Rugby in Japan Vol.7, No.11

Contents:

¡ Top League 2009-10 Awards

¡ Odds & Sods:

s IRB Ranking: 13 (70.59, 8 March 2010)

s The Think-tank: ANZAC Responsibility to Asia and the Pacific

¡ Looking Ahead:

s Adelaide & Hong Kong 7s; Japan Schoolboys to France; 2010 HSBC A5N; IRB JWT; 2010 PNC

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Japan Rugby Top League 2009-10: Awards

Champion: Toshiba Brave Lupus.

(2008-9: Toshiba)

(2007-8: Suntory)

(2006-7: Toshiba)

(2005-6: Toshiba)

(2004-5: Toshiba)

(2003-4: Kobe)

Runner-up: Sanyo Wild Knights.

Toshiba Brave Lupus took the overall Top League title for the fifth time in the 2009-10 season when they beat Sanyo Wild Knights in the Play-off final. For the seventh season of Top League, this was the fourth season with 14 teams and thus 13 rounds of competition. In addition, the finals series, known as the Microsoft Cup over the previous three seasons, had a name change this season after the Microsoft company decided not to renew its naming rights sponsorship. Consequently, the series became known as the Japan Rugby Top League Play-off Tournament.

Under the tournament format, the team that finished on top of the Top League table at the completion of the regular season played the team that finished fourth in one semi-final, while second played third in the other with the winners meeting in the final. Sanyo topped the table in 2009-10 on 59 points from twelve wins and a draw and they played Toyota Verblitz at Hanazono after the latter came in fourth on 48 points from ten wins, a draw and two losses. Sanyo led 13-9 at the completion of the first forty minutes but had the better of the second half exchanges with further tries to lock Justin Ives and wing Tomoki Kitagawa to extend the lead to 25-9 by the thirty minute mark. Toyota finished strongly with late tries to wing Tatsuya Kusumi and Orene Ai’i but it was not enough and Sanyo went on to claim victory with a 25-21 final score line.

In the other semi at Chichibu, second placed Suntory Sungoliath (58 points from eleven wins and two draws) went down to third placed Toshiba (52 points from ten wins and three losses) 35-24. Suntory led 21-7 at the break, however, Toshiba came out for the second half in a fighting mood and gradually whittled down the difference with tries to lock Yuta Mochizuki and five-eighth David Hill to lock it all up at 21-all. In the fifteenth minute, a lucky bounce of the ball gave fullback Goshi Tachikawa his second try and the Hill conversion put the Brave Lupus back in front 28-21. Although Suntory responded with a Tusi Pisiata penalty the result was put beyond doubt when bullocking flanker Steven Bates scored the fifth Toshiba try on the thirty minute mark. The score remained unchanged till the end with Toshiba recording a 35-24 win.

In a low-scoring tryless final, Toshiba made it two-in-a-row when they beat Sanyo 6-0. Twelve months ago, Toshiba won the corresponding final 17-6 against the same opponents but in this clash it was much closer with two first half penalties to five-eight David Hill eventually getting Toshiba across the line.

Top League Play-offs:

Final:

Toshiba (TL 3) 6 d Sanyo 0 (TL 1)

Date: Sunday, 31 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Semi-finals:

Sanyo (TL 1) 25 d Toyota (TL 4) 21.

Date: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Toshiba 35 (TL 3) d Suntory (TL 2) 24.

Date: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League Round Thirteen (final)

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	BP1	BP2	Pts
1	Sanyo	13	12	1	0	534	175	359	9	-	59
2	Suntory	13	11	2	0	571	196	375	10	-	58
3	Toshiba	13	10	0	3	436	276	160	10	2	52
4	Toyota	13	10	1	2	394	219	175	6	-	48
5	Kobe	13	7	1	4	344	304	40	6	2	38
6	Kubota	13	6	0	7	313	339	-26	4	3	31
7	Sanix	13	6	0	7	311	371	-60	5	2	31
8	Coca-Cola	13	7	0	6	299	448	-149	3	-	31
9	Yamaha	13	5	2	6	311	327	-16	3	2	30
10	NEC	13	4	0	9	224	280	-56	4	5	25
11	Kintetsu	13	4	1	8	218	348	-130	3	2	23
12	Ricoh	13	4	0	9	262	422	-160	1	2	19
13	Honda	13	1	0	12	255	464	-209	2	4	10
14	Kyuden	13	0	0	13	199	502	-303	2	2	4

Honda Heat and Kyuden Voltex were relegated. (Bottom TWO teams automatically relegated)

NTT Communications and Toyota Jido Shokki won promotion through the Top Challenge Series.

Kintetsu Liners and Ricoh Black Rams won their promotion and relegation play-offs to remain in TL for next season.

Best XV 2009-10:

The Best XV is chosen by a panel of members of the media, coaches and captains. In the seventh season of Top League the Best XV for the 2009-10 season came entirely from the top four sides. Sanyo dominated the choices this year filling six of the fifteen spots, followed by Suntory with five, Toshiba with three and Toyota with one.

There were seven players making the Best XV for the first time, following on from seven debutants last year. Suntory wing Hirotoki Onozawa was chosen for a record sixth time, while Hitoshi Ono was appearing in his fifth Top League Best XV. Sanyo wing Tomoki Kitagawa was also appearing in the XV for the fourth year in a row. Five of the fifteen were born overseas including Korean born flanker Young-Nam Yu.

No.	Position	Name	Club	Times in Best XV
1	Prop	Naoki Kawamata	Sanyo	1
2	Hooker	Shota Horie	Sanyo	1
3	Prop	Kensuke Hatakeyama	Suntory	2
4	Lock	Hitoshi Ono	Toshiba	5
5	Lock	Shinya Makabe	Suntory	1
6	Flanker	Steven Bates	Toshiba	2
7	Flanker	Young-Nam Yu	Sanyo	1
8	No8	Takashi Kikutani	Toyota	1
9	Half-back	George Gregan	Suntory	1
10	Five-eighth	David Hill	Toshiba	2
11	Wing	Hirotoki Onozawa	Suntory	6
12	Centre	Ryan Nicholas	Suntory	3
13	Centre	Seiichi Shimomura	Sanyo	3
14	Wing	Tomoki Kitagawa	Sanyo	4
15	Fullback	Atsushi Tanabe	Sanyo	1

Best and Fairest: Hitoshi Ono, lock, Toshiba.

(2008-9: David Hill, five-eighth, Toshiba)

(2007-8: Hirotoki Onozawa, wing, Suntory)

(2006-7: Teppei Tomioka, centre, Toshiba)

(2005-6: Goshi Tachikawa, fullback, Toshiba)

(2004-5: Lautangi Vatuvei, No8, Toshiba)

(2003-4: Yukio Motoki, centre, Kobe)

After being named in five Best XVs, Toshiba lock Hitoshi Ono finally took out the accolade as Best and Fairest for the 2009-10 season.

Play-off Best and Fairest: Goshi Tachikawa, fullback, Toshiba.

(2009: Toshiaki Hirose, wing, Toshiba)

(2008: Hirotoki Onozawa, wing, Suntory)

(2007: Lautangi Samurai Vatuvei, lock, Toshiba)

Toshiba fullback Tachikawa scored two tries in the semi-final win over Suntory and was also influential in the final.

Rookie: Shinya Makabe, lock, Suntory.

(2008-9: Kensuke Hatakeyama, prop, Suntory)

(2007-8: Fumiaki Tanaka, halfback, Sanyo)

(2006-7: Tomoki Kitagawa, wing, Sanyo)

(2005-6: Shota Goto, halfback, Kobe)

(2004-5: Hiroki Mizuno, wing, Toyota)

(2003-4: Shin Kanto, five-eighth, Suntory)

In his first season of senior rugby after graduating from Chuo University, Suntory lock Shinya Makabe, a former Japan U19 captain proved his credentials with a big year culminating in his full international debut against Canada in the autumn.

Top point scorer: Atsushi Tanabe, fullback, Sanyo, 191 points.

NB: The first three seasons of Top League consisted of 12 teams over 11 rounds. This was expanded to 14 teams over 13 rounds from the 2006-7 season.

(2008-9: David Hill, five-eighth, Toshiba, 226 points)

(2007-8: Shotaro Onishi, inside centre, Yamaha, 139 points)

(2006-7: Ryan Nicholas, centre, Suntory, 159 points)

(2005-6: Keiji Hirose, five-eighth, Toyota, 181 points)

(2004-5: Keiji Hirose, five-eighth, Toyota, 152 points)

(2003-4: Daisuke Hihara, five-eighth, Toshiba, 147 points)

Sanyo fullback Atsushi Tanabe nearly became the second person to break the 200 point barrier after David Hill scored 226 points last season, but in the end fell just short. However, Tanabe racked up a personal tally of 191 points from 4 tries, 48 conversions and 25 penalty goals from 13 games to take the top point scorer award. The next best point scorer was Suntory centre Ryan Nicholas on 173 points.

Top try scorer: Hirotoki Onozawa, wing, Suntory, 14 tries.

NB: The first three seasons of Top League consisted of 12 teams over 11 rounds. This was expanded to 14 teams over 13 rounds from the 2006-7 season.

(2008-9: Tomoki Kitagawa, wing, Sanyo, 12 tries)

(2007-8: Tomoki Kitagawa, wing, Sanyo, 14 tries)

(2006-7: Tomoki Kitagawa, wing, Sanyo, 19 tries)

(2005-6: Damian McInally, fullback, Kubota & Sene Taala, No8, Secom, both with 10 tries)

(2004-5: Lautangi Vatuvei, No8, Toshiba, 18 tries)

(2003-4: Glen Marsh, flanker, NEC, 11 tries)

At the completion of all thirteen rounds, Suntory wing Hirotoki Onozawa headed the list with 14 tries while Sanyo wing Tomoki Kitagawa finished second on 13 tries. Onozawa has played in all seven seasons of Top League but this is the first time he has taken out the leading try scorers award.

Top goal kicker: Atsushi Tanabe, fullback, Sanyo, 171 points from 48 conversions & 25 penalties.

NB: The first three seasons of Top League consisted of 12 teams over 11 rounds. This was expanded to 14 teams over 13 rounds from the 2006-7 season.

(2008-9: David Hill, five-eighth, Toshiba, 171 points from 60 conversions & 17 penalties)

(2007-8: Shotaro Onishi, inside centre, Yamaha, 119 points from 40 conversions & 13 penalties)

(2006-7: Keiji Hirose, five-eighth, Toyota, 148 pts from 47 conversions & 18 penalties)

(2005-6: Keiji Hirose, five-eighth, Toyota, 166 pts from 50 conversions & 22 penalties)

(2004-5: Keiji Hirose, five-eighth, Toyota, 137 pts from 49 conversions & 13 penalties)

(2003-4: Koji Fukuoka, fullback, World, 117 pts from 33 conversions & 17 penalties)

Keiji Hirose dominated the kicking scene in the early years of Top League, but it was Tanabe who took the prize this year equalling the 171 points Hill kicked last season.

Best referee: Shinji Aida.

(2008-9: Shinji Aida)

(2007-8: George Ayoub (ARU))

(2006-7: Taizo Hirabayashi)

(2005-6: Shinji Aida)

This category was only introduced in the 2005-6 season with Aida taking out the title for a record third time this season.

Fair play team: Coca-Cola.

(2008-9: Sanyo)

(2007-8: Kyuden)

(2006-7: Sanyo)

(2005-6: Kobe)

(2004-5: Kobe)

(2003-4: Suntory)

The fair play team is the team that gives away the least amount of penalties over the season. Coca-Cola won it for the first time this season.

Best fan service: Kobe.

(2008-9: Kobe)

(2007-8: Kobe)

(2006-7: Kobe & Yamaha)

(2005-6: Kobe & Yamaha)

(2004-5: Kobe)

(2003-4: Suntory)

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Odds & Sods

Odds & Sods brings the reader weekly news shorts, gossip and general happenings from the world of Rugby in Japan.

News in Japan: Catching the headlines in Japan this week are – The 2010 J League (soccer) season kicked off on the weekend of 6-7 March with much fan fare leaving rugby fans like RiJ to ponder the great “What if?” Just as Japan though spring was in the air, heavy snow across the archipelago reminded everyone that we still have a way to go yet.

After commenting on rugby attendances last issue, let us look at the equivalent crowds in soccer. RiJ noted that round games for Top League averaged about 4,500 for the season with 12,796 the biggest attendance over the regular season. Well, let’s look at some of the figures from the nine games in round two of J-League played over the weekend of 13-14 March 2020. At the Saitama Stadium, 50,096 fans flocked to see the Urawa Reds beat FC Tokyo 1-0, while at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, 37,869 fans went through the turnstiles for a local Osaka derby and at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, 32,228 showed up watch Yokohama F Marinos beat Shonan Belmare 3-0. At the Tohoku Denryoku Big Swan Stadium in Niigata, 28, 423 fans rocked up to see the local side draw 1-all with Jubilo Iwata. Not to be outdone, there were 25,176 in attendance at the Toyota Stadium in Nagoya to see Nagoya Grampus go down 3-2 to Kawasaki. Most other games were between 15,000 and 20,000 while the smallest attendance of the round and the only game not to make it into five figures was 9,133 at the Homes Stadium in Kobe for the Kobe v Hiroshima clash. It makes a stark contrast, but why can’t rugby do this every week of the season??

IRB ranking on 8 March 2010 - Japan were 13 (70.59).

The Think-tank: ANZAC Responsibility to Asia and the Pacific

In a recent article in Rugby Heaven (More games on cards for fringe Wallabies, 25 February 2010), the author Greg Growden noted that the ARU was looking to bring back the Australia A concept with two possible midweek games against the touring English in June. Growden went on to say that, “ARU officials know they must stage as many representative games as possible before the RWC to give those just outside the Test arena the chance to show off their wares against quality opposition.” What RiJ would like to know is why the ARU cannot put this side in the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC)?

On the other side of the Tasman In New Zealand, it appears the Junior All Blacks will not turn out in 2010 while the New Zealand Maori look set to celebrate their centenary this year with a playing schedule that is yet to be officially announced. However, what is known is that like their Australian counterparts neither the JAB not the Maori will take part in the PNC in 2010. What RiJ would like to know is why the NZRU cannot put the Maori side or even the JAB in the PNC?

Consequently, that just leaves Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga to battle it out in the IRB backed, ANZ sponsored PNC 2010. Although RiJ is not privy to the decision making processes in the ARU and NZRU, one is left wondering where is the ongoing ANZAC sense of responsibility for the development of rugby in Asia and the Pacific Islands?

Originally, Australia A were scheduled to play in the inaugural season of the Pacific Nations Cup (Pacific Five Nations as it became known that year) in 2006 but eventually the ARU decided not to commit their side to the tournament to focus on domestic rugby. However, Australia A did play in 2007 and 2008 expanding the number of participants to six with the tournament played on a home and away basis with every side playing across the three games per round.

New Zealand, on the other hand, fully committed either the JAB or the Maori to the tournament over the first four years of the PNC in a display of their full support for the competition. The New Zealand representative sides have won all four previous PNCs undefeated each time.

So, in 2010 the three island nations and Japan are left to go it alone, without the on-field assistance of the regional, not to mention world heavyweights Australia and New Zealand. It seems the attention of both is being drawn elsewhere as thoughts start to turn to the Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand next year.

The inclusion of the Australian and New Zealand sides in the PNC in 2007 and 2008 significantly heightened the competitive nature of the tournament while also helping to generate widespread interest throughout the region. However, RiJ is left feeling that the ARU and NZRU are not fulfilling their real and also moral obligations to the PNC and as a result the tournament has been significantly downgraded. A sense of betrayal and here we go again is also in the mix.

The IRB are doing their best to show the PNC 2010 in a positive light with the event largely being held in Samoa with clinics and legacy programmes but without the inclusion of the Australian and New Zealand A sides both the quality and the quantity of the series is seriously jeopardised. True, the focus on Samoa this year is a boost for rugby in the nation, just like Fiji in 2009 but that is not enough.

Furthermore, from a Japanese perspective, this will be the second year in a row that Japanese rugby fans will not get to see any PNC games in their own backyard. So while RiJ cannot deny Fiji and Samoa the exposure it does nothing to promote rugby in Japan. In 2007 and 2008 under the home and away format of the six-team PNC Japan could expect two or three quality tests against strong opposition following on the heels of two home tests in the Asian Five Nations (A5N) tournament against weaker Asian teams from 2008. Throw into the mix the Classic All Blacks and one was left feeling pretty satisfied with the international rugby season at the end of spring.

The major world unions now regularly play well in excess of ten tests a year but for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga the PNC is just about it. November tests in Europe do not always come to fruition for the cash-strapped Unions and that pretty much means that all their eggs are in the PNC basket. With most of their stars playing overseas too, player release for national duty is also another vexing issue.

Japan now has the Asian Five Nations, but even so head coach John Kirwan often expresses his frustration in not being able to organise tests against the world’s best in Six Nations and Tri Nations sides because the calendar is full. And so without Australian and New Zealand teams in the PNC Japanese and Island preparation for the RWC is made all that much harder.

The Islands and Japan need to consistently test themselves against higher ranked teams or the A sides from Australia and New Zealand as the case was in previous years of the PNC, but 2010 is a step backwards for these tier two Unions.

Give the region a fair go Australia and New Zealand, put sides in the PNC and let’s get back to the home and away format. Otherwise, the PNC runs the risk of going the way of the Pacific Rim Championship, RIP!

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Looking Ahead

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

IRB Sevens World Series, Australia

The Adelaide Oval, Adelaide.

19-21 March 2010

Japan played at the recent USA leg of the 2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series in Las Vegas from 13-14 February 2010. In that event, Japan opened their account with a gutsy 7-0 win over Argentina in their first pool match before going down to England and Wales. In the Bowl quarterfinals, Japan lost to Chile 19-7 in a game they were expected to win. However, in the subsequent Shield semi-finals, Japan beat Canada before eventually going down to Scotland in the Shield final. All-in-all, Japan came away from Las Vegas with two wins and four losses from their six games.

The squad will be all the better for the hit out in the USA as they head to the picturesque Adelaide Oval in the capital of the state of South Australia for the next round. Japan are in the very tough Pool B with South Africa, Samoa and France so Japan will have to play to their full potential if they are to earn some wins at the pool stages of the three day tournament. Samoa took out the USA Sevens when they beat New Zealand 33-12 in the Cup Final and they are in the same pool as Japan in Adelaide. Like last year, Japan are again in the same group as reigning Sevens World Champions South Africa who also went on to win the Adelaide tournament in 2009.

The Japan Squad

	Name	Club	Age	Hgt.	Wgt.
1	Alisi TUPUAILEI	Honda Heat	29	187	116
2	Kenji SHOMEN	Kobe Steelers	26	175	84
3	Tomoki KITAGAWA	Sanyo Wild Knights	26	174	80
4	Masahiro TSUIKI	Coca-Cola West Red Sparks	26	176	88
5	SO Kil-Ryong	Yamaha Jubilo	25	180	95
6	Shuetsu NARITA	Suntory Sungoliath	25	169	69
7	Koji WADA	Toyota Verblitz	24	173	78
8	Takehisa USUZUKI	Toshiba Brave Lupus	24	180	88
9	Yusaku KUWAZURU	Coca-Cola West Red Sparks	24	188	95
10	Takashi TOYOMAE	Nippon Sports Uni.	22	177	80
11	Yasutaka SASAKURA	Kanto Gakuin Uni.	21	184	90
12	Daisuke NATSUI	Kanto Gakuin Uni.	21	188	88

Japan Sevens Staff

Wataru Murata (head coach, Yamaha),

Kensuke Iwabuchi (coach, JRFU),

Masahiro Furudate (trainer, Reniart).

Pools

There were 16 countries in 4 pools of 4 teams.

A	B	C	D
NZ	Samoa	Fiji	England
Argentina	S. Africa	Kenya	Australia
Scotland	France	Wales	USA
Tonga	Japan	PNG	Niue

Schedule

Day 1: Friday, 19 March 2010

Game 2, 18:22: South Africa v Japan.

Day 2: Saturday, 20 March 2010

Game 9, 14:15: Samoa v Japan.

Game 17, 17:26: France v Japan.

Day 3: Sunday, 21 March 2010

Knock-out stages.

IRB Sevens World Series, Hong Kong

The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens

26-28 March 2010 in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong leg of the IRB Sevens World Series is the premier event of the world circuit with its tradition, excitement and expanded twenty-four team format. Held at the 40,000 seat Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong is the only event of the annual eight leg series that has twenty-four teams, whereas all the other events have sixteen teams.

In Hong Kong in 2009, Japan had one of their better IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in a long time when they won two and lost three to make it as far as the Bowl semi-finals in. On the opening Friday of the annual three-day Hong Kong leg of the World Series Japan went close against Wales only going down by the margin of 14-5. However, all the good work and confidence building was undone against England on the Saturday when the Japanese went down 50-0. Not to be denied though, Japan regained their focus against China to win a close fought encounter 21-17. The win over China meant Japan finished third in Pool B and this put them into a Bowl quarterfinal against Sri Lanka on the Sunday. Japan had a reasonably comfortable 26-10 win over their Asian rivals to then put them into one of the semi-finals against Portugal. Although the score ended up being the same as the quarter, this time it was Japan on the losing end of the 26-10 score line.

In 2010, Hong Kong is the sixth tournament of the season and Japan are in Pool E this year but they are again grouped with England and Wales, though instead of China they will be joined in the pool by hosts Hong Kong. Wales are the reigning World Sevens champions, while over recent years England won this event in 2006, 2004, 2003 and 2002. Furthermore, Hong Kong will also have the vocal support of the locals to back their campaign making the overall task for Japan that much harder.

Pools:

There were 24 countries in 6 pools of 4 teams.

A	B	C	D	E	F
Samoa	NZ	Fiji	Australia	England	Kenya
Argentina	Scotland	USA	Canada	Wales	S. Africa
Russia	France	Portugal	Tonga	Japan	Zimbabwe
Italy	Chinese Taipei	Thailand	China	Hong Kong	Korea

Pool E Games for Japan:

Day 1: Friday, 26 March 2010

Game 11: (20:38) - Wales v Japan

Day 2: Saturday, 27 March 2010

Game 23: (14:10) - England v Japan

Game 29: (16:22) - Japan v Hong Kong

Day 3: Sunday, 28 March 2010

Knock-out stages.

Japan High Schools Tour to France 2010

Japan High School will visit France on a four-match tour from 13-29 March 2010. This is a reciprocal tour after France toured Japan in the summer of 2008 with two games at Sugadaira in the highlands of Nagano prefecture.

Schedule

The Japan Schoolboys will had a final pre-tour camp from Wednesday 10 March to Friday 12 March 2010 at the Tsukuba University Ground in Tsukuba city in Ibaraki prefecture.

The squad and staff departed Japan from Narita Airport on Saturday 13 March to arrive in Paris late the same day.

The following day, the squad attended the Six Nations clash between France and Italy at the Stade de France in Paris after which they transfered to Orleans in north-central France about 130km southwest of Paris.

Game 1: Japan High Schools v France U17 Selection.

Date: Wednesday, 17 March 2010.

Venue: Tours.

Kick-off: 15:00.

Game 2: Japan High Schools v France U18.

Date: Friday, 19 March 2010.

Venue: Orleans.

Kick-off: 17:00.

On Saturday, 20 March the Japan Schoolboys will transfer to Paris.

Game 3: Japan High Schools v Paul Espoir U18 Selection.

Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2010.

Venue: Paris.

Kick-off: 17:00.

Game 4: Japan High Schools v Paris area U18 Selection or Club Team. (TBC)

Date: Saturday, 27 March 2010.

Venue: Paris.

Kick-off: 19:00.

The group will depart Paris from the Charles de Gaulle Airport on Sunday, 28 March to arrive back in Narita the following day Japan time.

25-man Squad

Position	Name	Pref.	School	Height	Weight
Loose Heads	Hikaru ISHIZAWA	Tokyo	Tokyo	177	105
	Katsuhiko TAKEI	Nara	Gose Jitsugyo	172	100
Hookers	Masayoshi MARUMI	Osaka	Josho Gakuen	176	96
	Takumi SUDO	Tokyo	Kugayama	171	91
Tight Heads	Daikichi KASAI	Akita	Akita Kogyo	183	109
	Shinnosuke KAKINAGA	Fukuoka	Higashi Fukuoka	179	112
Locks	Tosei KUROKI	Fukuoka	Higashi Fukuoka	185	87
	Yoji AKIYAMA	Tokushima	Sadamitsu Kogyo	188	96
	Yuho ASHIYA	Kyoto	Fushimi Kogyo	190	90
	Yuta SHINYA	Yamanashi	Hikawa	184	94
Flankers	Shunsuke KASUYA	Saitama	Urawa	181	84
	Kazuki TAKAMORI	Chiba	Ryukeidai	178	88
	Yusuke NIWAI	Hyogo	Hotoku Gakuen	173	93
No8	Sho-Kei KIM	Osaka	Joshokeiko	176	89
Halfbacks	Ryota KAYAMA	Fukuoka	Higashi Fukuoka	166	69
	Keisuke UCHIDA	Kyoto	Fushimi Kogyo	177	76
Five-eighth	Hirotomo SHIMOJI	Hiroshima	Onomichi	173	80
Centres	Tonisio VAIHU	Ishikawa	JAL Ishikawa	175	98
	Shunsuke NUNOMAKI	Fukuoka	Higashi Fukuoka	178	84
	Koki NODA	Nagasaki	Nagasaki Nanzan	175	79
	Shingo HATANAKA	Osaka	Tokai Gyosei	170	83
Wings	Sho TAKENAKA	Kanagawa	Toin Gakuen	175	83
	Kentaro KODAMA	Fukuoka	Kokura	182	75
	Seiyu KOHARA	Osaka	Tokai Gyosei	182	82
Fullbacks	Yoshizumi TAKEDA	Nara	Gose Jitsugyo	180	86
	Kotaro MATSUSHIMA	Kanagawa	Toin Gakuen	174	77

NB: On 8 March 2010, prop Hikaru Ishizawa was ruled out of the tour due to injury. No replacement has been called for as of the time of writing.

2010 HSBC Asian Five Nations

The 2010 HSBC Asian Five Nations also doubles as the final Asian qualification round for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The top placed finisher will qualify directly for New Zealand as Asian 1 and will join hosts New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada in Pool A. The runner-up still has a chance of qualifying through the Final Place Play-off for a spot on Pool B.

Korea v Japan

Date: Saturday, 1 May 2010.

Venue: Gyeongsang Stadium, Daegu, Korea.

Kick-off: 14:00 (local Korean time is the same as Japan time).

Japan v Arabian Gulf

Date: Saturday, 8 May 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off 14:00.

Japan v Kazakhstan

Date: Saturday, 15 May 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off 14:00.

Japan v Hong Kong

Date: Saturday, 22 May 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off 14:00.

NB: the Kazakhstan v Japan fixture has been changed to Chichibu in Tokyo due to the lack of a suitable venue in Almaty.

The 11^th Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament 2010

This annual high school international tournament is again set for the Golden Week period from 27 April to 5 May at the Global Arena in Munakata in Fukuoka prefecture. Eight overseas schools chosen by their respective unions compete with eight top Japanese schools.

The sixteen schools will compete in four pools of four teams.

The Dax Landes High School from France will return in 2010 as the defending champion after they defeated Higashi Fukuoka High School from Fukuoka prefecture 38-30 in the 2009 final. The win for the French school was also the first time for a school other than from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to take the title. To date, no Japanese school is yet to win the tournament with Higashi Fukuoka the only local school to make a final, on three occasion in fact, in 2009, 2007 and 2004.

Schedule

Pool Games

Games are of 25 minute halves.

Four points are awarded for a win, two for a draw, one point for scoring four tries or more and one point for losing by seven points or less.

Day 1: Wednesday, 28 April 2010.

Day 2: Thursday, 29 April 2010.

Day 3: Saturday, 1 May 2010.

Finals Games

Games are of 30 minute halves.

The top two place getters in each pool play-off for places first to eighth while the remaining schools play off for places ninth to sixteenth.

Day 4: Sunday, 2 May 2010.

Day 5: Tuesday, 4 May 2010.

Day 6: Wednesday, 5 May 2010.

Overseas Schools

The Hills Sports High School (Australia), Truro College (England), Ratu Kadavulevu School (Fiji), Dax Landes High School (France), Korean High School Select (Korea), Hamilton Boys’ High School (New Zealand), Marais Viljoen High School (South Africa) and The British School (Uruguay).

Japanese Schools

Ryutsu Keizai, Kashiwa High School (Chiba), Toin Gakuen High School (Kanagawa), Kyoto Seisho High School (Kyoto), Fushimi Technical High School (Kyoto), Osaka Chosen High School (Osaka), Saga Technical High School (Saga), Kokura High School (Fukuoka) and Higashi Fukuoka (Fukuoka).

Previous Winners

2009: The Dax Landes HS (France)

2008: Glenwood HS (SA)

2007: Westfields Sports HS (Australia)

2006: Christchurch Boys’ HS (NZ)

2005: Christchurch Boys’ HS (NZ)

2004: Rotorua Boys’ HS (NZ)

2003: Rotorua Boys’ HS (NZ)

2002: Boland Agricultural College (SA)

2001: Grey College, Bloemfontein (SA)

2000: The King’s School, Sydney (Australia)

IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010

18-30 May 2010, Moscow.

Full details of the eight team Under 20 tournament soon.

The winner of the Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010 will be promoted to the Junior World Championship 2011.

Japanese referee Akihisa Aso is one of twelve match officials named on the tournament panel.

Pools

Pool A: Italy, Uruguay, Romania and PNG.

Pool B: Canada, Japan, Russia and Zimbabwe.

Schedule

Day 1: Tuesday, 18 May 2010, Russia v Japan, 18:15, Slava Stadium, Moscow.

Day 2: Saturday, 22 May 2010, Japan v Zimbabwe, 16:00, Fili Stadium, Moscow.

Day 3: Wednesday, 26 May 2010, Japan v Canada, 18:00, Slava Stadium, Moscow.

Day 4: Sunday, 30 May 2010, play-offs, Fili Stadium & Slava Stadium, Moscow.

Japan v South African President’s XV

Possibility of Japan playing a South African XV in between the A5N and the PNC.

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010

June 2010

Now in its fifth year, the International Rugby Board (IRB) funded ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 involves the three island nations Fiji, Samoa and Tonga along with Japan. New Zealand and Australia have not committed teams for 2010.

In 2006 this tournament kicked off as the Pacific Five Nations and involved Fiji, Japan, the Junior All Blacks (JAB), Samoa and Tonga. Australia A joined the competition in 2007 and the tournament name changed to its present moniker of Pacific Nations Cup. The same format was maintained for 2008 with the exception being the Maori were the New Zealand representative side rather than the Junior All Blacks.

In 2009, the Junior All Blacks (JAB) replaced the Maori as the New Zealand representative team, while Australia A did not participate in last year’s tournament. The 2009 tournament was condensed with the majority of the games played in Fiji rather than the home and away format of the three previous years. Also in 2009, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) came on board as the presenting sponsor for the tournament.

This year, Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga will take part in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010. Except for the opening game between Fiji and Japan at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji, Samoa and the Samoan Rugby Union will host the 2010 competition with the remaining five games slated for Apia Park in the capital city of Apia. With the tournament again largely being hosted in one country, refereeing and coaching workshops along junior rugby clinics are planned for the two week duration of the event. This is also the first time for Samoa to host a major international 15-a-side rugby tournament. The occasion is also a fillip for Samoa after the 2009 Samoa Earthquake, an 8.1M submarine earthquake and resulting tsunami struck the area on 29 September causing significant damage and loss of life across the region.

Previous Winners

The New Zealand representative sides have won all four previous titles.

2009: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB again took the PNC title undefeated on 19 points. Fiji were runner-up on 14 points followed by Samoa on 12 points, while Japan finished fourth on 6 points with one win and three losses. Tonga took the wooden spoon on one point.

2008: The New Zealand Maori. The Maori took the PNC title undefeated with 21 points when they beat Australia A 21-18 in the final game in Sydney. Australia A finished runner-up on 20 points. Japan finished fifth on 7 points with one win and four losses.

2007: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the PNC title undefeated with 25 points garnering maximum points in each game. Australia A finished a distant runner-up on 16 points after they lost to the JAB and drew with Fiji. Japan finished last on 4 points with one win and four losses.

2006: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the P5N title undefeated with 20 points with maximum points in each game. Japan finished last on 0 points with four losses.

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 Schedule

Round	Date	Teams	Venue	Kick-off
Round 1	Saturday, 12 June 2010	Samoa v Tonga	Apia Park, Apia	15:10
		Fiji v Japan	Churchill Park, Lautoka	15:10
Round 2	Saturday, 19 June 2010	Samoa v Japan	Apia Park, Apia	13:10
		Fiji v Tonga	Apia Park, Apia	16:10
Round 3	Saturday, 26 June 2010	Fiji v Samoa	Apia Park, Apia	13:10
		Japan v Tonga	Apia Park, Apia	16:10

November 2010

There is the possibility that the New Zealand Maori and maybe even the Wallabies will play against Japan in the November window month. Another alternative being considered is three matches in November against Rod McQueen’s Melbourne Rebels ahead of their debut in the expanded Super 15 competition in 2011. There is the added possibility that there will be no games for Japan in the autumn to allow the test level players to freshen up ahead of the very heavy schedule in 2011 leading up to the RWC in NZ late in the year.