RiJ has been working back through the history of Japan tests and this week looks at the France test on the tour of Europe in 1973. Round Six of Top League was played over the weekend and finally, RiJ profiles Kobe.
Enjoy the read.
Ian McDonnell lives and works in Japan. He can be contacted at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp
CONTENTS
- Japan Test Match & Player History Project: Japan tour to Wales, England and France-The French section.
- Japan Rugby Top League 2012-13: Round 6
- Top League Team Profile: Kobelco Steelers Kobe Steel
- HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2012 Round 3: Mumbai Sevens
- University Rugby 2012
- Japan Tour to Europe 2012
- Wales Tour to Japan 2013
- Into the Future
The Japan Test Match & Player History Project
For nine years now RiJ has been documenting Japanese rugby across various levels of the game. More recently, however, RiJ has recognised the need to accurately document the history of Japanese test match rugby and the players that have represented Japan down through the years. With this in mind, RiJ has embarked on a project to write the history of Japanese international rugby, detail every test that Japan has played and profile every player that has represented Japan.
Japan Tour to Wales, England and France 1973
In September and October 1973 Japan toured Wales, England and France playing eleven games on tour winning two and losing nine. Wales did not accord test status to the test against Japan and thus caps were not awarded with the team playing as Wales XV. Japan accorded the match against Wales test status and awarded caps. In England, Japan played England U23s according test match status and caps to the match. In the test against France, both France and Japan accorded the game test status and awarded caps.
After the defeat at the hands of England U23, the 1973 Japan tour of Europe crossed the channel to France for the final leg of the long, eleven game tour. Japan suffered further losses to French regional sides in Avignon and Perpignan but then came up with their second win in ten tour games when they beat Limousin 19-8 in Brive in the lead up to the final game of the tour, the full test against France in Bordeaux.
Of the three tests on tour, Japan played a Wales XV side in Cardiff and then an England U23 side in London but this was a full test against France with test match status and caps accorded on both sides. This inaugural test against France was played at the Stade Municipal in Bordeaux on Saturday, 27 October 1973 in what was Test No.40 and Japan Game No.96. It was also the third test in a row for the Yokoi brothers with Hisashi as Japan coach number ten, and younger brother Akira as Japan captain number twenty-one in partnership as coach and captain.
Coach Hisashi Yokoi made minimal changes for this test from the side that went down to England U23s two weeks prior in London with Kazumi Ohigashi replacing Mitsuo Atokawa as hooker and Junji Yoshida from Yawata Steel replacing Yoshiharu Yamaguchi on the side of the scrum in what would be his first and last test. At halfback Ryozo Imazato was reinstalled after Hiroaki Shukuzawa started in the first two tests on tour while in the No10 jersey Masakatsu Iguchi got his first start in a test. Elsewhere, the rest of the starting XV remained unchanged.
Japan got the scoreboard ticking over in this test with 21-year-old Waseda University fullback Nobuyuki Ueyama kicking an early penalty goal. However, France responded with a try to centre Gilles Delaigue in the 22nd minute to give the home side a 4-3 lead. Not to be outdone though, Japan came up with their first try in the 36th to hooker Ohigashi from a lineout to grab back the lead 7-4. Almost immediately after this, the French took their opportunities from a scrum in front of the Japan posts in an 8-9 move that saw halfback and captain Max Barrau score the second try for the home side. The successful conversion extended the lead to 10-7, the eventual halftime score.
As the second half got under way, France were the first to score with a converted try to right wing Roland Bertranne extending the lead to 16-7. After that though, the Japan backs sprang into action with tries to left wing Yoshihiro Sakata and outside centre Fumiharu Shimazaki making it a one point game with the hosts holding onto a 16-15 lead. Unfortunately, the visitors could not maintain the momentum and additional tries to No8 Olivier Saisset, flanker Jean-Claude Skrela and fullback Jean-Michel Aguirre blew out the final scoreline to 30-18 in what had been a competitive contest for the majority of the test.
With this being the last test on tour and the final test for 1973, it also meant the final test in a red and white hooped Japan jersey for a number of players. In the forwards, tighthead prop Masaaki Shimozono played his eleventh and final test and flanker Yoshida his first and last. In the backs, this was also to be the final international appearance for 31-year-old Kintetsu winger Sakata in what was his sixteenth test while centre Shimazaki played his tenth and final test. Furthermore, on the bench, with 12 tests under his belt Atokawa had also played his last test and for five-eighth Tadamasa Kamohara (Fujimoto) he had played the last of his 14 tests.
The French side also contained a number of names that were representative of some of the great French sides of this period. Fullback Jean-Michel Aguirre was in the early stages of his 39-test career while centre Jo Maso was coming to the end of his playing days. In later years, Maso would have a managerial role with the national team and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2003. Further, wing Roland Bertranne would play 69 tests between 1971 and 1981. In the forwards, although this would be the one and only test for loosehead prop Jacques Rougerie, the Japan connection did not stop there as his son Aurelien would play on the wing against Japan thirty years later in the 2003 RWC and then in the centres against Japan in the 2011 RWC. Elsewhere in the forwards, backrower Jean-Claude Skrela would not only play 46 times for France between 1971 and 1978 but he would coach the French national side from 1995 to 1999, winning the Grand Slam in 1997 and 1998 and taking them to the final at the 1999 RWC. Skrela also scored the first four point try in a test against Australia in November 1971 while his son David also represented France from the bench against Japan at the 2011 RWC.
Game 1: East Glamorgan 23 d Japan 11, 22 September 1973, Penygraig. (Japan Game Number 86)
Game 2: Monmouthshire 26 d Japan 16, 26 September 1973, Pontypool Park, Pontypool. (Japan Game Number 87)
Game 3: West Glamorgan 19 d Japan 6, 29 September 1973, The Gnoll, Neath. (Japan Game Number 88)
Game 4: Japan 12 d Western Counties (Wales) 9, 2 October 1973, Stradey Park, Llanelli. (Japan Game Number 89)
Game 5: Test v Wales XV.
Game 6: Midland Counties (England) 10 d Japan 6, 9 October 1973, Welford Road, Leicester. (Japan Game Number 91)
Game 7: Test v England U23s.
Game 8: Provence 51 d Japan 19, 17 October 1973, Avignon. (Japan Game Number 93)
Game 9: Roussillon 29 d Japan 18, 21 October 1973, Perpignan. (Japan Game Number 94)
Game 10: Japan 19 d Limousin 8, 24 October 1973, Brive. (Japan Game Number 95)
Game 11: Test v France.
Wales XV 62 – Japan 14. Saturday, 06 October 1973, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff. (Test No.38, Japan Game No.90)
England U23s 19 – Japan 10. Saturday, 13 October 1973, Twickenham, London. (Test No.39, Japan Game No.92)
France 30 – Japan 18. Saturday, 27 October 1973, Stade Municipal, Bordeaux. (Test No.40, Japan Game No.96)
Round Six
| Date | Team | Score | Team | K/O | Venue |
| Sat, 13 Oct 2012 | Panasonic (5Ts) | 35-18 | Yamaha (2Ts) | 12:00 | Chichibu, Tokyo |
|
| Ricoh (6Ts) | 36-19 | NEC (3Ts) | 14:00 | Chichibu, Tokyo |
|
| Kobe (10Ts) | 70-24 | Kyuden (4Ts) | 12:00 | Hanazono, Osaka |
|
| NTT Docomo (1T) | 7-59 | Kintetsu (9Ts) | 14:00 | Hanazono, Osaka |
|
| Toyota (3Ts) | 22-25 | Suntory (3Ts) | 14:00 | Mizuho, Aichi |
| Sun, 14 Oct 2012 | Canon (2Ts) | 17-31 | NTT Comm. (4Ts) | 13:00 | Sendai, Miyagi |
|
| Sanix (2Ts) | 20-29 | Toshiba (4Ts) | 13:00 | Global, Fukuoka |
Round Six Preview
In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon, Panasonic Wild Knights play Yamaha Jubilo. Panasonic have had a roller coaster start to the season beating Ricoh, losing to NTT Comm., beating Sanix, losing to Toshiba and then beating NEC 38-21 last round, whereas Yamaha are quietly going about their business with good wins over Toyota, NTT Docomo, NTT Comm. and Sanix before suffering their first loss last round when they went down to Kobe 33-13 in Osaka. Yamaha travel to Tokyo for the first time this season while Panasonic are playing at Chichibu for the fourth time in six rounds so the Knights should have a good feel for the ground. It is important for Panasonic that they start stringing wins together and the way they played last round suggests the form is returning. Sonny Bill Williams has now played the last four games for Panasonic and he is starting to look more comfortable with his new club and this could spell danger for Yamaha.
In the second game at Chichibu, Ricoh Black Rams play NEC Green Rockets. Ricoh have had a tough start to the season losing to Panasonic, Kobe, Suntory and NTT Comm. but they came up with a win last round when they beat Sanix 50-17 and this should spark some confidence. NEC lost to Suntory and Toyota in their opening games but then came up with wins over Kintetsu and NTT Docomo but lost their third game last round 38-21 against Panasonic. That loss has pushed NEC down the table to tenth place and with Ricoh looking to climb from their present position one spot below the Rockets both outfits will be desperate for a win. Ricoh will have to make sure the ball does not get out to Nemani Nadolo in space but they showed last round they have an effective attack of their own when they ran in seven tries against Sanix.
In the first game of a double header at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday, Kobelco Steelers play Kyuden Voltex. Kobe have had a solid start to their season with wins over Kintetsu, Ricoh and Kyuden before drawing with Toyota then beating Yamaha 33-13 last round to sit in outright second position on the table. Kyuden have lost to Sanix, Suntory, Toyota, Kintetsu and Canon in their first season back in Top League and it is crucial that they strive for a win this weekend. Kobe have an impressive backline with Peter Grant at five-eighth and Craig Wing and Jaque Fourie in the centres and if the Kyuden defence is not on the ball they could be in for trouble out wide. The experienced players in the Kyuden side including lock Chris Jack and centre Dwayne Sweeney will really have to step up for this one.
In the other game in Osaka, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes play Kintetsu Liners in a battle between the two Osaka based teams in the league. NTT Docomo are struggling to find form early in the season losing convincingly to Canon, Yamaha, Toshiba, NEC and NTT Comm. and consequently sit on the bottom of the table. Kintetsu have had an up and down season losing to Kobe, beating Sanix then narrowly losing to NEC before beating Kyuden then going down 49-24 to Suntory last round. Kintetsu won the corresponding encounter last year 39-25 but with Osaka bragging rights on the line in this home town derby the Liners will know they are in for a tough fight. The Red Hurricanes well and truly have their backs to the wall even at this stage in the season and they need the win to relieve some pressure.
In the final Saturday game, Toyota Verblitz play host to the unbeaten Suntory Sungoliath at the Mizuho Park Rugby Ground in Nagoya in a clash between two of the heavyweights in the league. Toyota lost to Yamaha then had wins over NEC and Kyuden before drawing 23-all with Kobe in round four but last round ended the unbeaten run of Toshiba when they came up trumps 29-21 in Morioka. The Sungoliath have beaten NEC, Kyuden, Ricoh, Canon and Kintetsu with maximum points from their first five games to sit alone on top of the table on 25 points as the league pacesetters. The win over Toshiba will instil a lot of self belief in Toyota and this will test the resolve of Suntory. Playmaker Stephen Brett has been inspirational for the Verblitz but Suntory have talent right across the board and will not be entertaining the prospect of a loss.
On Sunday, Canon Eagles and NTT Communications Shining Arcs travel north to Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture for their round six clash at the Yurtec Stadium. Canon started life in Top League with a win over NTT Docomo then lost to top guns Toshiba, Kobe and Suntory before notching up their second win in Top League last round in a bonus point 34-5 victory over Kyuden. NTT Comm. lost to Toshiba in round one but then caused the upset of the season when they beat Panasonic in round two before losing to Yamaha, beating Ricoh and then beating NTT Docomo 23-15. Both these sides are filled with youthful enthusiasm and with nothing to lose are playing an exciting brand of rugby and so this should ensure an entertaining spectacle for the people of Sendai.
In the other Sunday game, Fukuoka Sanix Blues are at home at the Global Arena in Fukuoka to face the might of Toshiba Brave Lupus. Sanix had a positive start to the season with a win over Kyuden but then lost to Kintetsu, Panasonic, Yamaha and Ricoh over the ensuing rounds and things do not get any easier against Toshiba. Toshiba started the season with wins over NTT Comm., Canon, NTT Docomo and Panasonic but their unbeaten run was brought to an end last round when they lost 29-21 to Toyota. The Brave Lupus will be smarting from that loss and looking to take out their frustrations on the Blues. Sanix already know what this is like as they had to face Panasonic in round three after they went down to NTT Comm. in round two and the Knights rattled up a big score.
Round Six Wrap-up
After the sixth round of the 2012-13 Japan Rugby Top League season played on the weekend of 13 and 14 October 2012, unbeaten Suntory Sungoliath sit on top of the table with 29 points followed by Kobelco Steelers who are still unbeaten after five wins and a draw on 25 points. Both Toshiba Brave Lupus are in third place on 23 points with Panasonic Wild Knights on 21 points rounding out the top four. Yamaha Jubilo suffered their second loss of the season this round and they are on 18 points along with NTT Communications Shining Arcs. Kintetsu Liners are in seventh place on 16 points followed by Toyota Verblitz on 15 points. Canon Eagles and Ricoh Black Rams are both on 11 points just ahead of NEC Green Rockets on 10 points. Meanwhile, Fukuoka Sanix Blues are on five points, Kyuden Voltex on three points and NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes on the bottom of the table are still yet to open their account this season.
In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon, Panasonic Wild Knights beat Yamaha Jubilo 35-18.
Panasonic scored five tries to two to collect maximum points from the game as they inflicted the second loss of the season on Yamaha. Right wing Akihito Yamada scored two first half tries as the Knights got out to a 22-15 halftime lead then brought up his hat-trick on the half hour mark in the second half in what was a man-of-the-match performance. With the game still very much in the balance as the second half got underway, the renowned Panasonic defence came to the fore as the half progressed restricting Yamaha to lone penalty goal from fullback Ayumu Goromaru while the Knights added a further 13 points to their tally to secure full points.
In the second game at Chichibu, Ricoh Black Rams beat NEC Green Rockets 36-19 in what was a similar scoreline to the first game. After a tough start to the season with four losses on the trot Ricoh came up with their second bonus point win in a row with this convincing six tries to three victory over NEC and this should spark some confidence for the rest of the season. Ricoh got out of the blocks fast with left wing and captain Daisuke Komatsu scoring the opening try in just the first minute of play, picking up where he left off from his man-of-the-match display from the previous round. This was followed by further five pointers to centre Wynand Olivier and No8 Michael Broadhurst as the Rams pulled away on the scoreboard to a 15-0 lead at the completion of the first half. Roy Kinikinilau again made a big impact from the bench with two second half tries while for NEC fullback Koichiro Kubota became only the third person to score 50 Top League tries when he touched down in the thirty-third minute.
In the first game of a double header at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday, Kobelco Steelers defeated Kyuden Voltex 70-24. In a high scoring game, Kobe built on their solid start to their season running in ten tries to four to consolidate outright second position on the table. Centre Jaque Fourie scored three of the ten tries for the Steelers while man-of-the-match in loosehead prop Yoshimitsu Yasue and fullback Kenji Shomen also crossed for tries. The woes continue for Kyuden who are in their first season back in Top League with six losses from six starts with their only consolation from this match a four try bonus point. Kobe all but had the game wrapped up when they led 42-14 at the break, but kept the foot on the accelerator in the latter half to keep the scoreboard ticking over right to the end.
In the other game in Osaka, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes went down to hosts Kintetsu Liners 59-7 in a battle between the two Osaka based teams in the league. In a close first half Kintetsu led 13-0 at halftime but the Liners went into overdrive in the second half piling on an additional seven tries to one to run out convincing winners in the Osaka derby for the second year in a row. Kintetsu openside flanker Toetu’u Taufa dotted down for four tries, two in either half, while lock Isamu Matsuoka was named man-of-the-match. Defence has been an issue for NTT Docomo with the Red Hurricanes conceding an average of about 45 points per game over the opening six rounds and this is one of the major contributing factors that sees them remain pointless on the bottom of the table for another week.
In the final Saturday game, Toyota Verblitz played host to the unbeaten Suntory Sungoliath at the Mizuho Park Rugby Ground in Nagoya in a clash between two of the heavyweights in the league with the Sungoliath scraping home 25-22. In a gripping encounter that saw the lead change several times throughout the second half, both teams scored three tries apiece with the two successful penalties to Suntory centre Ryan Nicholas to the one from Toyota playmaker Stephen Brett proving the difference in the end. Suntory led 6-3 at halftime but Toyota grabbed the lead 10-6 early in the second half with a converted try to Brett. A try to centre Koji Taira put Suntory back in front but Brett struck again on the hour mark with his second try with the conversion making it 17-13 to the home side. Suntory upped the ante over the final quarter with tries to wings Hirotoki Onozawa and Yasunori Nagatomo giving the defending Top League champions a 25-17 buffer going into the final ten minutes. The eight point difference was crucial as even though Steven Yates touched down for Toyota late in the game Suntory held on for their sixth straight win of the season.
On Sunday, Canon Eagles and NTT Communications Shining Arcs travelled north to Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture for their round six clash at the Yurtec Stadium with NTT Comm. coming from behind to win 31-17. Both these sides are filled with youthful enthusiasm and with nothing to lose played an exciting brand of rugby to ensure an entertaining spectacle for the people of Sendai. The Eagles had the better of the first half with tries to flanker Naoshi Shimizu and five-eighth Callum Bruce giving Canon a 17-10 lead at the break. However, the Arcs went on to score 21 unanswered points in the latter half with captain Hiraku Tomoigawa leading the way from the left wing in scoring three of the four tries for his side to be named man-of-the-match.
In the other Sunday game, Fukuoka Sanix Blues were at home at the Global Arena in Fukuoka to face the might of Toshiba Brave Lupus. The Blues pushed the Brave Lupus all the way in this one but at the end of the day, Toshiba had too much firepower and took the result 29-20. Sanix maintained a 10-5 lead midway through the first half but two tries to left wing Takehisa Usuzuki in the half helped Toshiba to a 15-13 lead by halftime. Usuzuki added a third try in the second half along with another to Tomohiro Semba to stretch the lead to 29-13 before veteran Sanix fullback Ryuji Koga crossed for a consolation try late in the piece.
Japan Rugby Top League 2012-13
|
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | BP1 | BP2 | Pts |
| 1 | Suntory | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 226 | 126 | 100 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| 2 | Kobe | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 203 | 103 | 100 | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Toshiba | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 193 | 114 | 79 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| 4 | Panasonic | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 216 | 124 | 92 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 5 | Yamaha | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 176 | 135 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | NTT Comm. | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 128 | 114 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| 7 | Kintetsu | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 188 | 120 | 68 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 8 | Toyota | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 132 | 136 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 9 | Canon | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 143 | 145 | -2 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 10 | Ricoh | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 142 | 157 | -15 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 11 | NEC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 144 | 170 | -26 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 12 | Sanix | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 123 | 234 | -111 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Kyuden | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 97 | 236 | -139 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 14 | NTT Docomo | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 70 | 267 | -197 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Four points for win, two for draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).
Leading Point Scorers
At the completion of round six, Yamaha fullback Ayumu Goromaru tops the point scorers list with 81 points.
|
| Name | Team | T | G | PG | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Ayumu Goromaru | Yamaha | 0 | 15 | 17 | 0 | 81 |
| 2 | Yoshio Kimishima | NTT Com | 2 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 78 |
| 3 | Atsushi Tanabe | Panasonic | 0 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 76 |
| 4 | Stephen Brett | Toyota | 4 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 68 |
| 5 | Shotaro Onishi | Kintetsu | 0 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 63 |
| 6 | Ryohei Mitomo | Canon | 1 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 60 |
| 7 | Akihito Yamada | Panasonic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
| 7 | Peter Grant | Kobe | 0 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 55 |
| 9 | Hiroshi Tashiro | Sanix | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 52 |
| 10 | Yu Tamura | NEC | 1 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 44 |
Leading Try Scorers
At the completion of round six, Panasonic wing Akihito Yamada tops the try scorers list with 11 tries.
|
| Name | Team | Tries |
| 1 | Akihito Yamada | Panasonic | 11 |
| 2 | Nemani Nadolo | NEC | 8 |
| 3 | Hirotoki Onozawa | Suntory | 7 |
| 3 | Jaque Fourie | Kobe | 7 |
| 5 | Tim Bennett | Canon | 6 |
| 5 | Toetu’u Taufa | Kintetsu | 6 |
| 7 | Steven Bates | Toshiba | 5 |
| 7 | Shinji Nakazono | Yamaha | 5 |
Round 6 Man-of-the-match Awards
| Date | Teams | Score | Teams | Ground | MOTM |
| Sat 13 Oct 2012 | Panasonic | 35-18 | Yamaha | Chichibu, Tokyo | Akihito Yamada, Wing |
|
| Ricoh | 36-19 | NEC | Chichibu, Tokyo | Takeshi Mabuchi, Lock |
|
| Kobe | 70-24 | Kyuden | Hanazono, Osaka | Yoshimitsu Yasue, Prop |
|
| NTT Docomo | 7-59 | Kintetsu | Hanazono, Osaka | Isamu Matsuoka, Lock |
|
| Toyota | 22-25 | Suntory | Mizuho, Aichi | Atsushi Hiwasa, Halfback |
| Sun 14 Oct 2012 | Canon | 17-31 | NTT Comm. | Sendai, Miyagi | Hiraku Tomoigawa, Wing |
|
| Sanix | 20-29 | Toshiba
| Global, Fukuoka | Takehisa Usuzuki, Wing |
Top League Profiles 2012-13
(6) Kobelco Steelers Kobe Steel
http://www.kobelcosteelers.com
2012-13 Introduction: Last season (2011-12) Kobe finished sixth on the final table after promising so much more earlier in the season. Although Kobe then won their way through the Wildcard Tournament to the National Championship they were eliminated in the first round.
Kobe as the inaugural Top League champions way back in 2003-4 have consistently finished fourth, fifth or sixth every season since but 2012-13 looks like being one full of hope and expectation. A number of prominent names have joined the Steelers for this season including South African Jaques Fourie who spent one season with Panasonic last season and former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom. Kobe have also been building up a solid stock of home grown talent over recent years with the likes of hooker Takeshi Kizu and flanker Shoji Ito representing Japan this spring. Other mainstays in the forwards include prop Hisateru Hirashima, backrowers Itaru Taniguchi and Josh Blackie and hookers Yuji Matsubara and Yoshimitsu Yasue. In the backs, Springbok Peter Grant is the key player for the club in his third year along with Yuta Imamura halfback Takashi Sato and New Zealand born centre or wing Fraser Anderson.
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 Kobelco Steelers and have also adopted the catchphrase Bodies of Steel, Hearts of Gold.
The slogan for 2012-13 is “Moving Rugby”
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).
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.
2011-12 (14 teams): 6th on table on 38 points with 6 wins, a draw and 6 losses.
2010-11 (14 teams): 5th on table on 36 points with 7 wins and 6 losses.
2009-10 (14 teams): 5th on table on 38 points with 7 wins, a draw and 5 losses.
2008-9 (14 teams): 4th on table on 43 points with 9 wins and 4 losses. (See 2009 Microsoft Cup below for further details)
2007-8 (14 teams): 5th on table on 46 points with 9 wins and 4 losses.
2006-7 (14 teams): 6th on table on 42 points with 8 wins and 5 losses.
2005-6 (12 teams): 5th on table on 33 points with 7 wins and 4 losses.
2004-5 (12 teams): 5th 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.
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: 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).
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. In 2012 the Wildcard Tournament was abbreviated to the four teams that finished fifth to eighth with fifth placed Kintetsu Liners playing eighth placed Yamaha Jubilo and sixth placed Kobe Steelers playing seventh placed Ricoh Black Rams. Kobe beat Ricoh 32-19 and Yamaha beat Kintetsu 17-15 with the winners thus qualifying for the up-coming 49th National Championship.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): Beat Ricoh 32-19 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Lost to NEC 17-10 in 1st round.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): Beat Sanix 55-40 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Beat Toyota 27-17 in 1st round, NTT Docomo 38-0 in 2nd round, lost to Suntory 37-33 in SF.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): Beat Coca-Cola 40-28 in Wildcard Tournament to qualify. Lost to Toyota 36-19 in first round.
2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): Lost 30-29 to NEC in first round.
2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.
2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.
2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.
2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.
2004 (41st 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 55th 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 as a club side in Top East Division One as Kamaishi Seawaves RFC) 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 the recent years of the Top League era, 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 and backrower Takeomi Ito (62 caps, moved to Kamaishi Seawaves at the end of the 2011-12 season). Consequently, Kobe have all but completed a generational change with hooker Yuji Matsubara and lock Yoshitaka Hayashi the only surviving members form the Kobe side that won the inaugural Top League title back in 2003-4. 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 Top League trophy in 2003-4, but they have been just off the pace in the years since consistently finishing fourth, fifth or sixth on the table behind the likes of Toshiba, Suntory, Sanyo and Toyota.
For the 2012-13 season, in the forwards, flanker Daiki Hashimoto is the new captain this year and one of the faces of the future of the club and along with fellow backrower Shoji Ito they both made their international debuts in the spring of 2012 in the HSBC Asian Five Nations. Former captain and loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima and backrower Itaru Taniguchi represented the club at the 2011 RWC in New Zealand and they continue to lead the way at club level. 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 while hooker Takeshi Kizu is the incumbent national hooker. Flanker Josh Blackie is still in the Kobe pack for a sixth season while No8 Pasuka Mapakaitolo continues to impress with his high work rate. Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom was a big name signing for the club this season and although his details are included in the official Top League yearbook, long term injury ultimately saw his contract being withdrawn.
In the backs, Springbok Peter Grant is the key player for the club in his third year and he should be taking a lot of control from five-eighth while also contributing with his goal-kicking. Centre Yuta Imamura 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 fourth season with Kobe adds 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. The Kobe backline has been further bolstered this season with Craig Wing coming across from NTT Communications with his Philippine passport allowing the club to use him as an Asian player outside the reduced two man overseas player quota for this season while former Springbok Jaque Fourie will add sharpness to the backs as he joins the club from Panasonic. Finally inside back Daisuke Yamamoto and former Japan No.10 Kyohei Morita add depth to the squad.
Cap Holders for Japan in the Current Squad: (12)
In 2012, in the HSBC A5N series, Kobe were represented by hooker Takeshi Kizu, prop Hiroshi Yamashita, backrowers Shoji Ito and Daiki Hashimoto. Yamashita started in two tests from the bench playing his first test since July 2009, while both Ito and Hashimoto made their international debuts in this series. In the IRB PNC series, Kobe were represented by Kizu, Yamashita and Ito. Kizu started as hooker in all three tests in the series hosted by Japan.
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.
Yuta IMAMURA (480) 27 y/o, 33 caps at outside centre or wing.
Hisateru HIRASHIMA (514) 29 y/o, 27 caps at loosehead prop.
Yuji MATSUBARA (440) 33 y/o, 23 caps at hooker.
Takeshi KIZU (533) 24 y/o, 14 caps at hooker.
Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523) 26 y/o, 13 caps at tighthead prop.
Itaru TANIGUCHI (543) 28 y/o, 10 caps at flanker/No8.
Kyohei MORITA (448) 28 y/o, 8 caps at five-eighth.
Shinji ITO (TBC) 31 y/o, 7 caps in backrow.
Takashi SATO (506) 31 y/o, 4 caps at halfback.
Yoshimitsu YASUE (528) 27 y/o, 2 caps at hooker.
Kenji SHOMEN (433) 29 y/o, 2 caps at five-eighth and centre.
Daiki HASHIMOTO (TBC) 24 y/o, 1 cap at flanker.
Takeomi ITO 41 y/o, 62 caps at flanker/No8. Moved to Kamaishi Seawaves at end of 2011-12 season.
The Coach: The head coach for 2012-13 is former Japan and Kobe halfback Yuji Sonoda (05/07/1973, 39 y/o, Japan player number 385) who is in his third season in the role after retiring as a player at the end of the 2009-10 season. Sonoda earned 18 caps for Japan between 2000 and 2003 including two starts in the 2003 RWC. Seiji Hirao (49), is the general manager now in his sixth season on the coaching staff. Steve Cumberland is technical adviser while Nick Holten is the new forwards coach.
Before Sonoda, Hirao was head coach for three seasons (2009-10, 2008-9 and 2007-8). Hirao replaced Terunori Masuho who coached the Steelers for three years (2006-7, 2005-6 and 2004-5) 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. Hagimoto was head coach at Kobe in the inaugural season of Top League in 2003-4.
The Captain: For the 2012-13 season, flanker Daiki Hashimoto is the new captain. Hashimoto is in his fourth year with the club and made his international debut as openside flanker against the UAE in Fukuoka in 2012 and to date this remains his only cap. Shinji Ito and Kenji Shomen are the vice captains.
Before Hashimoto, prop Hisateru Hirashima was captain for two seasons (2011-12 and 2010-11) 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 (2008-9 and 2007-8). Before Goto, hooker Yuji Matsubara was captain for three seasons (2006-7, 2005-6 and 2004-5) and in turn before that halfback Yuji Sonoda was captain in the inaugural Top League season in 2003-4.
Losses: (8)
WANG Si-Bo (China), 25 y/o (09/03/1987), prop, 188/123, 6 caps for China, from Ricoh (2009-10), to Mitsubishi Sagamihara after 2 years with club.
Scott MACLEOD (Scotland), 33 y/o (03/03/1979), lock, 198/113, 24 caps for Scotland, from Edinburgh Rugby in the Magners League, to Newcastle Falcons after one year with club.
Hiroyuki KONDO, 27 y/o (15/11/1984), lock, 193/112, into company workforce after 5 years with club.
Hrishikesh PENDSE (India), 26 y/o (08/04/1986), lock, backrow, 190/100, he has represented India at full national level, Sevens and U19s, after one year with club.
Takeomi ITO 41 y/o (11/04/1971), flanker/No8, 185/92, 62 caps, to Kamaishi Seawaves after 18 years with club.
Jason KAWAU (NZL), 31 y/o (05/02/1981), centre, 186/100, NZU, NZ Maori (2006-8), Highlanders, Hurricanes S14, to Kurita after 2 years with club.
Ryo OISHI, 29 y/o, (25/08/1983), centre, 174/90, into company workforce after 6 years with club.
Daisuke ICHIKI, 30 y/o (01/10/1982), fullback, 177/83, into company workforce after 7 years with club.
Gains: (5)
Ryuta YASUI, 22 y/o (06/12/1989), flanker/No8, 187/105, from Tokai Uni. He has represented Japan at U20 level.
Craig WING (AUS/The Philippines), 32 y/o (26/12/1979), five-eighth/centre, 180/89, South Sydney, Sydney Roosters NRL. Played rugby under Tony Hannon at Sydney Boys’ High School and was an Australian Schoolboy before turning to rugby league. From NTT Communications (2010-11 and 2009-10).
Jaque FOURIE (RSA) 29 y/o (04/03/1983), centre, 190/100, 69 caps for Springboks, SR Stormers, from Panasonic (2010-11).
Naoya MINAMIHASHI, 23 y/o (10/08/1989), centre, 172/88, from Teikyo Uni. He has represented Japan at High School and U20 levels.
Tsuyoshi IGUCHI, 23 y/o (21/12/1989), fullback, 180/85, from Waseda Uni. He has represented Japan at U20 level.
Overseas Players and Staff (7 + 2):
Pasuka MAPAKAITOLO (Tonga/Japan), 32 y/o (27/04/1980), No8, 190/115, 7th year, from Rissho Uni. He has 2 caps for Tonga and he has also represented Tonga at Sevens.
Josh BLACKIE (NZL), 33 y/o (03/08/1979), flanker, 193/105, 6th year, JAB, NZ7s, Highlanders and Blues SR, Otago NPC.
Nathan ANDERSON (NZL/Japan), 28 y/o (18/05/1984), halfback, 170/73, 5th year, from Ryutsu Keizai Univ. He has represented Japan at High School, U21 & Japan A levels.
Fraser ANDERSON (NZL), 28 y/o (20/04/1984), wing/centre, 193/101, 4th year. He played with Brisbane Broncos & Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.
Peter GRANT (RSA), 28 y/o (15/08/1984), five-eighth/centre, 186/92, 3rd year, SR Stormers, 5 caps for Springboks.
Craig WING (AUS/The Philippines), 32 y/o (26/12/1979), five-eighth/centre, 180/89, 1st year, South Sydney, Sydney Roosters NRL. Played rugby under Tony Hannon at Sydney Boys’ High School and was an Australian Schoolboy before turning to rugby league. From NTT Communications (2010-11 and 2009-10).
Jaque FOURIE (RSA) 29 y/o (04/03/1983), centre, 190/100, 1st year, 69 caps for Springboks, SR Stormers, from Panasonic (2010-11).
Steve CUMBERLAND (NZL) 47 y/o, technical adviser.
Nick HOLTEN (NZL) 40 y/o, forwards coach.
The 2012-13 Squad: (45) 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. Daiki Hashimoto (c), Shoji Ito (v-c), Kenji Shomen (v-c). Forwards: Eiko Yoshida, Hisateru Hirashima, Yoshimitsu Yasue, Masanobu Yamauchi, Hiroshi Yamashita, Masahiko Nakagawa, Tsutomu Nagae, Motoki Yamazaki, Yuji Matsubara, Masayuki Murakami, Takeshi Kizu, Yoshitaka Hayashi, Yu Shimizu, Hajime Uemura, Hikaru Okubo, Josh Blackie, Pasuka Mapakaitolo, Itaru Taniguchi, Takahiro Suzuki, Yoshinobu Arai, Shohei Maekawa and Ryuta Yasui. Backs: Takashi Sato, Nathan Anderson, Satoru Sawatari, Takashi Sakuma, Craig Wing, Waku Kikuchi, Daisuke Yamamoto, Kyohei Morita, Peter Grant, Jaque Fourie, Hideki Tanabe, Naoya Minamihashi, Jin Ogasawara, Fraser Anderson, Yoshikazu Ohashi, Yuta Imamura, Yusuke Hamashima, So Noda, Kanzo Nakahama and Tsuyoshi Iguchi. Coach: Yuji Sonoda (39).
HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2012
Round 3: Mumbai Sevens
The third round of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series for 2012 is set for Mumbai in India over the weekend of 13 and 14 October 2012. Sixteen countries and regions will take part in the Mumbai Sevens at the Bombay Gymkhana making it the largest HSBC Asian Sevens event held to date. India, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan are making their debuts in the series.
Japan are in Pool A along with The Philippines, Singapore and Afghanistan. On Day One, Japan will play Afghanistan at 9:20, Singapore at 12:00 and The Philippines at 14:40.
Japan won the Borneo Sevens held in Sabah, Malaysia from 31 August to 2 September as the opening round of the series but were forced to withdraw from the Shanghai Sevens held at the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai over the weekend of 22 and 23 September due to security concerns and so are looking to make up ground on teams like Hong Kong who were runners-up in Borneo and took the title in Shanghai. The final round will take place at the Singapore Cricket Club in Singapore from 2-4 November with the Singapore Sevens also doubling as the IRB’s Asian qualifier for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow in 2013.
Japan will be awarded an average of their points from Borneo and Mumbai to determine their final points total in the HSBC Asian Sevens Series for 2012.
The final Japan squad for the tournament will be announced soon.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
| Japan | China | Chinese Taipei | Hong Kong |
| The Philippines | Sri Lanka | South Korea | Thailand |
| Singapore | Malaysia | Kazakhstan | UAE |
| Afghanistan | Iran | Pakistan | India |
University Rugby 2012
The major university rugby leagues kicked off around the country over September and early October with schools in the Kanto area now having played between one and three of their seven round games while the Kansai league starts in early October.
Kanto Taiko
(Teikyo University, Waseda University, Meiji University, Tsukuba University, Keio Gijuku University, Aoyama Gakuin University, Nippon Sports Science University and Rikkyo University.)
In the Kanto Taiko competition, Teikyo as the defending national university champions, and Meiji have both won their first three games while Waseda and Tsukuba have all won their two opening games to open up a gap over the rest of the field. Keio have won one and lost one leaving the remaining three schools without a win yet.
Kanto League
(Ryutsu Keizai University, Tokai University, Kanto Gakuin University, Daitobunka University, Hosei University, Nihon University, Chuo University and Takushoku University.)
In the Kanto League competition, Ryutsu Keizai have started off their campaign with three straight wins while Tokai have won their opening two games to push ahead in the early stages of the competition. Hosei and Takushoku have won two and lost one but Kanto Gakuin and Daitobunka have both started off on the wrong foot with three opening losses from their three starts.
Kansai League
(Tenri University, Doshisha University, Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Kinki University, Kyoto Sangyo University and Setsunan University.)
In the Kansai League, action kicked off on Sunday 7 October with a full opening round of matches with Kwansei Gakuin upsetting Tenri 17-15 while Kyoto Sangyo, Setsunan and Kinki also notched up first up wins.
Japan Tour to Europe 2012
Japan will tour Europe in the autumn of 2012 with tests against Romania in Bucharest on Saturday 10 November and Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday 17 November and non-test matches against a Basque Selection on Wednesday 21 November and the French Barbarians on Sunday 25 November. This will be the first time Japan have toured in November since the tour to Europe in November 2004.
On 5 September 2012 the JRFU announced the schedule for the tour while the final squad will be announced on Wednesday, 24 October.
Schedule
Game 1:
Romania v Japan
|Date: Saturday 10 November 2012
Venue: National Rugby Stadium, Bucharest, Romania
Kick-off: 15:00 (local time)
Game 2:
Georgia v Japan
Date: Saturday 17 November 2012
Venue: Dynamo Arena Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia
Kick-off: 15:00 (local time)
Game 3:
Basque Selection v Japan XV
Date: Wednesday 21 November 2012
Venue: TBC, France
Kick-off: 20:45 (TBC) (local time)
Game 4:
French Barbarians v Japan XV
Date: Sunday 25 November 2012
Venue: TBC, France
Kick-off: 15:00 (TBC) (local time)
Wales Tour to Japan 2013
Wales will tour Japan in June 2013 with tests at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday 8 June and the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday 15 June.
Into the Future
With the IRB working towards re-introducing traditional long tours there will be spin-offs for Japan in the lead-up to this country hosting the 2019 RWC. Although it is not set in concrete, a bevy of tier one countries are pencilled in to tour Japan with Wales touring in 2013, Scotland in 2016, Ireland in 2017 and Italy in 2018.
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