season, Sanix again struggled and finished in 12th place meaning they had to go through the promotion and relegation play-offs where they beat Mazda 79-10 to guarantee their place in Top League for the 2008-9 season. Last season, Sanix finished 11th with 3 wins and 10 losses, again forcing them through the promotion and relegation play-offs where they beat Toyota Jido Shokki 38-22 to retain their place in Top League for 2009-10.

 

Thus, in the five seasons Sanix have played in Top League the best they have finished is ninth while they have picked up the wooden spoon twice. However, Sanix rugby enjoys solid support from the parent company and is blessed with good facilities while the company itself also supports junior rugby through the annual Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament held over Golden Week.

 

Although youth level rugby is strong in Kyushu, good players are attracted to the major universities in Kanto and Kansai to play their college rugby and then are tempted by the stronger high profile Top League teams for their senior rugby. Thus, even though Kyushu produces a significant amount of rugby talent, it is difficult to keep the talent playing in the Kyushu based Top League sides. Without a draft system or some other means to ensure an even spread of talent across Top League, teams like Sanix will always continue to struggle. It also means there is a heavy dependency on overseas players. Unfortunately, the best Sanix can really hope for again this year is to avoid the relegation zone.

 

Another aspect of senior rugby in Kyushu is the fact that the three Kyushu based teams participating in Top League, that is Coca-Cola, Sanix and Kyuden, are all concentrated in Fukuoka, pretty much within a stone’s throw of one another. There is a lot of pride in Kyushu but the island as a whole or even other major centres such as Nagasaki, Miyazaki and Kagoshima are very much under-represented or not represented at all.

 

Players to Watch: As noted above, teams like Sanix struggle to attract high profile local Japanese players and so a lot is based around their foreign players.

 

Prop Takahiro Sugiura continues to improve after making his test debut against Hong Kong in May 2007, while elsewhere in the forwards, NZ-born Hare Makiri now has 26 caps for Japan in the backrow and he is an invaluable asset for the club. He is joined by lock Jake Paringatai and Mahe Tuvi who both joined Sanix from IBM in the off-season. Captain and flanker Yu Kanto also leads by example.

 

In the backs, five-eight Kosei Ono has settled well into the set-up at Sanix. Ono was born in Nagoya but moved to Christchurch in New Zealand with his family when he was three. He was virtually picked from nowhere for the Japan squad in 2007 and so far has played 5 tests including against Australia in the RWC. NZ 7s specialist, Amasio (Mojo) Valence is in his fourth season with Sanix and a lot of the attacking game is based around him in combination with Ono. Tongan representative Pila Fifita now in his fourth season should also be seeing plenty of ball out wide, as should former All Blacks wing Caleb Ralph who joined the club last year. Former captain and fullback Ryuji Koga has a lot of experience including representing Japan at Sevens and he also has the main goal kicking duties. Meanwhile, Asahi Fujiwara is attracting increasing attention for his try-scoring abilities from the wing.

 

Cap holders for Japan in the current squad: (3)

Over the course of the 2009 Asian Five Nations series and the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup, Sanix were not represented.

 

In the two home tests against the USA in November 2008, Sanix were not represented.

 

Sanix were not represented in the inaugural Asian Five Nations (A5N) tournament in 2008. However, in the 2008 edition of the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), Sanix were represented by Hare Makiri who started in all five games as open side flanker.

 

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Sanix were represented by backrow forward Hare Makiri and young five-eighth Kosei Ono. Makiri played in all four pool games, coming on a replacement against Australia, then wearing the No.6 jersey against Fiji, while he wore No.7 against Wales and then No.6 again against Canada. Ono played against Australia in the opening game, opposing Stephen Larkham. Prop Takahiro Sugiura was part of the back-up squad but was not needed.

 

Hare MAKIRI (NZ) 31 y/o, 26 caps at flanker.

Kosei ONO 22 y/o, 5 caps at flyhalf.

Takahiro SUGIURA 26 y/o, one cap at loosehead prop.

 

The Coach: 40-year-old Yuichiro Fujii is in his fifth year as the head coach at Sanix this year. Fujii played as a centre at Sanix for 2 seasons over the 1999-2001 period before trying his hand at coaching at schoolboy level. He returned to Sanix and was backs coach under then head coach Leon Holden (NZ).

 

The Captain: The captain for the 2009-10 season in 30-year- old flanker Yu Kanto. He has been with Sanix since 2001and this is his second year as captain. Vice-captain in the backs is wing Kengo Nagadome, while vice-captain in the forwards is prop Takahiro Sugiura. Kanto took over the captaincy from fullback Ryuji Koga who had the role for two years. He in turn took over from flanker Takeshi Inui (now retired), who was captain before him. Before that lock Satoru Endo had the job for two years. Endo moved on to Ricoh where he played for three seasons before retiring at the end of the 2008-9 season.

 

Losses: (6)

Eita UEDA, 28 y/o, prop, 184/104. To Toyota Jido Shokki after 6 years with club.

Koki HOSHINO, 26 y/o, lock, 190/93. To IBM after 2 years with club.

Ryuta ONITSUKA, 36 y/o, halfback, 168/70. He has become backs coach after 5 years with club.

Tsuyoshi TOKUNAGA, 29 y/o, halfback, 172/70. He has become an analyst with the team after 4 years with club.

Yuzo HOTTA, 31 y/o, centre, 173/80. He has retired after 9 years with club

Hirofumi MATSUO, 28 y/o, five-eighth/centre, 177/90. To Suntory Foods after 4 years with club.

 

Gains: (6)

Reo TOMORI, 33 y/o, prop, 175/100. From Ricoh (2000-08).

Kazuki NAGATANI, 23 y/o, prop, 175/100. From Shigakkan Univ.

Jake PARINGATAI (NZ), 29 y/o, lock/No8, 192/109, NZ Maori, Crusaders, Munster (Ire), IBM (2008-9).

Tuvi MAHE (Tonga) 29 y/o, flanker/No8, 183/114, Daitobunka Uni, IBM (2006-7 to 2008-9).

Yusuke HAMAZATO, 25 y/o, flanker, 180/91, from Kintetsu (2007-8 to 2008-9).

Takamichi HARADA, 22 y/o, halfback, 168/74. From Toshiba Oita (2007-8 to 2008-9)

 

Overseas Players and Staff: (10)

Deon MUIR (NZ) 36 y/o, No8, 189/106, 7th year with club, NZ Maori, Chiefs & Crusaders S12, Waikato NPC.

Hare MAKIRI (NZ) 31 y/o, lock/flanker, 190/105, 7th year with club, 26 caps for Japan, NZ Maori, Chiefs S12, Counties.

Amasio VALENCE (Fiji) 30 y/o, utility back, 175/90, 4th year, NZ 7s, Blues S12.

Pila FIFITA (Tonga) 34 y/o, centre/wing, 186/105, 4th year, 3 caps for Tonga, Bayonne (Fra).

Ki-Joon CHOI (Korea) 26 y/o, centre, 183/90, 3rd year.

Dong-Won SHIN (Korea) 22 y/o, prop/hooker, 181/103, 2nd year, represented Canterbury at U14 (2000), U15 (2001) & U16 (2002) levels. Attended Christchurch BHS.

Tafai IOASA (NZ) 28 y/o, backrow, 182/100, 2nd year. Tafai Ioasa is a former Sevens captain and backrower with Hawke’s Bay and he joined Sanix at the completion of the 2007-8 Sevens series in June 2008 after 8 seasons as part of the New Zealand Sevens team. He captained New Zealand to a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and was named the New Zealand Sevens player of the year the same year. As well as turning out in 47 IRB Sevens tournaments he has also played 45 games for Hawke’s Bay.

Caleb RALPH (NZ) 32 y/o, centre/wing, 187/95, 2nd year, from Canterbury Crusaders, 115 Super caps, 14 caps for All Blacks.

Jake PARINGATAI (NZ), 29 y/o, lock/No8, 192/109, 1st year, NZ Maori, Crusaders, Munster (Ire), IBM (2008-9).

Tuvi MAHE (Tonga) 29 y/o, flanker/No8, 183/114, 1st year, Daitobunka Uni, IBM (2006-7 to 2008-9).

 

The 2009-10 Squad: (41) the list starts with captain and vice-captains and continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.

Yu Kanto (c), Takahiro Sugiura (v-c), Kengo Nagadome (v-c). Forwards: Masataka Matsuzono, Reo Tomori, Masatsugu Kakogawa, Shinsuke Okada, Akinobu Yamagiwa, Kazuki Nagatani, Dong-Won Shin, Yasutake Nagashita, Hare Makiri, Taro Akita, Jake Paringatai, Hajime Date, Tadayoshi Watanabe, Masahiro Oba, Mahe Tuvi, Tafai Ioasa, Keizo Nishiura, Yusuke Hamazato, Kaname Nishibata, Deon Muir. Backs: Takahisa Yabumoto, Shunsuke Amamoto, Gaku Yamashita, Takamichi Harada, Amasio Valence, Sadaomi Kanagawa, Kosei Ono, Hiroshi Tashiro, Ki-Joon Choi, Shusaku Hamazato, Pila Fifita, Caleb Ralph, Terumitsu Oba, Shinya Nagaike, Tsuyoshi Suga, Asahi Fujiwara, Terumasa Sonoda and Ryuji Koga. Coach: Yuichiro Fujii (40).

 

 

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 9 November 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.

 

Sevens

The East Asia Championship is 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 from 2016 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. There is also the hint of having Sevens as a non-medal demonstration sport at the London Games in 2012 should the sport be officially included for 2016 and beyond.