Top league 2011-12 Team Profiles

Fukuoka Sanix Blues

http://rugby.sanix.jp//

Established: Sanix rugby was only established in 1994 and they are one of two current Top League teams based on the island of Kyushu (The other being Coca-Cola). The full name for the club has been known as Fukuoka Sanix Blues since the 2005-6 season while they were called the Fukuoka Sanix Bombs in the first two seasons of Top League. The blue refers to the sky and sea that surrounds their hometown of Munakata city in Fukuoka prefecture, as well as a more obscure reference to the musical variety of Blues. The team mascot is known as Kaito, taken from the English for Kite, a kind of hawk.

The slogan for the 2011-12 season is: “Win the ball, keep the ball, win back the ball!”

The Sanix team also has a host of supporting sponsors including Air New Zealand, Renault and Kenwood. For the 2011-12 season, the sports supplement and health and fitness company Kentai has also come on board as a sponsor.

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 – none.

From the 2003-4 season to the 2005-6 season, Top League consisted of 12 teams and the team that finished on top of the table claimed the title. In the 2006-7 season, Top League 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 Top League champion. From the 2009-10 season, the Microsoft company did not renew their naming rights sponsorship and so the finals series became known as the Top League Play-off Tournament.

2010-11 (14 teams): 8^th on table on 32 points with 5 wins, a draw and 7 losses.

2009-10 (14 teams): 7^th on table on 31 points with 6 wins and 7 losses.

2008-9 (14 teams): 11^th on table on 21 points with 3 wins and 10 losses.

2007-8 (14 teams): 12^th on table on 19 points with 4 wins and 9 losses.

2006-7 (14 teams): 9^th on table on 28 points with 5 wins, 1 draw and 7 losses.

2005-6 (12 teams): 12^th (last) on table on 2 points with no wins and 11 losses.

2004-5: Played in Top Kyushu competition.

2003-4 (12 teams): 12^th (last) on table on 12 points with 2 wins and 9 losses. (Relegated to Top Kyushu)

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none.

From 2004 to 2006 the Microsoft Cup was a separate knock-out tournament for the top 8 finishers in Top League. From 2007 the Microsoft Cup acted as the play-off finals series to determine the overall Top League champion with the top four finishers on the Top League ladder progressing to the Microsoft Cup. The Microsoft company did not renew their naming rights sponsorship for the 2009-10 Top League season and so the 2010 finals series became known as the Top League Play-off Tournament.

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.

After 22 teams participated in the 2004 National Championship it was reduced to 8 teams for 2005 consisting of the top four Top League sides, the top two universities, the top challenger from lower divisions and the top club side. In 2009 the number of teams was increased to ten with two additional Top League sides.

For 2010 the Wildcard Tournament was introduced to the National Championship for the Top League sides that finished fifth to tenth on the final table. In 2011 these six sides were: Kobe (fifth on 36 points), NEC (sixth on 34 points), Ricoh (seventh on 32 points), Sanix (eighth on 32 points), Kintetsu (ninth on 31 points) and Coca-Cola (tenth on 28 points). The teams played off over two weekends with Kobe and Ricoh winning the right to participate in the NC as the final two Top League participants.

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Kintetsu 30-22 then lost to Kobe 55-40 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): Lost to NEC 33-5 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Corporate Championship – none. The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: in line with their name of Sanix Blues, blue is prominent in the strip with dark navy blue jersey with lighter blue flashes, navy shorts and socks. The second jersey is white with dark blue flashes.

Style of Play: Sanix had their best ever season in Top League in 2009-10 with a seventh placed finish and backed that up with an eighth placed finish for the 2010-11 season underlying the club ambition of cracking into the top four. A lot of work has been done on strength and conditioning over the off-season in order to get the team wins in tight games. Last year Sanix were known for keeping the ball alive in attack and utilising the full width of the field and the same can be expected again this year.

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 score lines 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 12^th 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. In the 2008-9 season, Sanix finished 11^th 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. In the 2009-10 season Sanix had their best ever result in Top League when they finished seventh on 31 points from six wins and seven losses.

Thus, in the eight seasons Sanix have played in Top League the best they have finished is seventh 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.

Another aspect of senior rugby in Kyushu is the fact that the two Kyushu based teams participating in Top League, that is Sanix and Coca-Cola are both 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 has 26 caps for Japan in the backrow and he is an invaluable asset for the club although at 33 he is coming to the end of his career after nine seasons with Sanix. He is joined by lock Jake Paringatai and Mahe Tuvi who are both in their third season with Sanix. Without a doubt, the major signing for Sanix for the 2011-12 season is former All Black lock Brad Thorn. The exhilaration of winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup had barely settled for Thorn and he was playing in Japan for the first time. Other workers in the pack include flanker Yu Kanto, veteran front rower Masataka Matsuzono in his sixteenth season with the club and lock Taro Akita.

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 has played 5 tests including against Australia in the RWC. Wing Karn Hesketh who joined the club last year is an impact player from the bench with a knock for finding the try line. 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.

Again this year, Sanix can also boast that they have three brothers playing in their ranks with halfback Kohei Hamazato (23), centre Shusaku (25) and flanker Yusuke (27) at the Blues for 2011-12.

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

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N and the IRB PNC series, Sanix were not represented. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), Sanix were not represented. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Sanix were not represented.

In 2010, in the HSBC A5N series, the ANZ PNC and the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Sanix were not represented.

In 2009, in the HSBC A5N, the ANZ PNC and the two home tests against Canada in November, Sanix were not represented.

In 2008, in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament Sanix were not represented. However, in Pacific Nations Cup, Sanix were represented by Hare Makiri who started in all five games as open side flanker. In the two home tests against the USA in November, Sanix were not represented.

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) 33 y/o, 26 caps at flanker.

Kosei ONO 24 y/o, 5 caps at five-eighth.

Takahiro SUGIURA 28 y/o, one cap at loosehead prop.

The Coach: 42-year-old Yuichiro Fujii (28/05/1969) is in his seventh year as the head coach at Sanix in the 2011-12 season. 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). He attended Tenri High School in Nara and then Meijo University in Nagoya and also played with NicoNicoDo before joining Sanix.

The Captain: The new captain for the 2011-12 season is hooker Yasutake Nagashita (18/08/1985). The vice-captain is five-eighth Kosei Ono, the forwards leader is prop Takahiro Sugiura and the backs leader is centre Shusaku Hamazato. Flanker Yu Kanto was captain for three years before Nagashita. 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 (retired at end of the 2008-9 season), 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)

Shinsuke OKADA, 29 y/o (09/09/1982), prop, 180/111, after 4 years with club.

Pila FIFITA (Tonga) 31 y/o (13/06/1975), flanker/wing, 186/105, 3 caps for Tonga, from Bayonne (Fra), after 5 years with club.

Kento IKEDA, 25 y/o (30/01/1986), halfback, 174/75, to Secom after 1 year with club.

Amasio VALENCE (Fiji) 32 y/o (12/05/1979), utility back, 175/90, NZ 7s, Blues S12, after 5 years with club.

Tsuyoshi SUGA, 28 y/o (15/02/1983), wing/centre, 177/85, to Mitsubishi Nagasaki after 5 years with club.

Shinya NAGAIKE, 29 y/o (17/05/1982), wing/fullback, 173/77, after 3 years with club.

Gains: (9)

Hiroki KASHIFUKU, 26 y/o (07/07/1985), prop, 178/105, from Hokkaido University and the Hokkaido Barbarians club (2005-6 to 2010-11).

Takuma TAKASHIMA, 23 y/o (24/06/1988), prop/hooker, 173/100, from Nippon Sport Science University.

Kota KUMAMOTO, 23 y/o (24/11/1988), hooker/No8, 172/95, from Shigakukan University in Kagoshima.

Brad THORN (NZL), 36 y/o (03/02/1975), lock, 196/115, 59 caps for All Blacks, SR Crusaders, NPC Canterbury.

HWANG Chol-Su, 24 y/o (08/11/1987), lock, 189/107, from Chosen Univ.

SHIN Hyo-nu, 23 y/o (20/05/1988), flanker, 180/93, from Chosen Univ.

Yasuhisa KANDA, 25 y/o (05/02/1986), halfback, 170/76, Sydney Univ. 2010, Grammar Carlton (NZ) 2011.

Eito TAMURA, 29 y/o, (31/05/1982), centre, 182/88, from Poneke RFC (NZ) 2002-2010.

Akira NATOMI, 23 y/o (26/10/1988), centre/fullback, 180/92, from Chubu University in Aichi prefecture.

(Kade POKI (NZ), 23 y/o, centre/wing, 176/85, Hato Paora College, NZ. He has represented NZ at U19 level and also Tasman.) Poki was listed as joining Sanix early in the year, but it seems it fell through.

Overseas Players and Staff: (9)

Hare MAKIRI (NZ) 33 y/o (31/05/1978), lock/flanker, 190/105, 9^th year with club, 26 caps for Japan, NZ Maori, Chiefs S12, Counties.

CHOI Ki-Joon (Korea) 28 y/o (03/04/1983), centre, 183/90, 5^th year.

SHIN Dong-Won (Korea) 25 y/o (12/12/1986), prop/hooker, 181/102, 4^th year, represented Canterbury at U14 (2000), U15 (2001) & U16 (2002) levels. Attended Christchurch BHS.

Tafai IOASA (NZL) 31 y/o (07/10/1980), backrow, 182/100, 4^th 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.

Jake PARINGATAI (NZL), 31 y/o (13/04/1980), lock/No8, 192/106, 3^rd year, NZ Maori, Crusaders, Munster (Ire), IBM (2008-9).

Tuvi MAHE (Japan/Tonga) 31 y/o (21/09/1980), flanker/No8, 183/103, 3^rd year, Daitobunka Uni, IBM (2006-7 to 2008-9).

Siliva AHIO (NZL), 25 y/o (05/10/1986), five-eighth/centre, 179/94, 2^nd year, Wesley College, Rissho Univ.

Karne HESKETH (NZL), 26 y/o (01/08/1985), wing/centre, 178/98, 2^nd year Napier BHS, Otago Univ.

Brad THORN (NZL), 36 y/o (03/02/1975), lock, 196/115, 1^st year, 59 caps for All Blacks, SR Crusaders, NPC Canterbury.

The 2011-12 Squad: (45) 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.

Yasutake Nagashita (c), Kosei Ono (v-c), Takahiro Sugiura (forwards leader) and Shusaku Hamazato (backs leader). Forwards: Masataka Matsuzono, Reo Tomori, Masatsugu Kakogawa, Akinobu Yamagiwa, Hiroki Kashifuku, Kazuki Nagatani, Shin Dong-Won, Suguru Takada, Takuma Takashima, Kota Kumamoto, Brad Thorn, Hare Makiri, Masahiro Oba, Taro Akita, Jake Paringatai, Tadayoshi Watanabe, Tadashi Noda, Hwang Chol-Su, Shin Hyo-Nu, Yu Kanto, Mahe Tuvi, Tafai Ioasa, Keizo Nishiura, Yusuke Hamazato and Kaname Nishibata. Backs: Shunsuke Amamoto, Yasuhisa Kanda, Takamichi Harada, Kohei Hamazato, Sadaomi Kanagawa, Silvia Ahio, Hiroshi Tashiro, Eito Tamura, Choi Ki-Joon, Akira Natomi, Terumitsu Oba, Kengo Nagadome, Asahi Fujiwara, Terumasa Sonoda, Karne Hesketh and Ryuji Koga. Coach: Yuichiro Fujii (42).

Ricoh Black Rams

http://www.ricoh.co.jp/rugby/

Established: Ricoh, one of the relatively older company teams running around in Top League, were established in 1953. The company address is listed as downtown Tokyo and the training ground is also located at Kinuta in Setagaya ward in Tokyo. The symbol Ricoh adopted is the Black Ram, noted for its fighting spirit.

The slogan for the 2011-12 season is again the acronym TAFU, standing for Team, Aggression, Faith and Unity. Further, the added catchphrase for this year is ‘Speed Rugby’. Under the new coaching team of Leon Holden as head coach and Hirotsugu Yamashina as manager Ricoh are aiming at playing speedy rugby. They aim to be physical in approach and extremely fit to beat their opponents in speed in both attack and defence. Some big name overseas player signings in the squad this year are also going to play a crucial role in the fortunes of Ricoh this year.

The golden age for Ricoh was the early to mid 1970s when they dominated Japanese corporate rugby over this period. However, it has been a long time between drinks and Ricoh are a long way off the pace of the top teams in the modern era. Common to the woes of all teams outside the top 8, they lack the pulling power for the high profile local players coming through the university system. Their fortunes are thus on something of a vicious cycle. Ricoh had to battle through the promotion and relegation play-offs every year in the first 4 years of Top League and their luck finally ran out when they finished 13^th at the end of the 2007-8 season and were automatically relegated. However, Ricoh re-organised their operations, topped the Top East 11 competition undefeated and then beat Honda and Mazda in the Top Challenge Series to regain their place in Top League for the 2009-10 season.

The Company: Cameras, business machines such as photocopiers, printers, fax machines and other electronic devices.

Titles:

Top League – none.

2010-11 (14 teams): 7^th on table on 32 points with 6 wins and 7 losses.

2009-10 (14 teams): 12^th on table on 19 points with 4 wins and 9 losses. (Beat Mazda 59-12 in promotion and relegation play-off.)

2008-9: DNP. Ricoh played in the Top East 11 competition.

2007-8 (14 teams): 13^th on table on 17 points with 3 wins and 10 losses. Relegated to Top East 11.

2006-7 (14 teams): 11^th on table on 21 points with 4 wins and 9 losses. (Beat Honda 43-24 in promotion and relegation play-off.)

2005-6 (12 teams): 11^th on table on 10 points with 2 wins and 9 losses. (Beat Honda 34-20 in promotion and relegation play-off.)

2004-5 (12 teams): 10^th on table on 18 points with 4 wins and 7 losses. (Beat Toyota Jido Shokki 42-7 in promotion and relegation play-off.)

2003-4 (12 teams): 9^th on table on 15 points with 3 wins and 8 losses.

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none.

2009: DNP.

2008: DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified as Top League finals series.

2007: DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified as Top League finals series.

2006: DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

2005: DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

2004: DNQ as only top 8 TL teams qualified.

National Championship – twice (1974 and 1973).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Coca-Cola 31-29 then lost to NEC 38-33 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Qualified as the Top Challenger. Drew with Teikyo University 25-all in first round but progressed to next round due to the fact they scored more tries. Beat NEC 24-23 in second round. Lost to Sanyo 59-3 in semi-finals.

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

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

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

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

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

Corporate Championship – 3 times (1974, 1973 and 1971 (joint champions with Shin Nittetsu Kamaishi after final drawn 6-all)); runners-up twice (1972 and 1975). The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: Black jersey, shorts and socks. The second jersey is white with black flashes through the flanks.

Style of Play: In the first four seasons of Top League Ricoh struggled, finishing well down the ladder every year. Then, they finished 13^th and were relegated at the end of the 2007-8 season but to their credit they re-grouped and fought their way back into Top League after just the one season in the Top East 11 competition. Throughout their five years in Top League, Ricoh had a number of high profile coaches such as Tim Lane and before him Brian Smith, though at the end of the day there has not been the necessary continuity and stability in the coaching ranks. After Tim Lane, Toshiaki Sato was head coach for two seasons before making way for Todd Louden from the 2008-9 season. Louden had three seasons as head coach at Ricoh and he provided that much needed stability at the top to start turning things around.

In some ways, relegation was the wake-up call that Ricoh had to have as they re-vamped their operations for 2008-9 and playing in the less demanding Top East league enabled the new set-up room for trial and error. Louden and his new coaching staff worked hard to improve things at Ricoh but one of the real coups for the club was the signing of Wallabies legend Stephen Larkham. Larkham was far from a one man miracle worker but the aura surrounding the man had been inspiring for all concerned at the Rams.

After being relegated Ricoh made drastic changes to playing personnel and this continued into the 2009-10 season with 17 players leaving, while 20 new players joined the club. For the 2010-11 season there was again a big turnover of players with 14 losses and 18 gains. What they now have is a solid core of a squad with a good balance between overseas and local players. In the 2011-12 season Ricoh chalked up a number of wins and gave some of the more fancied sides a few scare along the way. Ricoh were competitive in their second season back in Top League finishing a very commendable seventh on the final table, their best ever finish. If Ricoh can improve on that in 2011-12 it will be a fantastic turn around for this proud club.

Leon Holden takes over from Todd Louden as head coach for 2011-12 and Hirotsugu Yamashina is the manager. To help him in their task will be English backrower James Haskell and blockbusting All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu who are both playing in Japan for the first time on short term contracts. Nonu will be back in the midfield with his former Hurricanes partner Tamati Ellison and this combination should have a huge impact on how the Ricoh backs perform this year. Along with a new coach, enigmatic veteran hooker Yoshiyuki Takizawa is the new captain at Ricoh for the 2011-12 season and together with his coach and manager he will be an important part of the new system at Ricoh that has the pressure on to improve on the seventh placed finish from last season. Maintaining the upward momentum is not going to be easy with other teams in a similar situation to Ricoh such as NEC, Yamaha and Kintetsu also out to climb the table this year. Ricoh are also blessed with a very reliable goal kicker in five-eighth Yoshimitsu Kawano and he can be called upon to slot important goals throughout the season to help get the results Ricoh so desperately seek. There are a lot of positives about Ricoh this year and they have the feel of a team on the rise but for the long term good of the club it is important they have a good year.

Players to Watch:

In the forwards, Tongan-born two metre lock Emosi Sakura Kauhenga who has taken out Japanese citizenship, is one of the real impact players in the pack and he is now in his fifth year with Ricoh this season after graduating from Daitobunka University. A big gain for Ricoh last season was the acquisition of Tongan Hale T-Pole from Suntory and together with Rocky Havili who also spent time at Suntory they should give the pack some grunt. Backrower Ryota Ai and his younger brother Koji are other important members of the pack. Spirited hooker Yoshiyuki Takizawa also has a high work rate and the experience of Haskell cannot be underestimated.

In the backs, Stephen Larkham left Ricoh at the end of last season (2010-11) after three years with the club season, but the inclusion of Nonu in the backline will go a long way to maintaining the form in the backs. Sevens specialist Yusuke Kobuki will be looking to make a mark this year and Ryo Kanazawa will also be hoping to carry on his form from recent seasons from the centres. Kanazawa made his debut for Japan in the spring tests in 2010 and this will help with his confidence. Yoshimitsu Kawano will be the principle five-eight with the added pressure of the goal kicking responsibilities. Roy Kinikinilau will be bound to threaten opposition defences throughout the season. Teams opposing Ricoh this season can be excused for seeing double as Kenichi Yokoyama and his twin brother Shinichi are in the outside backs. The two brothers have represented Japan at Sevens and at 180cms and 80kgs one or both of the twins could be expected to go onto higher representative honours. Another experienced player is former Japan halfback Wataru Ikeda who moved across from Sanyo four seasons ago. The big signing for the Rams last season was Tamati Ellison from the Hurricanes and he should help Ricoh get across the line this year.

Cap holders for Japan in the current squad: (2)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Ricoh were not represented.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N and the IRB PNC series, Ricoh were not represented. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), Ricoh were not represented.

In 2010, in the HSBC A5N series, Ricoh were represented by centre Ryo Kanazawa who made his test debut against the Arabian Gulf at inside centre. In the ANZ PNC, Ricoh were again represented by centre Ryo Kanazawa who added to his test count from the bench against Samoa and Tonga. In the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Ricoh were not represented.

In 2009, in the HSBC A5N, the ANZ PNC and the two home tests against Canada in November, Ricoh were not represented.

In 2008, in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament, the Pacific Nations Cup and the two home tests against the USA in November, Ricoh were not represented.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Ricoh were represented by NZ-born utility back Bryce Robins. However, Filipo Levi was playing with Samoa and Emosi Kauhenga with Tonga. Robins left Ricoh for NEC at the end of the 2007-8 season after playing with the club for four years. Levi left Ricoh at the end of the 2008-9 season while Kauhenga is still with the club.

Wataru IKEDA 36 y/o, 14 caps at halfback.

Ryo KANAZAWA 30 y/o, 3 caps at inside centre.

The Coach: The new coach at Ricoh for the 2011-12 season is New Zealand born Leon Holden (40) with Hirotsugu Yamashina (36) the team manager. Holden was born in Thames and was a lock or No8 in his playing days and represented New Zealand at U21 level before injury brought an early end to his playing career. He previously coached Thames Valley and then in Japan at Sanix in the 2004-5 season before moving to London Wasps (2005 to 2009) as a set piece and forwards coach under Ian McGeechan winning the 2007 Heineken Cup and the 2008 Premiership. He was forwards coach at Waikato in 2010, then director of rugby at Wasps early in 2011 with Shaun Edwards as head coach after the departure of Tony Hanks before taking up the appointment with Ricoh.

Before Holden, Australian Todd Louden was appointed head coach for the 2008-9 season and was in charge for three seasons. Louden was an assistant coach under Ewan McKenzie at the Waratahs over the 2007 and 2008 seasons and was also an assistant coach at the Bulls in South Africa in 2006. Coming on board with Louden too were forwards coach South African Botha Human, coach at the Bulls from 2005-8 and technical coach New Zealander Lance Hayward who was an analyst at the Waratahs from 2005-8.

Before Louden, Toshiaki Sato was appointed head coach in April 2006 taking over from Tim Lane and he coached the team for two seasons. Sato joined Ricoh as a player in 1985 straight from high school and played as a centre right through till he retired in 2001. From 2002 he coached Tokai Uni for four years before rejoining Ricoh as backs coach. The two seasons before Sato saw non-Japanese as head coaches. Former Springbok Peter Muller was backs coach in 2006-7, though his services were not required after that. Muller played 33 Tests for the Boks in the centres including RWC 99 before moving on to play & coach with Cardiff (2000-04) & Doncaster (2005). Former Wallaby & Queenslander Glenn Panaho was forwards coach in 2006-7 but he too has moved on. Although born in Whangarei in NZ, Panaho was a product of the St Joseph’s Nudgee College in Brisbane. Panaho made his international debut in 1998 against the Springboks as a prop who could play on either side of the scrum & went on to earn 21 caps. His last appearance for Australia was in the 17-21 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park on 16 August 2003. He also played for the Brothers club in Brisbane.

Brian Smith was coach before Tim Lane but was released to take up a post with London Irish.

The Captain: The new captain at Ricoh for the 2011-12 season is veteran hooker Yoshiyuki Takizawa (30/05/1978, 33 y/o) who is in his eleventh year with the club. The vice-captains are prop Hideaki Takahashi and backs Yoshimitsu Kawano and Daisuke Komatsu.

The captain for the 2009-10 season was halfback Wataru Ikeda. Ikeda has 14 caps for Japan and he had a long career at Sanyo before the rise of Fumiaki Tanaka encouraged him to move to Ricoh for the 2008-9 season.

Before Ikeda, flanker Shoji Ito was captain for three years but he moved to Kobe at the end of the 2008-9 season. Ito took over from lock Hiroyuki Tanuma (retired at end of 2009-10).

Losses: (5)

KIM Young-Nam (Korea), 33 y/o (23/07/1978), lock, 193/115, 10 caps for Korea, from NTT Docomo 2008-9 and 2009-10, to Kubota after 1 season with club.

Keigo GOTO, 34 y/o (14/07/1977), flanker, 178/92, after 11 seasons with club.

Stephen LARKHAM (Aus), 37 y/o (29/05/1974), five-eighth/fullback, 190/88, 102 caps for Wallabies, S12/14 Brumbies, after 3 seasons with club.

Joel WILSON (Aus) 35 y/o (03/12/1976), centre, 187/95, Australia A, Brumbies S12/14 (2001-5). From Kobe (2006-7), after 3 seasons with club.

Atsushi MORIYA 29 y/o (28/12/1981), centre, 184/92, 7 caps for Japan in centres or on wing, to Canon after 1 season with club.

Gains: (6)

Daiki YANAGAWA, 22 y/o (19/02/1989), lock, 189/96, from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences.

Tatsuhide AKABORI, 23 y/o (02/10/1988), lock/No8, 187/96, from Meiji Gakuin University.

James HASKELL (ENG), 26 y/o (02/04/1985), backrow, 193/113, 41 caps for England 2007-2011, London Wasps, Stade Francais.

Masatoshi NAKAMURA, 22 y/o (24/01/1989), halfback, 165/64, from Nihon University, vice-captain in final year.

Akihiro SHIOYAMA, 23 y/o (18/11/1988), centre/wing, 175/80, from Meiji Gakuin University, captain in final year.

Ma’a NONU (NZL), 29 y/o (21/05/1982), centre, 180/106, 63 caps All Blacks 2003-2011, Hurricanes.

Overseas Players & Staff: (10 + 4)

Emosi Sakura KAUHENGA (Tonga/Japan), 30 y/o (27/04/1981), lock/flanker, 200/125, 5^th year, 14 caps for Tonga, from Daitobunka Univ.

Rocky HAVILI (Tonga), 31 y/o (08/03/1980), backrow/centre, 180/101, 3^rd year. From Suntory (2007-8 and 2008-9).

Roy KINIKINILAU (NZL), 31 y/o (14/02/1980), centre/wing, 192/110, 3^rd year. From IBM (2008-9).

Daniel PETERS (NZL), 26 y/o (04/06/1985), fullback, 179/93, 3^rd year, from Takushoku Uni.

Hale T-POLE (Tonga), 32 y/o (30/04/1979), lock/flanker, 192/110, 2^nd year, 15 caps for Tonga & 5 for Pacific Islands. From Ospreys, Wales and formerly S14 Highlanders. From Suntory.

Michael BROADHURST (NZL), 25 y/o (30/10/1986), lock/flanker/No8, 196/105, 2^nd year. From Kubota (2009-10).

Tamati ELLISON (NZL), 28 y/o (01/04/1983), centre, 184/95, 2^nd year, 1 cap for All Blacks, Maori, NZ Sevens, Hurricanes S14, Wellington NPC.

Marc LE (Malaysia), 25 y/o (06/10/1986), centre/wing/fullback, 182/90, 2^nd year. From Wellington Colts.

James HASKELL (ENG), 26 y/o (02/04/1985), backrow, 193/113, 1^st year, 41 caps for England 2007-2011, London Wasps, Stade Francais.

Ma’a NONU (NZL), 29 y/o (21/05/1982), centre, 180/106, 1^st year, 63 caps All Blacks 2003-2011, Hurricanes.

Leon HOLDEN (NZL), 40 y/o, head coach, 1^st year.

Lance HAYWARD (NZL), 49 y/o, backs coach, 4^th year.

Jeff WHITE, 34 y/o, strength coach.

Stephen LARKHAM (AUS), 37 y/o (29/05/1974), adviser.

The 2011-12 Squad: (58) 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.

Yoshiyuki Takizawa (captain), Hideaki Takahashi (vice-captain forwards), Yoshimitsu Kawano (vice-captain backs), Daisuke Komatsu (vice-captain backs). Forwards: Yuta Ito, Kei Sumita, Yusuke Nagae, Daisuke Kuwabara, Kazuhiro Shibata, Yusuke Matsumoto, Yusuke Inoue, Yuki Mori, Masahiro Noguchi, Akiyoshi Kawaguchi, Emosi Sakura Kauhenga, Tomohiro Oinuma, Ryota Ai, Kenta Yamamoto, Mitsuki Sakamoto, Takeshi Mabuchi, Michael Broadhurst, Daichi Oyama, Tatsuhide Akabori, Daiki Yanagawa, Rocky Havili, Rikiya Kawakami, Kim Young-Dae, James Haskell, Koji Ai, Gen Kakurai, Takeru Yoshizawa, Hiroyuki Moriyama, Kazuhiro Moriya and Hale T-Pole. Backs: Wataru Ikeda, Takashi Kamio, Naotaka Yuasa, Yuta Goto, Kenichi Yokoyama, Shinichi Yokoyama, Hikaru Iwata, Masatoshi Nakamura, Tamati Ellison, Akihiro Shigemi, Ryo Tokunaga, Shota Tsuda, Kazuki Kohama, Ryo Kanazawa, Fumiya Santo, Roy Kinikinilau, Yusuke Kobuki, Ma’a Nonu, Shinsuke Ikegami, Shori Hoshino, Marc Le, Genki Hasegawa, Akihiro Shioyama and Daniel Peters. Head Coach: Leon Holden (40).

NEC Green Rockets

http://www.necsports.net/

Established: In 2010-11 NEC finished sixth on the final Top League table after they slumped to tenth in 2009-10. NEC had relatively disappointing 2008-9, 2007-8 and 2006-7 seasons by their standards finishing fifth, sixth and seventh on the table respectively. However, apart from these seasons, the club has been very successful over recent years. NEC are another of the relatively newer clubs in Top League having only been established in 1985 with the team based in the NEC factory complex in Abiko city in north-western Chiba prefecture. The green in Green Rockets refers to the grass of the playing fields upon which NEC battles. While the rocket is the image of a fast and powerful NEC leading the way in the 21^st century. NEC also have in their sports stable the Blue Rockets (men’s volleyball team) and the Red Rockets (women’s volleyball team).

The team slogan for 2011-12 is “Big Heart – Strong Will”.

The Company: electrical and electronics maker. See www.nec.co.jp.

Titles:

Top League – none.

2010-11 (14 teams): 6^th on table on 34 points with 7 wins and 6 losses.

2009-10 (14 teams): 10^th on table on 25 points with 4 wins and 9 losses.

2008-9 (14 teams): 5^th on table on 37 points with 8 wins and 5 losses.

2007-8 (14 teams): 6^th on table on 42 points with 9 wins and 4 losses.

2006-7 (14 teams): 7^th on table on 38 points with 7 wins and 6 losses.

2005-6 (12 teams): 3^rd on table on 41 points with 9 wins and 2 losses.

2004-5 (12 teams): 3^rd on table on 44 points with 9 wins and 2 losses.

2003-4 (12 teams): 6^th on table on 27 points with 5 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses.

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) once (2004).

2009: DNQ.

2008: DNQ.

2007: DNQ.

2006: beat Toyota 17-12 in first round & knocked out by Toshiba 23-10 in semi-finals.

2005: knocked out by Kobe 51-16 in first round.

2004: Champions. Defeated Kobe 34-10 in SF, Suntory 32-5 in QF and Toshiba 24-19 in final.

National Championship –3 times (2006 (joint champions with Toshiba after final drawn at 6-all), 2005 and 2002).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Ricoh 38-33 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Lost to Toshiba 21-10 in first round.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Sanix 33-5 and Kubota 22-21 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify for NC. Drew with Suntory 10-all in first round but won on lottery ballot, beat Teikyo Uni. 38-5 in QFs then lost to Sanyo 25-16 in SFs.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Kobe 30-29 in first round, then lost to Ricoh 24-23 in second round.

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

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

2006 (43^rd NC - 8 teams): Joint Champions. Beat Coca-Cola 69-24 in QFs & Sanyo 24-16 in SFs. Drew the final 6-all with Toshiba.

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): Champions. Beat Yamaha 24-13 in SFs, Sanix 55-21 in QFs & Toyota 17-13 in final.

2004 (41^st NC - 22 teams): Beat KGU 43-13, Suntory 34-27 in QFs & lost 34-29 to Kobe in SFs.

Colours: dark green and white hooped jersey, dark green shorts and socks. The alternative strip is white.

Style of Play: Consistency was rewarded with the club’s first major title coming in the form of National Championship in 2002 and then again in 2005 and 2006 (The 2006 title was shared with Toshiba when the final was drawn 6-all). This was complemented by winning the inaugural Microsoft Cup in 2004. NEC finished sixth in the inaugural Top League season then managed third place in the following two seasons before dropping to seventh in 2006-7, sixth in 2007-8, fifth in 2008-9. In the 2009-10 season NEC finished tenth after losing nine of their ten opening games. They then improved in 2010-11 rising to sixth place

NEC are continuing through something of a generational change at the moment with a significant number of their mainstay players over the Top League era reaching the end of their careers or moving on. For instance, Jaco van der Westhuyzen returned to South Africa at the end of the 2009-10 season after six years with the club while former club and national captain Takuro Miuchi moved to NTT Docomo at the end of the 2009-10 season after 11 years with the Rockets.

For 2011-12, the team is looking to strike a balance between young up and coming players, the veteran players in the squad and also their overseas contingent as they try to shape a strong team for the future and get back to the standard they were at six or seven years ago. In all likelihood, NEC will not be up there competing for the Top League title this season and they will struggle to challenge for a place in the top four and thus the semi-finals, but the club is rebuilding and over the long term they have to map out a way to get back to the top. The challenge is there for NEC in the short term and this season will be a step along the long path of reinventing themselves and creating a squad that can eventually compete with the best.

Players to Watch: In the forwards, a lot of inspiration will again have to come from flanker and captain Nili Latu, now in his fifth season with NEC and second a captain. Latu has a big hand in the way NEC perform but some of the mainstays of the NEC pack such as prop Yuta Inose, locks Takanori Kumagae and Tomoo Yasuda and flanker Ryota Asano will also have to play at their best this season. Meanwhile, young No8 Makoto Tosa is in his third season with the club after spending time at Oxford and he has the added responsibility of being vice-captain in 2011-12 while flanker Taro Kenjo is another one to keep an eye on this year. South African Hottie Louw joins NEC from Ricoh this season and his experience will be valuable in guiding the younger players around the field.

In the backs, new recruits Cameron McIntyre from the Crusaders and Yu Tamura from Meiji University will be important playmakers and they will have to hit the ground running this season if the backs are to be effective. In the midfield, Eiji Ando and Takeshi Matsuo now have considerable experience and they can be expected to have a share of the kicking responsibilities along with McIntyre and Tamura. Further out in the backs are the talents of Koichi Ohigashi, who can play halfback as well as wing or fullback, exciting fullback Keiji Takei and speedy wing Koichiro Kubota out wide. The inclusion of former All Black centre Anthony Tuitavake is a boost in the firepower of the NEC backs while giant Fijian wing Nemani Nadolo will be looking to make an impact in his first season in Japan.

Cap holders for Japan in the current squad: (7)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, NEC were not represented.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N and the IRB PNC series, NEC were not represented. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), NEC were not represented.

In 2010, in the HSBC A5N and ANZ PNC series, NEC were not represented. In the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Kobe were represented by utility back Bryce Robins who came on from the bench against Russia and started as five-eighth against Russia.

In 2009, in the A5N and the PNC series, NEC were represented by utility back Bryce Robins who unfortunately was injured in the very first test of the season against Kazakhstan forcing him out of the squad for the rest of the spring season. In the two home tests against Canada in November 2009, NEC were not represented.

In 2008, In the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament, NEC supplied prop Yuta Inose who played in two of the four tests, lock Taira Sato (3 tests) and national captain and No8 Takuro Miuchi. In the backs, Bryce Robins also claimed NEC allegiance after moving across from Ricoh at the completion of the 2007-8 season. In the Pacific Nations Cup, NEC were represented by hooker Naonori Mizuyama who played in three of the five tests from the bench, Miuchi and Robins. In the two home tests against the USA in November 2008, hooker Mizuyama and utility back Robins represented NEC. Mizuyama left NEC at the end of the 2008-9 season to join NTT Docomo. The two tests against the USA also saw a generational change in the captaincy of the Japan side with long-term captain Miuchi making way for Takashi Kikutani from Toyota. The good news for NEC over the 2008 international season was the debuts of three players, Yuta Inose, Taira Sato and Naonori Mizuyama. The bad news was the fact that regulars test starters over recent seasons, lock Takanori Kumagae, five-eighth Eiji Ando, backrower Ryota Asano and utility back Koichi Ohigashi were not considered for national selection.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France NEC was represented by national captain and No8 Takuro Miuchi and lock Takanori Kumagae. Back rower Ryota Asano was also called into the squad as a replacement for the injured Takamichi Sasaki. Five-eighth Eiji Ando was also an integral part of the pre-RWC squad until a serious knee injury in the warm-up game against Portugal ruled him out. Prop Yuta Inose was in France as part of the back-up squad and although not needed, the experience of the RWC environment will make him a more rounded player.

Takanori KUMAGAE 33 y/o, 26 caps at lock.

Ryota ASANO 32 y/o, 22 caps at flanker.

Eiji ANDO 29 y/o, 13 caps at five-eighth.

Koichi OHIGASHI 32 y/o, 7 caps at halfback/wing.

Keiji TAKEI 31 y/o, 6 caps at wing/fullback.

Yuta INOSE 29 y/o, 6 caps at prop.

Koichiro KUBOTA 33 y/o, 3 caps at wing.

The Coach: Kaname Okayama (39) is again the head coach at NEC for the 2011-12 season. Okayama had been part of the coaching set-up at NEC over recent years but took on the head coaching role two seasons ago. Also on the coaching staff are Greg Cooper as coaching coordinator, Ben Hurling as an assistant coach and Keith Roberts as conditioning coach.

The Captain: Flanker Nili Latu is again the captain at NEC for the 2011-12 season. This is his fifth season with the club and second season as captain. He took over from lock Takanori Kumagae who was skipper for two seasons. Flanker Ryota Asano was captain for 3 years before that after taking over form Takuro Miuchi (moved to NTT Docomo at end of 2009-10 season).

Losses: (9 + 1)

Yuichi HISADOMI 33 y/o (11/08/1978), prop, 183/115, 21 caps for Japan, to NTT Docomo after 10 years with club.

Atsushi KATAOKA, 29 y/o (24/10/1982), hooker, 178/107, into company workforce after 6 years with club.

Taira SATO 29 y/o (06/02/1982), lock, 192/110, 3 caps for Japan, to further his studies at Tokyo Kaiyo Uni after 7 years with club.

Semisi SAUKAWA NAEVO (Fiji), 35 y/o (03/05/1976), flanker, 196/115, 13 caps for Fiji including 2007 RWC and 2 caps for Pacific Islands, captained Fiji 7s side, Counties NPC, after 8 years with club.

Masaaki ISOOKA, 28 y/o (21/03/1983), No8, into company workforce after 6 years with club.

Bryce ROBINS (NZL), 31 y/o (19/09/1980), centre, 183/95, 24 caps for Japan, NZ Maori, Hurricanes S12, 4 years with Ricoh, to Honda after 3 years with club.

Yuya MIZUTA, 33 y/o (21/08/1978), centre, 173/78, into company workforce after 9 years with club.

Masato INOUE, 32 y/o (27/05/1979), centre, 181/95, into company workforce after 9 years with club.

Siupeli LOKOTUI (NZL), 28 y/o (14/05/1983), centre, 186/110, he studied at Takushoku University before joining Ricoh. He has represented Japan at Sevens and U23s. To NTT Docomo after 3 years with club.

Glen MARSH (NZL), 40 y/o, flanker, 188/102. Twin brother of Tony, who played for France. Leading try scorer TL 03-04 with 11 tries. Also named in Best 15 for TL seasons 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, Chiefs S12 and Counties NPC. Glen represented Japan in three tests in the 2006 Pacific Nations Cup before being ruled ineligible to play for Japan by the IRB. Glen moved into a non-playing coaching position in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. After 9 years with club.

Gains: (10)

Hikaru TANAKA, 22 y/o (24/03/1989), prop, 177/105, from Yamanashi Gakuin Univ. He has represented Japan at U20 (2009) and U19 (2006) levels.

Hottie LOUW (RSA) 35 y/o (02/03/1976), lock, 198/115, 7 caps for Springboks, S12/14 Stormers and Bulls, he played with Ricoh in the 2009-10 season.

Deen BUDD (NZL), 25 y/o, (31/07/1986), lock, 195/106, SR Blues, NPC Auckland, Northland.

Ryoya SAKAI, 26 y/o (17/04/1985), flanker, 187/95, Ponsonby, Auckland 2010, Asahi University.

Yoshiya HOSODA, 24 y/o (05/08/1987), lock/No8, 192/95, from Nihon Univ.

Tsuyoshi MURATA, 22 y/o (15/12/1988), flanker, 185/100, from Keio Univ. He has represented Japan at U20 (2008) level.

Cameron McINTYRE (NZL), 30 y/o, (03/06/1981), five-eighth, 181/90, SR Crusaders, NPC Canterbury.

Yu TAMURA, 22 y/o (09/01/1989), five-eighth, 181/87, from Meiji Univ.

Yosuke MORITA, 22 y/o (05/01/1989), centre, 177/85, from Doshisha Univ.

Nemani NADOLO (FIJ), 23 y/o (31/01/1988), 195/129, 3 caps for Fiji, Exeter (Eng) 2011, Bourgoin (Fra) 2010, Waratahs 2008-10, St Joseph’s College.

Overseas Players & Staff: (8 + 3)

Nili LATU (Tonga) 29 y/o (19/02/1982), flanker, 182/101, 5^th year, S14 Hurricanes, ANC BoP, 33 caps Tonga and 6 caps Pacific Islands, Tonga Sevens.

ANH Seng-Hyuk (Korea), 28 y/o (23/03/1983), halfback, 183/85, 4^th year, 12 caps for Korea, Korea 7s.

PAK Sung-Koo (Korea), 28 y/o (22/07/1983), prop, 180/113, 2^nd year, 6 caps for Korea, from Yamaha.

Anthony TUITAVAKE (NZL), 29 y/o (12/02/1982), centre, 183/96, 2^nd year, 6 caps for All Blacks, NZ Sevens, S14 Blues, NPC North Harbour.

Hottie LOUW (RSA) 35 y/o (02/03/1976), lock, 198/115, 1^st year, 7 caps for Springboks, S12/14 Stormers and Bulls, he played with Ricoh in the 2009-10 season.

Deen BUDD (NZL), 25 y/o, (31/07/1986), lock, 195/106, 1^st year, SR Blues, NPC Auckland, Northland.

Cameron McINTYRE (NZL), 30 y/o, (03/06/1981), five-eighth, 181/90, 1^st year, SR Crusaders, NPC Canterbury.

Nemani NADOLO (FIJ), 23 y/o (31/01/1988), 195/129, 1^st year, 3 caps for Fiji, Exeter (Eng) 2011, Bourgoin (Fra) 2010, Waratahs 2008-10, St Joseph’s College.

Greg COOPER (46), coaching coordinator.

Ben HURLING (31), assistant coach.

Keith ROBERTS (43), conditioning coach.

The 2011-12 Squad: (46) the list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks.

Nili Latu (c), Makoto Tosa (v-c), Tsutomu Sakuraya (v-c). Forwards: Yuta Inose, Naoto Yoshimura, Pak Sung-Koo, Takahiro Doi, Sunao Takizawa, Hikaru Tanaka, Takaharu Yamamoto, Yosuke Usui, Shin Kawamura, Hottie Louw, Takanori Kumagae, Tomoo Yasuda, Shigeaki Gen, Ryoya Sakai, Taro Kenjo, Deen Budd, Taku Hirosawa, Yoshiya Hosoda, Ryota Asano, Takahisa Miyamoto, Tsuyoshi Murata and Ken Hidaka. Backs: Kyohei Fujito, Ahn Seng-Hyuk, Tsukuru Nishida, Ryo Uchida, Tomohiro Sakurai, Takeshi Matsuo, Keiji Takei, Cameron McIntyre, Eiji Ando, Yu Tamura, Shigeki Morita, Shindo Kamaike, Yosuke Morita, Koichiro Kubota, Koichi Ohigashi, Hayato Sezaki, Anthony Tuitavake, Koshiro Shuto, Hidefumi Yamamoto, Hiromasa Yoshihiro and Nemani Nadolo. Coach: Kaname Okamura (39).

Toshiba Brave Lupus

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/sports/rugby/index.htm

Established: Toshiba Rugby was set up in 1948 and is located in the western Tokyo area of Fuchu. Originally, the official name for the club was Toshiba Fuchu Brave Lupus. However, from the 2006-7 season the “Fuchu” part of the name was dropped as a mark of representing the Toshiba Corporation as a whole rather than just the Fuchu based component of the company. Toshiba use the emblem of the wolf and thus the name Brave Lupus. The team slogan for 2011-12 is “Break Through”.

The Company: Electronics, electrical, IT and power systems maker, including industrial, office and household products. Toshiba was one of the major sponsors for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

Titles:

Top League – 5 times (2009-10, 2008-9, 2006-7, 2005-6 and 2004-5); runners-up once (2003-4).

2010-11 (14 teams): first on table on 57 points with 11 wins & 2 losses. Lost 17-12 to Suntory in Play-off semi-final.

2009-10 (14 teams): Champions. third on table on 52 points with 10 wins & 3 losses. Defeated Suntory 35-24 in Play-off SF and then Sanyo 6-0 in the final.

2008-9 (14 teams): Champions. topped table on 59 points with 12 wins & 1 loss. Defeated Kobe 26-7 in Microsoft Cup semi-final and then Sanyo 17-6 in the final.

2007-8 (14 teams): 4^th on table on 47 points with 9 wins & 4 losses. Lost 25-21 to Sanyo in Microsoft Cup semi-final.

2006-7 (14 teams): Champions. topped table on 60 points with 12 wins & 1 loss. Defeated Toyota 38-33 in Microsoft Cup semi-final and then Suntory 14-13 in the final.

2005-6 (12 teams): Champions. first on table on 46 points with 9 wins and 2 losses.

2004-5 (12 teams): Champions. first on table on 50 points with 10 wins and 1 loss.

2003-4 (12 teams): Runners-up. 2^nd on table on 42 points with 8 wins, a draw and 2 losses.

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) twice (2006 and 2005); runners-up once (2004).

From 2004 to 2006 the Microsoft Cup was a separate knock-out tournament for the top 8 finishers in Top League. From 2007 to 2009 the Microsoft Cup acted as the play-off finals series to determine the overall Top League champion with the top four finishers on the Top League ladder progressing to the Microsoft Cup. The Microsoft company did not renew their naming rights sponsorship for the 2009-10 Top League season and so the 2010 finals series became known as the Top League Play-off Tournament.

2009: Champions. Defeated Kobe 26-7 in semi-final and then Sanyo 17-6 in the final.

2008: lost 25-21 to Sanyo in semi-final.

2007: Champions. Defeated Toyota 38-33 in semi-final and then Suntory 14-13 in the final.

2006: Champions. Defeated Kobe 38-7 in first round, NEC 23-10 in semi-final and then Suntory 33-18 in final.

2005: Champions. Defeated Suntory 33-13 in first round, Kobe 41-0 in semi-final and then Yamaha 21-6 in final.

2004: Runners-up. Defeated Yamaha 30-10 in first round, Sanyo 36-34 in semi-final and then lost to NEC 24-19 in final.

National Championship - 6 times (2007, 2006 – joint champions with NEC, 2004, 1999, 1998 and 1997) and runners-up once (1988).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Beat NEC 21-10 in 1^st round, Teikyo Uni 43-10 in 2^nd round, lost to Sanyo 33-21 in semi-finals.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): Lost to Toyota 23-10 in the semis.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Toshiba withdrew from the 2009 NC after wing Christian Loamanu failed a doping test conducted by the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA).

2008 (45^th NC - 8 teams): Beat Waseda 47-24 in quarterfinal then lost to Suntory 25-14 in semis.

2007 (44^th NC - 8 teams): Champions. Beat Yamaha 47-10 in semis then beat Toyota 19-10 in the final.

2006 (43^rd NC - 8 teams): Joint-Champions. Beat Waseda 43-0 in semis then drew with NEC 6-all in the final.

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): Lost to Toyota 24-19 in the semis.

2004 (41^st NC - 22 teams): Champions. Beat Toyota 55-12 in quarterfinals, beat Yamaha 33-12 then beat Kobe 22-16 in the final.

Corporate Champions - 3 times (1998, 1997, 1988), runners-up 4 times (2003, 1995, 1993, 1989, 1984). The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: Toshiba wear a red jersey with black flashes through the flanks, black shorts and socks. Their alternative jersey is light blue.

Style of Play: Toshiba have virtually swept all before them since the advent of Top League as a national competition in 2003-4 winning five titles and finishing runner-up to Kobe in the inaugural season. Further, Toshiba won the Microsoft Cup twice and finished runner-up once when the Cup was a standalone competition from 2004 to 2006. Toshiba have also won the National Championship three times over the TL era. Toshiba took out all 3 titles on offer in the 2006-7 and 2005-6 seasons, though they had to share the National Championship title with NEC after a 6-all draw in the 2006 final. To sum up the last eight years for Toshiba, the team has taken the combined Top League/Microsoft Cup title twice, won the standalone Top League title three times, won the standalone Microsoft Cup twice and taken the National Championship title three times.

Creating the platform for a lot of the early success was the stability at the club both on and off the field. Masahiro Kunda and Teppei Tomioka (retired at end of 2010-11) were coach and captain respectively for five years up to the end of the 2006-7 season and they worked extremely well in combination. Furthermore, Toshiba based their rugby philosophy around a big forward pack that rolled all before it. At the centre of those packs were the likes of lock Lautangi Vatuvei (retired), No8 Nick Holten (retired), flanker Yasunori Watanabe (killed in a railway accident), prop Kenji Kasai and lock Hitoshi Ono. However, Toshiba also possessed one of the slickest backlines in TL with former All Black Scott McLeod (retired) leading the way up the midfield for Nataniela Oto and Goshi Tachikawa to finish off.

However, Kunda moved on to the Rugby Academy as its director and was replaced by Tomohiro Sekawa as head coach over the next four season while Tomioka passed on the captaincy to Toshiaki Hirose who also had the role for four years under Sekawa. Vatuvei went on to greener pastures with Kintetsu and then Toyota Jido Shokki while Holten and McLeod retired while Watanabe was tragically killed in a railway accident. The same nuts and bolts are more or less still there in the superstructure of Toshiba but a few familiar faces are now missing.

The major factor in the revival of Toshiba over the past few seasons has been the presence of New Zealander David Hill at five-eighth. Toshiba joined the throng of TL sides with a top-notch goal-kicking overseas player in the playmaking position and it certainly paid dividends. In his first season with Toshiba in 2008-9, Hill was the runaway leading point scorer for the season with 226 points from 11 tries, 60 conversions and 17 penalties. Ryan Nicholas (Suntory) was next on the list with 158 points. Backrower Steven Bates, now in his fourth season took over the role of Holten as the hard man in the pack.

There is a sense of transition at Toshiba in the 2011-12 season with former backs coach Kenichi Wada stepping up to take over the head coach position from Sekawa while No8 Masato Toyoda has been installed as the new captain this season. There is a winning culture at Toshiba and after missing out on making the Top League final last year the club will be keen to make amends. Further, Toshiba have not won the National Championship title since 2007 and that also be a sore point in the club.

Players to watch: Toshiba Brave Lupus topped the 2010-11 Japan Rugby Top League table before then losing to Suntory Sungoliath 17-12 in the play-off semi-finals. Nevertheless, Toshiba have been one of the most successful teams in Japan over recent years winning five of the eight Top League titles to date and in 2011-12 they will again be in the hunt for another title. Kenichi Wada is the new head coach this year but he is in charge of a very stable squad of players that includes the likes of Japan internationals hooker Hiroki Yuhara, lock Hitoshi Ono, flanker Tomoaki Nakai and new captain No8 Masato Toyoda in the pack along with hard man Steven Bates. New Zealand born lock Bernie Upton joins the club this year while flanker Michael Leitch also links up with the Brave Lupus after graduating from Tokai University last spring.

In the backs, a lot of responsibility will again be on the shoulders of five-eighth David Hill and his goal kicking while other main players include halfback Tomoki Yoshida, centres Tomohiro Semba and Neil Brew, wing Takehisa Usuzuki and veteran fullbacks Tsutomu Matsuda and Goshi Tachikawa.

Cap holders for Japan in the current squad: (14)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, in the forwards Toshiba were represented by hooker Hiroki Yuhara who was used from the bench against New Zealand, lock Hitoshi Ono who was an unused reserve against France, started against New Zealand and then was used from the bench against Tonga and Canada and flanker Michael Leitch who started in the No.7 jersey in all four tests winning the man-of-the-match award against Tonga. In the backs, halfback Tomoki Yoshida was used from the bench against New Zealand but a torn left hamstring ruled him out of the rest of the Cup and wing Takehisa Usuzuki who started on the right wing against New Zealand and was an unused reserve against Tonga.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N series, Toshiba were represented by hooker Hiroki Yuhara, lock Hitoshi Ono, new recruit in flanker Michael Leitch from Tokai University, wing Takehisa Usuzuki and fullback Goshi Tachikawa. Usuzuki made his debut on the left wing in the third test of the series against the UAE scoring 4 tries in a memorable game. Fukushima born Ono was made game captain in the test against the UAE in honour of the victims of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. In the IRB PNC series, Toshiba were represented by lock Ono, flanker Leitch, halfback Tomoki Yoshida, wing Usuzuki and fullback Tachikawa. Yoshida was an unused reserve in the final test against Fiji and so never actually saw game time in the series. In the final test of the IRB PNC 2011 against Tonga, lock Ono earned his fiftieth cap for Japan becoming only the fifth player for Japan to reach the half century mark. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), Toshiba were represented by hooker Yuhara, lock Ono, flanker Leitch, halfback Yoshida and wing Usuzuki.

In 2010, in the HSBC Asian Five Nations series, Toshiba were represented by hooker Hiroki Yuhara, lock Hitoshi Ono, halfback Tomoki Yoshida and fullback Goshi Tachikawa. Yuhara made his debut from the bench in the opening game of the series against Korea before making his run-on debut the following week against the Arabian Gulf. He finished the four test series with three caps. Tachikawa played his first test since 2007 with starts in three of the four tests. However, a three match ban for punching after he received a red card in the final game against Hong Kong ruled him out of the PNC 2010 squad. Ono captained Japan in the final two games against Kazakhstan and Hong Kong after regular captain Takashi Kikutani (Toyota) was cited and suspended for two matches for stamping. In the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup, Toshiba were represented by hooker Yuhara, lock Ono and halfback Yoshida. In the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Toshiba were represented by Yuhara and Ono in the forwards and Tachikawa in the backs although the latter was not chosen in the XXII for either test.

In 2009, in the Asian Five Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup tournaments, Toshiba supplied lock Hitoshi Ono in the forwards and half Tomoki Yoshida and wing Hiroki Yoshida in the backs. In the two home tests against Canada in November 2009, Toshiba were represented by lock Ono and halfback Tomoki Yoshida who both started in each test.

In 2008, in the inaugural Asian Five Nations (A5N) tournament, Toshiba supplied Taku Inokuchi and Hitoshi Ono in the forwards while in the backs wing Hiroki Yoshida made his international debut and half Tomoki Yoshida continued to earn caps for his country. In the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), Toshiba was represented by Inokuchi and Ono in the forwards, while in the backs both Yoshidas played, along with new recruit Christian Loamanu. Furthermore, No8 Masato Toyoda made his test debut from the bench in the second test against the USA in Tokyo in November.

At the 2007 RWC in France, Toshiba supplied five players to the Japan squad in hooker Taku Inokuchi (run-on No2 against Australia and came on as reserve hooker against Wales), flanker Yasunori Watanabe (run-on No6 against Australia and Wales), lock Hitoshi Ono (run-on No4 against Fiji, Wales and Canada), half Tomoki Yoshida (run-on No9 against Fiji, Wales and Canada) and centre Nataniela Oto (run-on No12 against Australia).

Hitoshi Ono 33 y/o, 54 caps at lock.

Tsutomu Matsuda 41 y/o, 43 caps at wing/fullback.

Tomoki Yoshida 29 y/o, 25 caps at halfback.

Michael Leitch 23 y/o, 22 caps at flanker.

Goshi Tachikawa 34 y/o, 21 caps at fullback.

Nataniela Oto 33 y/o, 12 caps at wing.

Kenji Kasai 35 y/o, 11 caps at prop.

Tomoaki Nakai 30 y/o, 11 caps at flanker.

Hiroki Yuhara 27 y/o, 9 caps at hooker.

Taku Inokuchi 29 y/o, 7 caps hooker.

Hiroki Yoshida 29 y/o, 7 caps at wing.

Takehisa Usuzuki 26 y/o, 7 caps at wing.

Toshiaki Hirose 30 y/o, 1 cap at flyhalf.

Masato Toyoda 26 y/o, 1 cap at No8.

The Coach: Kenichi Wada (DOB: 10/11/1972, 39 y/o) is the new head coach at Toshiba for the 2011-12 season. Wada attended Tokai University Sagami High School and then Tokai University before joining Toshiba. He was a wing or fullback in his playing days. Wada was backs coach at Toshiba from the 2003-4 season to the completion of the 2010-11 season.

Tomohiro Sekawa was head coach for four seasons after he took over from Masahiro Kunda. Sekawa was backs coach under Kunda from 2000 to 2006. Kunda, one of the modern legends of Japanese rugby, had been in charge for five seasons and during this time turned Toshiba into the most formidable and successful team in present day Japanese rugby. Kunda who took over the reins from Andrew McCormick in 2002 oversaw the revival of his former club based on a big forward pack and a maul unmatched in the league. He was hooker and former skipper of the Cherry Blossoms in 15 of his 43 Tests from 1990 to 1999. Sekawa is actually younger than fullback Tsutomu Matsuda and so he is close in age to most senior players. Sekawa has not made great changes, but has created a subtle shift in emphasis from the rolling maul and forwards dominated play to a more expansive “ball running rugby” style.

The Captain: No8 Masato Toyoda (DOB: 29/11/1984, 26 y/o) is the new captain at Toshiba for the 2011-12 season. Toyoda attended Tokai University Gyosei High School in Osaka and then Tokai University before joining Toshiba in the 2007-8 season making this his fifth season with the club. To date, he has one cap for Japan, making his test debut from the bench in the second test against the USA in Tokyo in November 2008. Centre Tomohiro Semba is the vice-captain.

Toyoda takes over as captain from Toshiaki Hirose who was captain for four years in combination with Sekawa as coach. He took over from Teppei Tomioka (retired at end of the 2010-11 season). Tomioka captained the side for five years in partnership with Kunda as coach. Hirose joined the club after graduating from Keio University. He earned his only test cap to date against Hong Kong as flyhalf. He represented Japan at high school, U19, Sevens and Japan A levels as well.

Losses: (8 +1)

Tatsuhiro HAZAMA, 29 y/o (03/08/1982), prop, 187/114, into company workforce after 5 seasons with club.

Ken TSUKAGOSHI 34 y/o (12/09/1977), hooker, 178/98, 9 caps for Japan at hooker, into company workforce after 11 seasons with club.

Warren SMITH (NZ), 30 y/o (12/10/1981), lock/backrow, 194/108, NPC Otago, Bay of Plenty, Honda Heat (2008-9 & 2009-10) after one year with club.

Ikuya SAKO, 28 y/o (30/09/1983), flanker, 180/90, into company workforce after 9 seasons with club.

Kento YODA, 26 y/o (13/03/1985), flanker, 183/100, into company workforce after 4 seasons with club.

Ryota FUJII, 26 y/o (02/12/1984), five-eighth, 166/77, into company workforce after 4 seasons with club.

Teppei TOMIOKA, 34 y/o (01/03/1977), centre, 180/94, 2 caps for Japan at centre/wing, to Chugoku Denryoku as head coach after 11 seasons with club, including five as captain.

CHAE Jae-Young (Korea), 27 y/o (19/04/1984), wing/fullback, 183/85, ten test caps for Korea, after 2 seasons with club.

Tomohiro SEKAWA, into company workforce after four years as head coach.

Gains: (9)

Masataka MIKAMI, 23 y/o (04/06/1988), prop, 178/116, from Tokai Univ, he has represented Japan at High School, U19, U20 and Japan A levels.

Futoshi MORI, 23 y/o (25/04/1988), hooker, 175/105, from Teikyo Univ (vice-captain), he has represented Japan at High School and U19 levels.

Eiri NAKADA, 23 y/o (16/11/1988), lock, 193/106, from Waseda Univ, he has represented Japan at High School, U19, U20 and Japan A levels.

Bernard UPTON (NZL), 30 y/o (22/09/1981), lock, 198/116, NPC Bay of Plenty and Wellington, SR Chiefs and Hurricanes, Connacht 2009-2011, JAB 2006 and 2005.

Michael LEITCH (NZL), 23 y/o (07/10/1988), flanker, 189/105, from Tokai Univ, he has represented Japan at High School, U20, Sevens and has 22 caps at the full national level.

Shuhei OSHIMA, 23 y/o (16/09/1988), halfback, 179/77, from Kanto Gakuin Uni (captain), he has represented Japan at High School, U20 and Japan A levels.

Keisuke MASUDA, 23 y/o (02/05/1988), centre, 183/97, from Keio Univ, he has represented Japan at High School and U19 levels.

Daisuke NATSUI, 23 y/o (27/10/1988), wing, 188/88, from Kanto Gakuin Uni, he has represented Japan at U20 and Sevens levels.

Shuhei TOYOSHIMA, 22 y/o (09/01/1989), fullback, 174/82, Tokai Univ, he has represented Japan at U20, Sevens and Japan A levels.

Overseas Players & Staff: (7 + 1)

Nataniela OTO (Japan/Tonga) 33 y/o (16/05/1978), centre, 173/95, 9^th year, 12 caps for Japan. Oto has taken out Japanese nationality and so Toshiba can play him as a non-foreign player outside the quota of only 3 foreign players allowed on the field at any one time.

Steven BATES (NZ), 31 y/o (16/01/1980), flanker/No8, 191/110, 4^th year, NPC Waikato, SR Chiefs.

David HILL (NZ), 33 y/o (31/07/1978), five-eighth, 186/103, 4^th year, 1 cap for NZ (v Ireland 17/6/2006, Auckland), went on 2001 AB tour to Europe, S12/14 Chiefs (58 games, 2001 to end of 2006 season), joined Bristol Nov. ’06.

Daisuke ESTRELLA (USA/Japan), 25 y/o (19/11/1986), prop/lock, 186/115, 3^rd year. He has represented the USA at U19 level.

Neil BREW (NZ), 32 y/o (08/03/1979), wing/centre, 182/96, 3^rd year , NPC Otago, S12 Highlanders and Bristol (Eng). He has represented NZ Maori.

Bernard UPTON (NZL), 30 y/o (22/09/1981), lock, 198/116, 1^st year, NPC Bay of Plenty and Wellington, SR Chiefs and Hurricanes, Connacht 2009-2011, JAB 2006 and 2005.

Michael LEITCH (NZL), 23 y/o (07/10/1988), flanker, 189/105, 1^st year, from Tokai Univ, he has represented Japan at High School, U20, Sevens and has 22 caps at the full national level.

Nick Holten (NZ), forwards coach.

The 2011-12 Squad: (47) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks.

Masato Toyoda (c), Tomohiro Semba (v-c). Forwards: Kenji Kasai, Toshiki Sakurai, Tomohiro Kubo, Taku Inokuchi, Daisuke Estrella, Takuma Asahara, Masataka Mikami, Hiroki Yuhara, Takahiro Takaki, Futoshi Mori, Hitoshi Ono, Kentaro Kokuzawa, Yuta Mochizuki, Tomoaki Nakai, Bernard Upton, Manabu Suzuki, Shunsuke Amemiya, Kyosuke Kajikawa, Keisuke Matsuda, Michael Leitch, Eiri Nakada, Steven Bates and Hiroshi Yamamoto. Backs: Tomoki Yoshida, Jun Fujii, Daisuke Mitsui, Shuhei Oshima, David Hill, Toshiaki Hirose, Kuniaki Takayama, Ryohei Yoshida, Taiki Watanabe, Nataniela Oto, Keisuke Masuda, Neil Brew, Hiroki Yoshida, Atsushi Fujiya, Kosho Hirakawa, Takehisa Usuzuki, Tasuku Sato, Shin Ito, Daisuke Natsui, Shohei Toyoshima, Tsutomu Matsuda and Goshi Tachikawa. Coach: Kenichi Wada (39).

Kobe Steelers

http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/

Established: Kobe Steel as the team is commonly known were formed in 1928 in the port city of Kobe in western Japan. Kobe are one of the oldest and most successful corporate rugby teams in Japan and they have been at the heart and soul of rugby and its development in this country. Kobe now officially calls themselves the Kobe Kobelco Steelers and have also adopted the catchphrase Bodies of Steel, Hearts of Gold.

The slogan for 2011-12 is “Moving Rugby - Evolution”

The Company: Kobelco and the Kobe Steel Company Group are, as the name suggests, an iron and steel manufacturing concern. In addition, Kobe manufacture other metal products from titanium, aluminium and copper, as well as being a major manufacturer of welding products. Further, Kobelco is well known for its cranes, excavators and construction machinery, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Have a look at the company English homepage here.

Titles:

Top League – once (2003-4).

2010-11 (14 teams): 5^th on table on 36 points with 7 wins and 6 losses.

2009-10 (14 teams): 5^th on table on 38 points with 7 wins, a draw and 5 losses.

2008-9 (14 teams): 4^th on table on 43 points with 9 wins and 4 losses. (See 2009 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

2007-8 (14 teams): 5^th on table on 46 points with 9 wins and 4 losses.

2006-7 (14 teams): 6^th on table on 42 points with 8 wins and 5 losses.

2005-6 (12 teams): 5^th on table on 33 points with 7 wins and 4 losses.

2004-5 (12 teams): 5^th on table on 34 points with 6 wins and 5 losses.

2003-4 (12 teams): Champion. first on table on 47 points with nine wins and two losses.

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none.

2009: lost 26-7 to eventual champions Toshiba in semi-final.

2008: DNQ.

2007: DNQ.

2006: lost 38-7 to eventual champions Toshiba in first round.

2005: beat NEC 51-16 in first round, then knocked out in semis by eventual champions Toshiba 41-0.

2004: beat World 35-27 in first round, then knocked out in semis by eventual champions NEC 34-10.

National Championship - 9 times (2001, 2000, 1989 to 1995); runners-up 3 times (2004, 2002 and 1999).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Sanix 55-40 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Beat Toyota 27-17 in 1^st round, NTT Docomo 38-0 in 2^nd round, lost to Suntory 37-33 in SF.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): Beat Coca-Cola 40-28 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Lost to Toyota 36-19 in first round.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Lost 30-29 to NEC in first round.

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

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

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

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2004 (41^st NC - 22 teams): Runners-up. Beat Kubota 52-12 and NEC 34-29 then lost to Toshiba 22-10 in final.

Corporate Champions - 9 times (2001, 2000, 1989 to 1995); runners-up 3 times (2002, 1986 and 1985). The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: The traditional colours of red jersey and white shorts remain, while the second jersey is black. The Kobe group name KOBELCO appears prominently on the front of the jersey. KOBELCO is a group name representing over 200 companies.

Style of Play: As a company team, Kobe have over the years consistently attracted some of the best young players from high profile universities and in turn been a major contributor to national teams. Established in 1928, they are also by far one of the oldest of the current Top League clubs along with Kintetsu (1929). Toyota is the next oldest Top League club, having been established in 1941. And with nine national titles and a further nine corporate titles they are also one of the most successful rugby teams in the history of Japanese corporate rugby. Kobe are one of the three great corporate teams in Japanese rugby history. The two others are Yawata Steel (now playing in Top Kyushu) with 12 corporate titles from the early 1950s to late 1960s and Shin Nittetsu Kamaishi (now playing in Top East 11 as Kamaishi Seawaves) with nine corporate titles including a string of seven in a row from 1979 to 1985 and 8 national titles. Although Kobe no longer have the same aura of invincibility as they did, what sets them apart from the other two historical teams is that they are still a major player in Japanese rugby.

Players to Watch: Over recent years, a number of the mainstays in the Kobe squad have come to the end of their careers and subsequently retired including the likes of inside centre Yukio Motoki (retired at the end of the 2009-10 season) who played in four World Cups and is the Japanese record cap holder with 79 caps and wing Daisuke Ohata (retired at the end of the 2010-11 season) who overtook the world record of 64 test tries set by David Campese, and now holds the record with 69 tries from 58 tests. Veteran backrower Takeomi Ito (40 years old, 62 caps) is a contemporary of Motoki and Ohata and he is still playing on in his eighteenth season with the club. Consequently, Kobe continue to be going through something of a re-building phase, albeit generational change and although the club has relied on their stars and pulling power in the past, in the last few years other clubs have caught up with and overtaken the pace of the men in red. As an indication of this, the Steelers won the inaugural Top League trophy in 2003-4, but they have been just off the pace in the years since consistently finishing about fifth on the table behind the likes of Toshiba, Suntory, Sanyo and Toyota.

For the 2011-12 season, in the forwards, club captain and loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima and backrower Itaru Taniguchi represented the club at the 2011 RWC in New Zealand and there are still plenty of home-grown players in the pack who have represented Japan including hookers Yuji Matsubara and Yoshimitsu Yasue, prop Hiroshi Yamashita and backrower Ito. Hooker Takeshi Kizu joins Kobe this year and the big man already has 8 test caps to his name earned while still at Tokai University. Flanker Josh Blackie is back in the Kobe pack for a fifth season while he is joined by Scotland international lock Scott McLeod for the 2011-12 season.

In the backs, Springbok Peter Grant is the key player for the club in his second year and he should be taking a lot of control from five-eighth while also contributing with his goal-kicking. Centre Yuta Imamura started against hosts New Zealand at the 2011 RWC but a recurring ligament injury in his right ankle forced his return to Japan midway through the tournament. However, at 27 years of age and with 33 test caps Imamura has emerged as one of the more experienced and senior players in the backline. Elsewhere in the backs, halfback Takashi Sato picked up four caps for Japan while playing at Yamaha and he will be pushed for the No.9 jersey by Nathan Anderson. Former Toyota playmaker Kenji Shomen, now in his third season with Kobe will add depth to the Kobe backline with his ability to cover a number of positions while further out, is New Zealand born centre or wing Fraser Anderson who came to Kobe from the Australian rugby league ranks and former Hurricanes centre Jason Kawau who joined Kobe in 2010-11. Among the new recruits in the backs, wing Kanzo Nakahama comes to Kobe from Waseda as an exciting prospect.

Cap Holders for Japan in the Current Squad: (11)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, in the forwards Kobe were represented by loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima who started against France, Tonga and Canada and backrower Itaru Taniguchi who came on from the bench in the opening test against France before starting as the blindside flanker against New Zealand and Tonga. In the backs, Yuta Imamura started at inside centre against New Zealand in the second test but a recurring ligament injury in his right ankle forced his return to Japan after that.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N series, Kobe were represented by loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima, backrower Itaru Taniguchi and centre Yuta Imamura. In the IRB PNC series, Kobe were again represented by Hirashima, Taniguchi and Imamura. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), Kobe were once again represented by Hirashima, Taniguchi and Imamura. Hirashima had by now established himself as the first choice loosehead prop in the national side while Taniguchi was making an impact from the bench. Although Imamura was included in the squad for these two tests he was not included in the XXII for either test.

In 2010, in the HSBC Asian Five Nations series and the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup, Kobe were represented by loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima. In the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Kobe were represented by loosehead prop Hirashima, backrower Itaru Taniguchi and centre Yuta Imamura. Taniguchi made his debut from the bench against Russia.

In 2009, over the course of the Asian Five Nations series and the Pacific Nations Cup, props Hiroshi Yamashita and Hisateru Hirashima, hooker Yoshimitsu Yasue and centre Yuta Imamura all took part in the two series. Yamashita made his debut in the first test of the season against Kazakhstan in Osaka and went on to play in all eight spring tests either as the run-on tighthead or from the bench. Yasue joined Kobe from IBM in the off-season and he made his test debut from the bench against Hong Kong in Hong Kong in the A5N, although he was not used in the PNC. In the two home tests against Canada in November 2009, Kobe were represented by loosehead prop Hirashima who came on from the bench in both tests.

In 2008, in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament, Kobe supplied centre Yuta Imamura who played in three of the four tests. In the 2008 edition of the Pacific Nations Cup, Kobe were represented by Imamura who played in two of the five tests. In the two home tests against the USA in November 2008, loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima made his test debut running on in the No.1 jersey in both tests. Uncapped tighthead prop Hiroshi Yamashita was a member of the 30-man squad but he was not used during the series.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Kobe was represented by hooker Yuji Matsubara and centre Yuta Imamura. Wing Daisuke Ohata ruptured his Achilles in the RWC led-up game against Portugal and had to be replaced. Pierre Hola, who plays his club rugby with Kobe, was also in France with Tonga as five-eighth.

Given the prestige of the Kobe club, it is not surprising that players from the club fill the top three places on the test cap record holders list. Centre Yukio Motoki leads the way with 79 caps, followed by backrower Takeomi Ito with 62 and wing Daisuke Ohata with 58 while former wing Terunori Masuho is not far behind with 47. Ito and Ohata are still playing at club level for Kobe but are out of the picture for national selection.

Takeomi Ito 40 y/o, 62 caps at flanker/No8.

Yuta Imamura 27 y/o, 33 caps at outside centre or wing.

Hisateru Hirashima 28 y/o, 27 caps at loosehead prop.

Yuji Matsubara 32 y/o, 23 caps at hooker.

Itaru Taniguchi 27 y/o, 10 caps at flanker/No8.

Hiroshi Yamashita 25 y/o, 8 caps at tighthead prop.

Kyohei Morita 27 y/o, 8 caps at five-eighth.

Takeshi Kizu 23 y/o, 8 caps at hooker.

Takashi Sato 30 y/o, 4 caps at halfback.

Yoshimitsu Yasue 27 y/o, 2 caps at hooker.

Kenji Shomen 28 y/o, 2 caps at five-eighth and centre.

The Coach: The head coach for 2011-12 is former Japan and Kobe halfback Yuji Sonoda (38) who is in his second season in the role after retiring as a player at the end of the 2009-10 season. Seiji Hirao (48), is the general manager now in his fifth season on the coaching staff. Steve Cumberland is technical adviser while Kazuya Koizumi is the new forwards coach.

Hirao replaced Terunori Masuho who coached the Steelers for three years but could not maintain the high standards of the team in the face of improving oppositions. Masuho was a product himself of the Kobe system and he too was used to winning so he took responsibility and fell on his sword. He in turn took over as head coach in March 2004 when previous coach Mitsutake Hagimoto went on to coach the Japan national side. In Masuho’s three years in charge Kobe finished mid table every year in Top League and failed to bring home any silverware.

The Captain: For the 2011-12 season prop Hisateru Hirashima is in his second season as captain after taking over from veteran wing Daisuke Ohata (retired at the end of the 2010-11 season) who was skipper for the 2009-10 season only. In turn Ohata took over from halfback Shota Goto (retired at the end of the 2010-11 season) after he held the role for two years. Before Goto, hooker Yuji Matsubara was captain for three seasons and in turn before that halfback Yuji Sonoda was captain. Yoshikazu Ohashi is the vice-captain for 2011-12.

Losses: (8)

Tsubasa YAMAMOTO, 28 y/o (10/02/1983), prop, 180/110, into company workforce after 5 years with club.

Keisuke TANAKA, 27 y/o (25/06/1984), prop, 190/130, into company workforce after 4 years with club.

Kenichi KONISHI, 27 y/o (19/09/1984), prop, 175/100, into company workforce after 4 years with club.

George NAOUPU (NZL), 28 y/o (04/09/1983), lock/flanker/No8, 196/112, NZ U21 (2004), NZ 7s (2005), S14 Highlanders. From Connacht (Ire.). Back to Connacht after one year with club.

Shota GOTO, 28 y/o (07/01/1983), halfback, 170/78, 8 caps for Japan, into company workforce after 6 years with club.

Satoshi TAKAGI, 27 y/o, (22/10/1984), centre, 186/97, into company workforce after 4 years with club.

Daisuke OHATA, 36 y/o (11/11/1975), wing, 176/85, 58 caps for Japan onto team staff after 12 years with club.

Shinya JINKAWA, 30 y/o (24/07/1981), fullback, 177/89, into company workforce after 7 years with club.

Gains: (10)

Masahiko NAKAGAWA, 23 y/o (15/07/1988), prop, 185/120, from Tokai Uni. He has represented Japan at High School and U19 levels.

Tsutomu NAGAE, 23 y/o (12/10/1988), prop, 180/110, from Meiji Uni.

Motoki YAMAZAKI, 23 y/o (25/11/1988), prop, 176/120, from Ryutsu Keizai Uni. He has represented Japan at U20 level.

Takeshi KIZU, 23 y/o (15/07/1988), hooker, 183/111, from Tokai Uni. He has 8 caps for Japan.

Scott MACLEOD (Scotland), 32 y/o (03/03/1979), lock, 198/113, 24 caps for Scotland, from Edinburgh Rugby in the Magners League.

Hrishikesh PENDSE (India), 25 y/o (08/04/1986), lock, backrow, 190/100, he has represented India at full national level, Sevens and U19s.

Shohei MAEKAWA, 23 y/o (08/09/1988), flanker/No8, 178/98, from Tokai Uni. He has represented Japan at High School, U19 and U20 levels.

Takashi SAKUMA, 26 y/o (14/11/1985), halfback, 171/78, from Kintetsu (2008-9 to 2010-11) and the Wellsford Rugby Club in Auckland before that. He has represented Japan at High School level.

Hideki TANABE, 23 y/o (11/11/1987), centre/fullback, 175/77, from Waseda Uni. He has represented Japan at High School and U19 levels.

Kanzo NAKAHAMA, 23 y/o, (28/09/1988), wing, 176/85, from Waseda Uni. He has represented Japan at High School, U20, Sevens and Japan A levels.

Overseas Players and Staff (9 + 1):

Pasuka MAPAKAITOLO (Tonga/Japan), 31 y/o (27/04/1980), No8, 190/115, 6^th year, from Rissho Uni. He has 2 caps for Tonga and he has also represented Tonga at Sevens.

Josh BLACKIE (NZL), 32 y/o (03/08/1979), flanker, 193/105, 5^th year, JAB, NZ7s, Highlanders and Blues SR, Otago NPC.

Nathan ANDERSON (NZL/Japan), 27 y/o (18/05/1984), halfback, 170/71, 4^th year, from Ryutsu Keizai Univ. He has represented Japan at High School, U21 & Japan A levels.

Fraser ANDERSON (NZL), 27 y/o (20/04/1984), wing/centre, 193/101, 3^rd year. He played with Brisbane Broncos & Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.

Peter GRANT (RSA), 27 y/o (15/08/1984), five-eighth/centre, 186/92, 2^nd year, SR Stormers, 5 caps for Springboks.

Si-Bo WANG (China), 24 y/o (09/03/1987), prop, 188/123, 2^nd year. From Ricoh (2009-10). He has 6 caps for China.

Jason KAWAU (NZL), 30 y/o (05/02/1981), centre, 186/100, 2^nd year, NZU, NZ Maori (2006-8), Highlanders, Hurricanes S14.

Scott MACLEOD (Scotland), 32 y/o (03/03/1979), lock, 198/113, 1^st year, 24 caps for Scotland, from Edinburgh Rugby in the Magners League.

Hrishikesh PENDSE (India), 25 y/o (08/04/1986), lock, backrow, 190/100, 1^st year, he has represented India at full national level, Sevens and U19s.

Steve Cumberland (NZL) 47 y/o, technical adviser.

The 2011-12 Squad: (48) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last. Hisateru Hirashima (c), Yoshikazu Ohashi, (v-c). Forwards: Yoshimitsu Yasue, Masanobu Yamauchi, Hiroshi Yamashita, Si-Bo Wang, Masahiko Nakagawa, Tsutomu Nagae, Motoki Yamazaki, Yuji Matsubara, Masayuki Murakami, Takeshi Kizu, Yoshitaka Hayashi, Scott McLeod, Eiko Yoshida, Hiroyuki Kondo, Yu Shimizu, Hrishikesh Pendse, Hajime Uemura, Hikaru Okubo, Takeomi Ito, Josh Blackie, Pasuka Mapakaitolo, Shoji Ito, Itaru Taniguchi, Takahiro Suzuki, Daiki Hashimoto, Yoshinobu Arai and Shohei Maekawa. Backs: Takashi Sato, Nathan Anderson, Satoru Sawatari, Takashi Sakuma, Daisuke Yamamoto, Waku Kikuchi, Kenji Shomen, Kyohei Morita, Peter Grant, Jason Kawau, Ryo Oishi, Hideki Tanabe, Jin Ogasawara, Fraser Anderson, Yuta Imamura, Yusuke Hamashima, So Noda, Daisuke Ichiki and Kanzo Nakahama. Coach: Yuji Sonoda (38).

Suntory Sungoliath

http://www.suntory.co.jp/culture-sports/sungoliath/

Established: Suntory were established in 1980. Suntory are based in the western Tokyo area of Fuchu. The team mascot is a gorilla. For the moniker Sungoliath, “Sun” refers to the sun in the sky and “Goliath” refers to the David and Goliath story.

The team slogan for 2011-12 is, “INSPIRE”.

The Company: beverage maker of such consumables as beer, whiskey and a variety of waters, soft drinks and coffees.

Titles:

Top League – once (2007-8); runners-up twice (2010-11 and 2006-7).

2010-11 (14 teams): Runners-up. 4^th on table on 50 points with 10 wins and 3 losses. Beat Toshiba 17-12 in Play-off semi-final the lost to Sanyo 28-23 in final.

2009-10 (14 teams): 2^nd on table on 58 points with 11 wins and 2 draws. Lost to Toshiba 35-24 in Play-off semi-final.

2008-9 (14 teams): 3^rd on table on 51 points with 10 wins and 3 losses. (See 2009 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

2007-8 (14 teams): Champions. Finished 2^nd on table on 53 points with 10 wins, a draw and 2 losses. (See 2008 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

2006-7 (14 teams): Runners-up. 2^nd on table on 56 points with 11 wins and 2 losses. (See 2007 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

2005-6 (12 teams): 6^th on table on 32 points with 6 wins and 5 losses.

2004-5 (12 teams): 8^th on table on 24 points with 4 wins and 7 losses.

2003-4 (12 teams): 4^th on table on 37 points with 8 wins and 3 losses.

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none; runners-up once (2006).

2009: Knocked out by Sanyo 32-22 in semi-final.

2008: Champions. Beat Toyota 33-10 in semi-final. Beat Sanyo 14-10 in final.

2007: Runners-up. Beat Yamaha 40-39 in semi-final. Lost to Toshiba 14-13 in final.

2006: Runners-up. Beat Yamaha 35-17 in first round & Kubota 44-25 in semi-final. Lost to Toshiba 33-18 in final.

2005: Knocked out by eventual champion Toshiba 33-13 in first round.

2004: Knocked out by eventual champion NEC 5-32 in first round.

National Championship – 4 times (2011, 2002, 2001 (joint champions with Kobe after final drawn 27-all) and 1996); runners-up 3 times (2009, 2008 and 2003).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Champions. As runners-up in TL Play-off, entered NC at SF stage. Beat Kobe 37-33 in SF and Sanyo 37-20 in final.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): drew with NEC 10-all in the first round but lost on lottery ballot.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Runners-up. Beat Kubota 62-17 in first round, beat Waseda University 59-20 in second round and then won by default in the semi-final after Toshiba withdrew from the Championship over a doping scandal involving wing Christian Loamanu. Lost to Sanyo 24-16 in final.

2008 (45^th NC - 8 teams): Runners-up. Beat Toshiba 25-14 in SF. Lost to Sanyo 40-18 in final.

2007 (44^th NC - 8 teams): Lost to Toyota 39-17 in semi-final.

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

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.

2004 (41^st NC - 22 teams): Knocked out by NEC 34-27.

Corporate Champions – 3 times (2003, 2002 and 1996 (joint champions with Sanyo after final was drawn 27-all)); runners-up 3 times (1999, 1998 and 1990). The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: The Suntory strip for 2011-12 combines a jersey with a black body and yellow shoulders, sleeves and flanks, black shorts and socks. Their second jersey has a sky blue body with black shoulders, sleeves and flanks.

Style of Play: In the 2010-11 season Suntory Sungoliath finished runner-up after losing to Sanyo Wild Knights 28-23 in the Japan Rugby Top League play-off final. Nevertheless, a few weeks later Suntory turned the tables on Sanyo winning the National Championship final 37-20 to take the other major title on offer last season. Furthermore, under head coach Eddie Jones, Suntory have added some impressive overseas names to their squad for the 2011-12 season in an indication that they will be one of the teams to beat this year, if not the team to beat. Jones is in his second year in charge and with the addition of George Smith, Danie Rossouw and Fourie du Preez he has assembled a list of top shelf overseas players to complement the considerable local talent at his disposal within the squad. Suntory seem to have all bases covered this year and they are definitely a team that is growing and years away from peaking.

Jones can be expected to take a methodical, systematic attitude to the Suntory game plan that will include a physical, no-nonsense direct approach.

Players to Watch: Twenty-one of the Suntory squad of forty-four for the 2011-12 season have international experience while many of the younger Japanese players in the squad have represented Japan at age grade levels. As such, this is a very experienced and talented group of rugby players with that essential blend of youth and experience, a fine balance between local and overseas players all overseen by the watchful eye of Eddie Jones. Jones is being touted as the most likely candidate to replace outgoing John Kirwan as head coach of Japan and although the JRFU are not saying anything as yet, should that scenario pan out he would have to stand down from his position at Suntory to take the national job. That would just make Jones all the more hungry to take out the Top League title this year.

Suntory have a big, strong pack with backrower Juntaro Takemoto again the captain this season with one of the strengths in the forwards the depth of talent. In the front row, former Japan props Akira Ozaki and Yosuke Ikegaya are still helping to guide current national props Kensuke Hatakeyama and Shinsuke Nakamura while the hooking situation is similar with former national rake Takashi Yamaoka competing with Yusuke Aoki who is fresh back from the recent RWC in New Zealand. In the second row, Koji Shinozuka and Shinya Makabe are joined this year by the South African Danie Rossouw who will be looking to make a serious impact in Japan. The stocks in the backrow department are full to overflowing too with former Japan captain Takamichi Sasaki and captain Takemoto looking to form a lethal partnership with USA captain Todd Clever and former Wallabies legend George Smith with the latter joining Suntory this season from Toulon in France.

Suntory also have a wealth of talent in their backs. On top of the list is former Springbok Fourie du Preez who replaces former Australian captain and halfback George Gregan. Young halfback Atsushi Hiwasa took to the international stage over the last year and he has now earned ten caps for Japan and he will benefit from having du Preez around him. New Zealand born five-eighth Tusi Pisiata is another player who has come on in leaps and bounds over the past year, earning six caps for Samoa as a reward. New Zealand born centre Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira are a tried and tested combination for both Suntory and Japan, while out wide wing Hirotoki Onozawa continues to get better with age while Yasunori Nagatomo has also represented Japan. At the back Peter Hewat and Go Aruga will fight it out for the starting spot in the No.15 jersey.

Among the new recruits for 2011-12, prop Koichi Nitta and wing Naoki Chono both come to Suntory with extensive age grade representative honours.

Japan Cap holders in the current squad: (16)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Suntory were represented by hooker Yusuke Aoki who started against New Zealand and was then an unused reserve in the other three games, tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama who started against France and Tonga and was also used from the bench against New Zealand and Canada, halfback Atsushi Hiwasa who started against New Zealand and then had game time in the other three tests from the bench, inside centre Ryan Nicholas who started against France, Tonga and Canada, outside centre Koji Taira who started against France and New Zealand though an injury sustained in the latter game ruled him out of the rest of the tournament and wing Hirotoki Onozawa. During the four tests of the RWC, Onozawa became the eleventh Japanese player to play in three RWCs. He has also scored a try in each of those three RWCs in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Onozawa played in all four games in 2011 bringing his total appearances at RWCs to 12, overtaking the previous record held by Masahiro Kunda and Yukio Motoki with 9 each. He is also now second on the test cap list for Japan with 68 test appearances.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N series, Suntory were represented by tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama, halfback Atsushi Hiwasa, centres Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira, wing Hirotoki Onozawa and fullback Go Aruga. Hiwasa made his debut in the starting line-up in the opening test against Hong Kong. In the IRB PNC series, Suntory were represented by hooker Yusuke Aoki, who was recalled to the national side after a two year absence, Hatakeyama, Hiwasa, Nicholas, Taira, Onozawa and Aruga. In the two warm-up tests for the 2011 RWC against Italy (away) and the USA (home), Suntory were represented by Aoki, Hatakeyama, Hiwasa, Nicholas, Taira and Onozawa. Aruga was included in the initial squad but was forced to return to Japan from camp in Italy to receive treatment for an injury to his left knee.

In 2010, in the HSBC Asian Five Nations 2010 series, Suntory were represented by props Kensuke Hatakeyama and Shinsuke Nakamura, lock Shinya Makabe and centres Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira. Nakamura joined Suntory in the 2010-11 season after graduating from Nihon University in March 2010. The same five players were included in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 with the addition of wing Hirotoki Onozawa who missed the A5N due to an ankle operation. Makabe remained unused throughout the PNC series. In the home autumn tests against Samoa and Russia, Suntory were represented by Hatakeyama in the forwards and Nicholas, Taira and Onozawa in the backs.

In 2009, over the course of the 2009 Asian Five Nations series and the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup, hooker Tateo Kanai made his debut for Japan while hooker Yusuke Aoki, wing Hirotoki Onozawa and centres Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira also took part in the two series. Onozawa played his 50^th test against Korea in the A5N that 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). In the two home tests against Canada in November 2009, Suntory were represented by tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama, lock Shinya Makabe who made his debut from the bench in the second test, centres Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira, wing Hirotoki Onozawa and fullback Go Aruga.

In 2008, NZ born centre Ryan Nicholas, lock Koji Shinozuka and props Akira Ozaki and Yosuke Ikegaya debuted for Japan. In the two home tests against the USA in November 2008, tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama made his test debut running on in the No.3 jersey in both tests while hooker Yusuke Aoki and centres Ryan Nicholas and Koji Taira also took part in the series.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Suntory were represented by veteran wing Hirotoki Onozawa who played in all four games, as No11 against Australia and Wales and came on as No22 against Fiji and Canada. Young flanker/No8 Takamichi Sasaki captained Japan in the opening game against Australia during which he injured his left knee and consequently missed the rest of the Cup. Centre Koji Taira also played in all four games, starting as outside centre against Australia and coming on as a replacement in the other three. Fullback Go Aruga was the run on fullback against Fiji and Canada.

Hirotoki ONOZAWA 33 y/o, 68 tests on wing/fullback.

Ryan NICHOLAS 32 y/o, 35 tests at inside centre.

Koji TAIRA 28 y/o, 32 tests at outside centre.

Kensuke HATAKEYAMA 26 y/o, 27 tests at tighthead prop.

Yusuke AOKI 28 y/o, 22 tests at hooker.

Go ARUGA 27 y/o, 16 tests at fullback.

Takashi YAMAOKA 35 y/o, 13 tests at hooker.

Atsushi HIWASA 24 y/o, 10 tests at halfback.

Shinsuke NAKAMURA 24 y/o, 6 tests at tighthead prop.

Takamichi SASAKI 27 y/o, 6 tests at flanker/No8.

Koji SHINOZUKA 28 y/o, 5 tests at lock/flanker.

Tateo KANAI 26 y/o, 4 tests at hooker.

Yasunori NAGATOMO, 26 y/o, 3 tests on wing.

Akira OZAKI 33 y/o, 3 tests at loosehead prop.

Yosuke IKEGAYA 32 y/o, 3 tests at tighthead prop.

Shinya MAKABE 24 y/o, 2 tests at lock.

The Coach: The head coach at Suntory for the 2011-12 season is again former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones (50) for the second year. Jones previously coached at Suntory in 1996 and has had some form of contact with the club ever since. He then went on to coach the Brumbies, the Wallabies, the Reds, was a technical adviser to the Springboks at the 2007 RWC and then director of rugby at Saracens before returning to Japan.

Jones replaced Katsuyuki Kiyomiya who was coach for four years. Kiyomiya took over from Yoji Nagatomo who had the job for the previous three years before that. The charismatic Kiyomiya came to Suntory after 5 years at prestigious Waseda University. At Waseda he took his students to 5 university championship finals, winning three. He had tremendous success at Waseda and back at Suntory he is producing the same sort of results with his old team. In some ways Kiyomiya is going around in circles, that is to say, he learned his rugby as a student at Waseda and then went on to Suntory as a No8. In 1985 Kiyomiya captained the Japan Schoolboys side. While at university as a second year student (1988), Waseda won the university championship title and also went on to win the National Championships with a 22-16 win over Toshiba, the last uni side to do so. He also captained Waseda in his fourth year (1990) as they again won the uni title. As a player at Suntory he was part of the side that won the corporate and national titles in 1996. Upon retiring as a player in 2001 he went back to Waseda as head coach. Thus, Kiyomiya has enjoyed unprecedented success as a player at Waseda and Suntory and then as a coach at Waseda.

In a unique move, Kiyomiya has cut his ties as a company man linked to Suntory and signed one-year professional contracts as head coach. Thus, his presence as head coach was totally results driven. If Suntory had a poor year he previously said he would step aside. He also noted that three years is a possible limit as a coach in a professional team, though he stayed on for a fourth year.

The Captain: The captain at Suntory for the 2011-12 season is again flanker/No8 Juntaro Takemoto (28). He is now in his sixth year with the club and this is his second year as captain.

Takemoto took over from backrower Takamichi Sasaki who was the captain for the 2009-10 season. Sasaki captained Japan on two occasions (Against Australia in the 2007 RWC and Australia A in the 2007 Pacific Nations Cup). He was also the captain at Waseda University under former Suntory coach Katsuyuki Kiyomiya.

Centre and Waseda graduate Daigo Yamashita (moved to NTT Communications at the end of the 2009-10 season) was captain for the three years before Sasaki, who in turn took over from halfback Kiyonori Tanaka (retired at the end of the 2010-11 season) who had the job the previous year. Lock Takahiro Hayano (retired at the end of the 2009-10 season) had the job for the 2 years before Tanaka.

Losses: (9)

(Age stated as of 9 November 2011)

Akito ISEDA, 29 y/o (01/10/1982), hooker, 184/106, into the company workforce after 6 seasons with club.

Yuta SAGO, 26 y/o (13/03/1985), flanker, 186/97, into the company workforce after 4 seasons with club.

Wayne van HEERDEN (SA), 32 y/o (29/03/1979), lock/backrow, 197/110, S14 Cheetahs, after 2 seasons with club.

Junji TAKATANI, 29 y/o (21/09/1982), flanker, 183/91, into the company workforce after 6 seasons with club.

Kiyonori TANAKA, 35 y/o (28/12/1975), halfback, 164/70, 3 tests for Japan at halfback, into the company workforce after 13 seasons with club, including as captain in 2005-6.

Kotaro TAHARA, 32 y/o (01/09/1979), halfback, 171/66, into the company workforce after 8 seasons with club.

George GREGAN (Aus), 37 y/o (19/04/1973), halfback, 173/76. 1994~2007 139 caps for Wallabies, 1996~2007 Brumbies. From Toulon, France. After 3 seasons with club.

Shin KANTO, 30 y/o (18/01/1981), five-eighth, 175/78, into the company workforce after 8 seasons with club.

Junichi HOJO, 34 y/o (20/05/1977), wing, 178/82, into the company workforce after 11 seasons with club.

Gains: (10)

(Age stated as of 9 November 2011)

Koichi NITTA, 23 y/o (27/06/1988), prop, 183/116, from Tokai University, he has represented Japan at High School, U19 and U20 levels.

Hirofumi KINOSHITA, 22 y/o (23/01/1989), hooker, 183/100, from Doshisha University.

Danie ROSSOUW (RSA), 33 y/o, (06/05/1978), lock, 196/117, 63 caps for Springboks including victory at the 2007 RWC; Blue Bulls 1999-2011, winning Super title in 2007 and 2009.

Naoki OZAWA, 23 y/o (08/10/1988), flanker/No8, 182/99, from Keio University, vice-captain in final year.

George SMITH (AUS), 31 y/o (14/07/1980), flanker, 180/103, 110 caps for Wallabies; Toulon 2010-11; Brumbies 2000-2010, winning the Super title in 2001 and 2004; won John Eales Medal in 2002 and 2008; S14 player of the year 2006-8.

Fourie de PREEZ (RSA), 29 y/o (24/03/1982), halfback, 182/89, S14 Blue Bulls, 62 caps for Springboks, Blue Bulls.

Mizuki YANAGIHARA, 22 y/o (10/11/1988), halfback, 169/76, from Nippon Sport Science University, vice-captain, he has represented Japan at U19 and U20 levels.

Ryutaro TAKEMOTO, 23 y/o (19/05/1988), five-eighth/centre, 174/80, from Keio University, captain in final year, he has represented Japan at U19 level, younger brother of captain Juntaro.

Daishi MURATA, 23 y/o (29/05/1988), centre/wing, 182/81, from Waseda University, he has represented Japan at U19 level.

Naoki CHONO, 22 y/o (09/01/1989), wing, 174/82, from Kwansei Gakuin University, he has represented Japan at High School, U19, U20 and Sevens levels.

Overseas Players & Staff (7 + 3):

(Age stated as of 9 November 2011)

Ryan NICHOLAS (NZL/JPN) 32 y/o (23/05/1979), centre, 192/100, 7^th year, NZ Maori, Highlanders S12, 35 caps for Japan.

Tusi PISIATA (NZL), 29 y/o (18/06/1982), five-eighth, 183/91, 3^rd year, 6 caps for Samoa, S14 Crusaders.

Todd CLEVER (USA), 28 y/o (16/01/1983), flanker, 193/97, 1^st year, S14 Lions, 40 caps for the USA. He has also represented the USA at U19 and Sevens levels.

Peter HEWAT (Aus), 33 y/o (17/03/1978), five-eighth/fullback, 191/101, 2^nd year. From London Irish. Australia U21, Australia Sevens, S14 Waratahs.

Fourie de PREEZ (RSA), 29 y/o (24/03/1982), halfback, 182/89, 1^st year, S14 Blue Bulls, 62 caps for Springboks, Blue Bulls.

Danie ROSSOUW (RSA), 33 y/o, (06/05/1978), lock, 196/117, 1^st year, 63 caps for Springboks including victory at the 2007 RWC; Blue Bulls 1999-2011, winning Super title in 2007 and 2009.

George SMITH (AUS), 31 y/o (14/07/1980), flanker, 180/103, 1^st year, 110 caps for Wallabies; Toulon 2010-11; Brumbies 2000-2010, winning the Super title in 2001 and 2004; won John Eales Medal in 2002 and 2008; S14 player of the year 2006-8.

Eddie JONES (Aus), 50 y/o, general manager/head coach.

Patrick BYRON (Aus), 30 y/o, coaching coordinator.

John PRYOR (Aus), 41 y/o, fitness adviser.

The 2011-12 Squad: (44) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.

Juntaro Takemoto (c). Forwards: Akira Ozaki, Yosuke Ikegaya, Keita Hasegawa, Shinya Ogawa, Tateo Kanai, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Shinsuke Nakamura, Koichi Nitta, Takashi Yamaoka, Yusuke Aoki, Hirofumi Kinoshita, Taichi Tahara, Danie Rossouw, Koji Shinozuka, Shinya Makabe, Yuki Tsujimoto, Shinki Gen, George Smith, Todd Clever, Takamichi Sasaki Masakatsu Nishikawa and Naoki Ozawa. Backs: Fourie de Preez, Shuetsu Narita, Atsushi Hiwasa, Mizuki Yanagihara, Peter Hewat, Tusi Pisiata, Naoya Nomura, Yoshinori Sogabe, Hiroki Miyamoto, Ryan Nicholas, Koji Taira, Go Aruga, Reo Kishiwada, Ryutaro Takemoto, Hirotoki Onozawa, Yasunori Nagatomo, Ryuji Oda, Kenji Miyamoto, Satoshi Oshima, Daishi Murata and Naoki Chono. Coach: Eddie Jones (50).

PANASONIC WILD KNIGHTS

http://panasonic.co.jp/sanyo/social/rugby/

Established: Sanyo Rugby was established in 1960 and they 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 National Championship titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Sanyo jumped from seventh on the table in the first two years of TL to second in 2005-6 and were unlucky not to take the title. In 2006-7, Sanyo fell off the pace 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 2009 National Championship. It was more of the same in 2009-10 when Sanyo topped the table but lost to Toshiba in the play-off final before winning the 2010 National Championship final for the third year in a row. It finally happened for Sanyo in the 2010-11 season when they took the Top League title for the first time.

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 from the 2011-12 season the team became known as the Panasonic Wild Knights. The team slogan for 2011-12 is “U-Knight - Unite”.

The Company: electrical and electronics maker.

Titles:

Top League – once (2010-11); runners-up 4 times (2009-10, 2008-9, 2007-8 and 2005-6).

2010-11 (14 teams): Champions. second on table on 55 points with 11 wins & 2 losses. Defeated Toyota 32-10 in Play-off SF and Suntory 28-23 in the final.

2009-10 (14 teams): Runners-up. first on table on 59 points with 12 wins & 1 draw. Defeated Toyota 25-21 in Play-off SF and lost to Toshiba 6-0 in the final.

2008-9 (14 teams): Runners-up. 2^nd on table on 58 points with 12 wins & 1 loss. (See 2009 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

2007-8 (14 teams): Runners-up. 1^st on table on 64 points with 13 straight wins. (See 2008 Microsoft Cup below for further details)

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

2005-6 (12 teams): Runners-up. 2^nd on table on 42 points with 9 wins and 2 losses.

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

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

Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none.

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

2008: Runners-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 – three times (2010, 2009 and 2008); runners-up once (2011).

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Runners-up. As Champion in TL Play-off, entered NC at SF stage. Beat Toshiba 33-21 in SF, lost to Suntory 37-20 in final.

2010 (47^th NC - 10 teams): Champions. Beat NEC 25-16 in semi-finals then beat Toyota 22-17 in the final.

2009 (46^th NC - 10 teams): Champions. Beat Ricoh 59-3 in semi-finals then beat Suntory 24-16 in the final.

2008 (45^th NC - 8 teams): Champions. Beat Toyota 25-24 in semi-finals then beat Suntory 40-18 in the final.

2007 (44^th NC - 8 teams): DNQ.

2006 (43^rd NC - 8 teams): Came in as second seed but knocked out by NEC 24-16 in the first round.

2005 (42^nd NC - 8 teams): DNQ.

2004 (41^st NC - 22 teams): Knocked out by Toyota 44-14 in the early rounds.

Corporate Championship – 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). The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55^th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.

Colours: With Sanyo becoming Panasonic in the 2011-12 season there has also been a change in colour. The traditional red and black strip of Sanyo has been changed mid-dark blue jersey with black shoulders, black shorts and socks. The second jersey is white with blue shoulders.

Style of Play: During the off-season Sanyo Wild Knights had a name change becoming the Panasonic Wild Knights after the Panasonic company acquired the Sanyo brand. After finishing runners-up three years in a row, Sanyo finally went one better in 2010-11 beating Suntory 28-23 in the play-off final to claim the Japan Rugby Top League title for the first time. Norifumi Nakajima takes over from Hitoshi Iijima as head coach at Panasonic for the 2011-12 season but in the squad there are a lot of familiar names and quality to burn guaranteeing that despite the name change Panasonic as the defending champions will definitely be a title contender again this season. Loosehead prop Naoki Kawamata, hooker Shota Horie locks Justin Ives and Yuji Kitagawa and backrowers Koliniasi Ryu Holani and Sione Vatuvei all represented Japan last season while lock Daniel Heenan and new boy Hendrix Tui from Teikyo University add strength to the forwards. In the backs, Fumiaki Tanaka is the premier halfback in Japan at the moment and although former All Black Tony Brown looks like taking on more of an off field role this season Masakazu Irie, Sam Norton-Knight and the newly acquired Mike Delany will guide the team around the park. Captain and centre Seiichi Shimomura, wings Tomoki Kitagawa and Akihito Yamada along with fullback Atsushi Tanabe are other players to watch in the backline.

Players to Watch: For many years, a lot of the success or otherwise of Sanyo heavily centred around the all-round game of former All Black Tony Brown at five-eighth. Brown excelled 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 made him difficult for oppositions to accurately mark. However, after seven years service to the club as a player the 36-year-old Brown has hung up the boots to take on the role as backs coach in 2011-12. It remains to be seen how Panasonic will cope without Brown guiding the ship and who will emerge as the dominant figure in the crucial play making positions for the Knights this season.

In the forwards, Daniel Heenan, Ryu Koliniasi Holani and Tomokazu Soma still lead the way but there is now a young crop of forwards coming through with prop Naoki Kawamata, hooker Shota Horie, flankers Sione Vatuvei and Tadasuke Nishihara and locks Justin Ives and Yuji Kitagawa all having represented Japan at the international level over recent years. Former Wallabies, Brumbies and Reds lock Daniel Heenan is now in his fifth season and is set for another big year. Tongan born Ryu Koliniasi Holani is set for more time on the field this season after taking out Japanese citizenship which allows Panasonic to play three other overseas players while Holani is on the field. Korean Young-Nam Yu is in his fourth year in the Panasonic pack. New Zealand born backrower Hendrik Tui from Teikyo University will also bolster the stocks for the season.

Captain Seiichi Shimomura (centre /fullback) and wings Tomoki Kitagawa and Takashi Miyake are now some of the senior players in the backs. However, other exciting players 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 halfback Fumiaki Tanaka. Wing Akihito Yamada is in his second year at Panasonic this year after two seasons with Honda and he has been part of Japan Sevens sides over recent years and he has also represented Japan at age grade levels and is knocking on the door for international selection. Sam Norton-Knight along with new boy Mike Delany are shaping as playmakers for the Knights in 2011-12.

Japan Cap Holders in the Current Squad: (14)

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Panasonic were represented by six players. Loosehead prop Naoki Kawamata started against hosts New Zealand for his only appearance, hooker Shota Horie started against France, Tonga and Canada, lock Yuji Kitagawa came on from the bench against New Zealand, flanker Sione Vatuvei came on from the bench against New Zealand and Tonga and then started on the blindside in the final test against Canada where he was named man-of-the-match, No8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani started against France in the opening test where he picked up a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the rest of the tournament. In the backs, halfback Fumiaki Tanaka started against France, Tonga and Canada. Further, lock Justin Ives was forced to withdraw from the Rugby World Cup squad before the tournament kicked-off after he failed to fully recover from an anterior cruciate injury to his left knee sustained in the test against Italy in August. He was replaced in the squad by Panasonic team mate Yuji Kitagawa.

In 2011, in the HSBC A5N 2011 series, Panasonic were represented by prop Naoki Kawamata, lock Justin Ives, backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani, halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and fullback Atsushi Tanabe. In the IRB PNC 2011, Panasonic were represented by Kawamata, hooker Shota Horie who missed the A5N through injury, Ives, Holani, Tanaka and flanker Tadasuke Nishihara who debuted against Samoa. Ives also made his debut in the A5N and went on to play in every game of both the A5N and PNC in 2011. In the two RWC warm-up tests against Italy and the USA in August, Panasonic were represented by Kawamata, Horie, Ives, flanker Sione Vatuvei, Nishihara, Holani and Tanaka.

In 2010, in the HSBC Asian Five Nations 2010 series, Sanyo were represented by prop Naoki Kawamata, hooker Shota Horie, flanker Sione Vatuvei, backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka. Vatuvei made his test debut in the opening test against Korea and earned a total of three caps over the series. The same five players were included in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010, with Horie and Tanaka starting in all three tests. In the autumn 2010 home tests against Samoa and Russia, Sanyo were represented by Kawamata, Horie, Holani, Tanaka and fullback Atsushi Tanabe who made his debut against the Russians at the age of 32.

In 2009, 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 Canada in November 2009, Sanyo were represented by prop Naoki Kawamata and hooker Shota Horie. The latter made his debut in the first test while he started in both tests.

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. 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.

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.

Fumiaki TANAKA 26 y/o, 31 caps at halfback.

Tomokazu SOMA 34 y/o, 24 caps at tighthead prop.

Ryu Koliniasi HOLANI 30 y/o, 20 caps in the backrow.

Naoki KAWAMATA 25 y/o, 18 caps at loosehead prop.

Shota HORIE 25 y/o, 17 caps at hooker.

Sione VATUVEI 28 y/o, 8 caps at flanker.

Justin IVES, 27 y/o, 8 caps at lock.

Yuji KITAGAWA 25 y/o, 6 caps at lock.

Takashi MIYAKE 31 y/o, 4 caps at wing.

Seiichi SHIMOMURA 30 y/o, 3 caps at centre.

Tadasuke NISHIHARA 23 y/o, 3 caps at flanker.

Atsushi TANABE 33 y/o, 3 caps at fullback.

Tomoki KITAGAWA 28 y/o, 3 caps at wing.

Masakazu IRIE 30 y/o, 1 cap at five-eighth.

The Coach: Former skills and technical coach Norifumi Nakajima (04/08/1975) is the new head coach at Panasonic for the 2011-12 season. Nakajima (178/77) was a centre or fullback with Sanyo for six seasons until hung up his boots at the end of the 2004-5 season and has been on the coaching staff since that time. He was born in Osaka and attended Yodogawa Technical High School in Osaka city then Nippon Sport Science University (1994-1998) before joining Sanyo for the 1999-2000 season.

Hitoshi Iijima was head coach at Sanyo for three seasons before Nakajima. 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 previous coach Katsufumi 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 (30) is the captain at Panasonic for the third year in a row in the 2011-12 season. Shimomura is in his eighth 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. Backrower Ryu Koliniasi Holani is again the vice-captain.

Jumpei Enomoto (retired at the end of the 2010-11 season) was captain for four seasons before Shimomura after taking over from flanker Dai Kawaguchi (retired at end of 2009-10 season). During his first season as captain Enomoto was called up to the national side making his debut against Spain in November 2005 in the number 13 jersey. This was his one and only cap.

Losses: (12 + 1)

(Age stated as of 1 April 2011)

Morimichi HORIUCHI, 19 y/o (07/07/1991), prop, 190/118, into the company workforce after one season with club.

Mitsugu YAMAMOTO 29 y/o (12/05/1981), hooker, 175/100, 10 caps for Japan at hooker, to Canon after 7 seasons with club.

Kenta ISHII, 26 y/o (07/09/1984), lock, 190/103, to IBM after 4 seasons with club.

Yohei TAKISAWA, 26 y/o (16/07/1985), lock, 196/96, into the company workforce after 3 seasons with club.

Kieran BLACK (NZ) 24 y/o (31/01/1987), flanker, 184/98, Christchurch BHS, New Brighton, after 3 seasons with club.

Tony BROWN (NZ) 36 y/o (17/01/1975), five-eighth, 178/85, 18 caps for All Blacks, Highlanders S12, after 7 seasons with club. Stopped playing at end of 2010-11 season to move into a coaching role with Panasonic.

Hiroaki TAINAKA, 27 y/o (27/03/1984), five-eighth/fullback, 186/90, to Canon after 5 seasons with club.

Jumpei ENOMOTO 31 y/o (30/11/1979), centre, 181/87, 1 cap for Japan at centre, onto the coaching staff after 9 seasons with club including 4 as captain.

Taisuke HIEIDA, 25 y/o (16/09/1985), centre/fullback, 179/81, to IBM after 3 seasons with club.

Takashi YOSHIDA, 35 y/o (11/05/1975), centre, 181/83, 4 caps for Japan at wing/fullback, to Kamaishi after 7 seasons with club.

Ryohei MIKI 33 y/o (24/03/1978), wing/centre, 187/90, 9 caps for Japan at fullback/wing, after 3 seasons with club.

Hiroya OKUDA, 24 y/o (21/10/1986), wing/centre, 181/82, to Kamaishi after 2 seasons with club.

Hitoshi IIJIMA, retired after three years as head coach.

Gains: (10)

(Age stated as of 1 April 2011)

Ryu Sioaperatu HOLANI, (Japan/Tonga), 28 y/o, (29/12/1982), prop/lock/backrow, 187/118, Saitama Institute of Technology, he has represented Japan at U21 level, from Kubota (2006-7 to 2010-11).

Kazunori CHISHIMA, 22 y/o (03/08/1988), prop, 181/110, from Tokai University.

Tatsuya MIZUMOTO, 19 y/o (21/05/1992), prop, 184/105, from Morioka Technical High School.

Hendrix TUI (NZL), 23 y/o (13/12/1987), flanker, 188/108, De La Salle, Auckland, from Teikyo University.

Ealey NICHOLAS (NZL), 23 y/o (14/10/1988), halfback/five-eighth, 180/93, St Bede’s HS, from Takushoku University.

Yasutaka SASAKURA, 22 y/o, (04/08/1988), centre, 184/90, from Kanto Gakuin Uni, he has represented Japan at U19, U20 and Sevens levels.

Yasuki HAYASHI, 26 y/o (26/04/1985), five-eighth/centre, 175/85, from Ritsumeikan University.

Mike DELANY (NZL) 29 y/o (15/06/1982), five-eighth, 177/88, Chiefs (2007, 2009-11), Highlanders (2008), 1 cap for All Blacks (v Italy, Milan, 14/11/2009).

Takamasa OKUBO, 22 y/o (28/07/1988), wing, 172/72, from Doshisha University, he has represented Japan at U19 and U20 levels.

Hamish PATERSON (NZL), 24 y/o (24/04/1987), flanker, 190/102, Southern Districts 2010, Auckland 2009, Northland 2008, captain of Auckland Colts in 2007.

Overseas Players and Staff (11 + 4):

(Age stated as of 1 April 2011)

Ryu Koliniasi HOLANI (Tonga/Japan) 30 y/o (25/10/1981), lock/backrow, 188/111, 6^th year, from Saitama Institute of Technology. He has 20 caps for Japan.

Daniel HEENAN (AUS) 29 y/o (17/11/1981), lock, 196/111, 5^th year, 2 caps for Wallabies, Reds (02-05), Brumbies (06-07).

Sione VATUVEI (Tonga/Japan) 28 y/o (14/03/1983), lock/backrow, 189/100, 4^th year, NZ High Schools. He has 8 caps for Japan.

Young-Nam YU (Korea) 28 y/o (13/10/1983), lock/flanker, 191/100, 4^th year, 30? caps for Korea. He has also represented Korea at 7s.

Justin IVES (NZL) 27 y/o (24/05/1984), lock/backrow, 196/100, 4^th year, NPC Otago B. He has 8 caps for Japan.

Sam NORTON-KNIGHT (AUS), 27 y/o (02/12/1983), five-eighth, 188/86, 2^nd year, Brumbies (2005), Waratahs (2006 to 2009), Cardiff Blues (2009-10). He represented Australia A in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and earned two caps for the Wallabies in 2007 against Wales and Fiji.

Ryu Sioaperatu HOLANI, (Japan/Tonga), 28 y/o, (29/12/1982), prop/lock/backrow, 187/118, 1^st year, Saitama Institute of Technology, he has represented Japan at U21 level, from Kubota (2006-7 to 2010-11).

Hendrix TUI (NZL), 23 y/o (13/12/1987), flanker, 188/108, 1^st year, De La Salle, Auckland, from Teikyo University.

Ealey NICHOLAS (NZL), 23 y/o (14/10/1988), halfback/five-eighth, 180/93, 1^st year, St Bede’s HS, from Takushoku University.

Mike DELANY (NZL) 29 y/o (15/06/1982), five-eighth, 177/88, 1^st year, Chiefs (2007, 2009-11), Highlanders (2008), 1 cap for All Blacks (v Italy, Milan, 14/11/2009).

Hamish PATERSON (NZL), 24 y/o (24/04/1987), flanker, 190/102, 1^st year, Southern Districts 2010, Auckland 2009, Northland 2008, captain of Auckland Colts in 2007.

Tony BROWN (NZL) 36 y/o (17/01/1075), backs coach, 178/85, 18 caps for All Blacks, Highlanders S12.

Michael CRONO (56), adviser.

Ashley JONES (50), adviser.

Kym Brown (49), adviser.

The 2011-12 Squad: (46) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.

Seiichi Shimomura (c), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (v-c). Forwards: Tomokazu Soma, Takayuki Kitagawa, Ryu Sioaperatu Holani, Jungo Kikawa, Yuki Kawano, Naoki Kawamata, Tatsuhiko Muroi, Kazunori Chishima, Tatsuya Mizumoto, Shota Horie, Tetsuya Shitara, Jun Sakaida, Daniel Heenan, Sione Vatuvei, Yoichi Iijima, Young-Nam Yu, Justin Ives, Kotaro Watanabe, Yuji Kitagawa, Daishi Wakamatsu, Hamish Paterson, Hendrix Tui and Tadasuke Nishihara. Backs: Atsushi Takayasu, Fumiaki Tanaka, Daisuke Motegi, Daiki Konishi, Ealey Nicholas, Masakazu Irie, Mike Delany, Sam Norton-Knight, Yasuki Hayashi, Masayuki Osawa, Yuya Noguchi, Keisuke Kimura, Atsushi Tanabe, Tadahiro Miwa, Yasutaka Sasakura, Takashi Miyake, Tomoki Kitagawa, Hiroshi Yamashita, Akihito Yamada, Rikiya Asami and Takamasa Okubo. Coach: Norifumi Nakajima (36).