Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013
The 2013-14 season in Japan is about to begin. Ian has posted the third of his introductions to the season by systematically providing a preview.
Ian McDonnell lives and works in Japan. He can be contacted at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp
CONTENTS
- Japan Rugby Top League 2013-14, Teams 9-12
Top League 2013-14: Team Introductions 9-12
(9) NTT Communications Shining Arcs
2013-14 Introduction: Last season (2012-13) NTT Comm. finished ninth on the final table, achieving the feat of more wins than losses in what was only their third season in Top League. There has been less turnover of players during the off-season meaning there is far more stability in the club this year. Former Keio University head coach Masato Hayashi is again in charge this season and after an impressive finish last year he will be hoping to maintain the momentum as the new season gets underway. Wing Hiraku Tomoigawa is again the captain for 2013-14 and he will have to lead from the front as the mid table battles promise to be fiercely contested this year. The experienced players in the squad such as former All Blacks lock Isaac Ross, USA captain Todd Clever, Samoan Alesana Tuilagi, former Japan and Yamaha lock Hajime Kiso, fullback Toru Kurihara and Matt Sanders from the Philippines will have to again get the best out of the younger players at NTT Comm.
Established: NTT Communications Shining Arcs were formed in 1976 and they have their home ground at the NTT Chiba General Sports Ground in Ichikawa city near Futamata Shinmachi station on the JR Keiyo line. The nickname Shining Arcs is a bright and shining image just like the sun reaching out to the world and into the future with the logo motif in the shape of a rugby ball.
The Company: NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) is a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. NTT Com provides network management, security and solution services to consumers, corporations and governments in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the Americas. Have a look at the company webpage http://www.ntt.com/
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.
2012-13 (14 teams): 9th on table on 31 points with 7 wins and 6 losses.
2011-12 (14 teams): 9th on table on 30 points with 5 wins, a draw and 7 losses.
2010-11 (14 teams): 12th on table on 24 points with 4 wins and 9 losses. Beat Canon 31-19 in P&R Play-off.
2009-10: (14 teams): DNP.
2008-9 (14 teams): DNP.
2007-8 (14 teams): DNP.
2006-7 (14 teams): DNP.
2005-6 (12 teams): DNP.
2004-5 (12 teams): DNP.
2003-4 (12 teams): DNP.
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: DNP.
2008: DNP.
2007: DNP.
2006: DNP.
2005: DNP.
2004: DNP.
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. 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.
For 2013, the Wildcard Tournament again featured six teams, that is, the six teams that finished fifth to tenth on the final Top League table for the 2012-13 season. In the first round, eighth placed NEC Green Rockets beat ninth placed NTT Communications Shining Arcs 38-14 and seventh placed Kintetsu Liners beat tenth placed Ricoh Black Rams 43-21. In the second round the following weekend, sixth placed Yamaha Jubilo beat Kintetsu 70-12 and fifth placed Toyota Verblitz beat NEC 41-23. The two winners from the second round in Yamaha and Toyota qualified for the National Championship as the Wildcard Qualifiers.
2013 (50th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): qualified as Top Challenger, beat Tokai University 11-7 in first round, lost to Toyota 50-17 in second round.
2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2004 (41st NC - 22 teams): DNP.
Corporate Championship – none. 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.
(10) Ricoh Black Rams
2013-14 Introduction: Last season (2012-13) Ricoh finished tenth on the final Top League table after finishing seventh the previous season. The Black Rams started last season with four losses on the trot and that put them behind the eight ball from the beginning and so the club will have to come out of the blocks firing in the new expanded season.
Although there has been some turnover of players at the club in the off-season there is still a very solid base for head coach Leon Holden to work with along with newer names like Riki Flutey. Ricoh is very much a club heading in the right direction but it is important that they keep improving as all the mid table teams are making progress. Backrower Michael Broadhurst and prop Yusuke Nagae are current Japan representatives and they will have to use that experience to pull the other players through. Meanwhile, lock Emosi Kauhenga, goal kicking five-eighth Yoshimitsu Kawano and wing Roy Kinikinilau are other important figures in the team.
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 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 13th 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.
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.
2012-13 (14 teams): 10th on table on 28 points with 5 wins and 8 losses.
2011-12 (14 teams): 7th on table on 38 points with 7 wins, a draw and 5 losses.
2010-11 (14 teams): 7th on table on 32 points with 6 wins and 7 losses.
2009-10 (14 teams): 12th 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): 13th on table on 17 points with 3 wins and 10 losses. Relegated to Top East 11.
2006-7 (14 teams): 11th 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): 11th 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): 10th 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): 9th on table on 15 points with 3 wins and 8 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: 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).
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.
For 2013, the Wildcard Tournament again featured six teams, that is, the six teams that finished fifth to tenth on the final Top League table for the 2012-13 season. In the first round, eighth placed NEC Green Rockets beat ninth placed NTT Communications Shining Arcs 38-14 and seventh placed Kintetsu Liners beat tenth placed Ricoh Black Rams 43-21. In the second round the following weekend, sixth placed Yamaha Jubilo beat Kintetsu 70-12 and fifth placed Toyota Verblitz beat NEC 41-23. The two winners from the second round in Yamaha and Toyota qualified for the National Championship as the Wildcard Qualifiers.
2013 (50th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): Lost to Kobe 32-19 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): Beat Coca-Cola 31-29 then lost to NEC 38-33 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2009 (46th 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 (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): 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 55th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.
(11) – Canon Eagles
2013-14 Introduction: Last season (2012-13) playing in Top League for the very first time Canon did enough to garner three wins and retain their place in the expanded new season. On the whole, the club will be better for the experience but it also promises to be another tough battle in the longer season ahead.
The Canon coaching staff includes former Suntory halfback Yoji Nagatomo as manager who earned eight caps for Japan and coached Suntory in the early years of Top League along with former Brumbies coach Andy Friend as head coach. This very experienced coaching combination will have to rely on the experienced players in the squad who have previously played in Top League with other teams including a number of former Sanyo players such as hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto and fullback Hiroaki Tainaka as well as journeyman in centre Atsushi Moriya who has seven caps for Japan. Furthermore, backrower Aston Crawford and centre Rocky Havili also have Top League experience. It also goes without saying that the foreign players in the squad are going to have an important role to play as the season rolls on including centre Callum Bruce, lock Kane Thompson and former All Black centre Isaia Toeava. Japan international lock Justin Ives has moved across from Panasonic while All Black backrower Adam Thomson joins the Eagles from the Highlanders.
Established: Canon Eagles were established in 1980 and has its training ground in Machida city in Tokyo.
The Company: Canon Inc., as the mother company of Canon Eagles is a multinational Japanese corporation that specialises in imaging and optical products such as cameras and printers. Canon has its headquarters in Ota ward, Tokyo.
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.
In the 2012-13 season, Canon Eagles topped the Top East regional league and thereby qualified directly for the four-team Top Challenge One series. The Eagles beat Toyota Industries Shuttles 46-24 in their first round game, then beat Kubota 37-24 on their next game before losing 68-17 to Kyuden in their final game. However, Canon topped the Top Challenge table to qualify for the 2012 National Championship as the Top Challenger and also won promotion to Top League for the 2012-13 season.
2012-13 (14 teams): 11th on table on 19 points with 3 wins and 10 losses.
2011-12 (14 teams): DNP.
2010-11 (14 teams): DNP.
2009-10 (14 teams): DNP.
2008-9 (14 teams): DNP.
2007-8 (14 teams): DNP.
2006-7 (14 teams): DNP.
2005-6 (12 teams): DNP.
2004-5 (12 teams): DNP.
2003-4 (12 teams): DNP.
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: DNP.
2008: DNP.
2007: DNP.
2006: DNP.
2005: DNP.
2004: DNP.
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. 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.
For 2013, the Wildcard Tournament again featured six teams, that is, the six teams that finished fifth to tenth on the final Top League table for the 2012-13 season. In the first round, eighth placed NEC Green Rockets beat ninth placed NTT Communications Shining Arcs 38-14 and seventh placed Kintetsu Liners beat tenth placed Ricoh Black Rams 43-21. In the second round the following weekend, sixth placed Yamaha Jubilo beat Kintetsu 70-12 and fifth placed Toyota Verblitz beat NEC 41-23. The two winners from the second round in Yamaha and Toyota qualified for the National Championship as the Wildcard Qualifiers.
2013 (50th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): Qualified as Top Challenger. Beat Tenri Uni 37-13 in first round then lost to NEC 62-19 in second round.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2004 (41st NC - 22 teams): DNP.
Corporate Championship – None. 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.
(12) – Kyushu Electric Power Co. Kyuden Voltex
2013-14 Introduction: Last season (2012-13) Kyuden finished twelfth on the final Top League table with two wins enough to guarantee them a spot in the new expanded season.
With Top League now in its eleventh year, it is going to be a challenge for Kyuden both on and off the field to compete with the established sides. However, the squad contains a lot of players with Top League experience and this will be valuable as the long season wears on. Furthermore, the foreign players in the camp will have to set the standard high in order to act as role models for their younger and less experienced team mates. In the forwards, former Reds flanker Tom McVerry is an important figure while in the backs former Chiefs centre Dwayne Sweeney will be just as important.
Established: Kyuden was formed in 1951 and worked their way through the seasons in Kyushu to win their place in Top League for the first time in the 2007-8 season. The full name of the team is Kyushu Electric Power Company Inc. Rugby Football Club, or put more simply just Kyuden. The team has its ground in Higashi ward, in Fukuoka city, Fukuoka prefecture in northern Kyushu.
At various stages over past seasons Kyuden were overshadowed by Sanix and Coca-Cola in the Top Kyushu A league, but with both these teams in Top League for the 2006-7 season, Kyuden had this very weak regional league all to itself. Good wins over Mitsubishi Sagamihara and Kintetsu in the Top League promotion series ultimately resulted in Kyuden gaining automatic promotion.
For rugby supporters in Kyushu, at times, having three teams in Top League was a dream come true. This comes after the dark days of the 2004-5 Top League season when there were no Kyushu based teams at all participating in Top League. However, the overall effect of having three teams in Top League is that it has exhausted the stocks of the regional Top Kyushu A league. Although Kyuden has made it back to Top League for the 2012-13 season, Coca-Cola were relegated meaning along with Sanix there will be two Kyushu based sides in Top League this season.
When Kyuden gained admission to Top League for the 2007-8 season they adopted the moniker Kyuden Voltex. Voltex is coined from a combination of Voltage and Technique with voltage referring to the nature of the company as a power generating concern and technique referring to the skills developed in their rugby team.
The Company: As the full name of the company suggests, Kyuden is an electric power generating company based on the island of Kyushu. Kyuden also has overseas energy related projects, particularly in Asia in areas like Taiwan. The company has an English home page as follows http://www1.kyuden.co.jp/en_
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.
In the 2011-12 season, Kyuden topped the seven-team Top Kyushu A regional league undefeated and thereby qualified directly for the four-team Top Challenge One series. In their opening game Kyuden went down to Kubota 28-15 but then backed up to beat Toyota Industries Shuttles 22-13 in their next game in Fukuoka. In their third and final game the Voltex came out and beat Canon 68-17. This meant Kyuden finished the series on nine points with two wins and one loss, the same as Kubota, but the big win in their final game saw Kyuden claim second spot on points difference and thus win promotion back to Top League for the 2012-13 season.
2012-13 (14 teams): 12th on table on 16 points with 2 wins and 11 losses.
2011-12: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
2010-11: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
2009-10: 14th on table on 4 points with 13 losses. (Automatically relegated)
2008-9: 12th on 18 points with 3 wins & 10 losses.
2007-8: 10th on 21 points with 4 wins & 9 losses.
2006-7: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
2005-6: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
2004-5: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
2003-4: DNP. Kyuden played in the Top Kyushu competition.
Microsoft Cup – 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: DNP.
2006: DNP.
2005: DNP.
2004: DNP.
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. 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.
For 2013, the Wildcard Tournament again featured six teams, that is, the six teams that finished fifth to tenth on the final Top League table for the 2012-13 season. In the first round, eighth placed NEC Green Rockets beat ninth placed NTT Communications Shining Arcs 38-14 and seventh placed Kintetsu Liners beat tenth placed Ricoh Black Rams 43-21. In the second round the following weekend, sixth placed Yamaha Jubilo beat Kintetsu 70-12 and fifth placed Toyota Verblitz beat NEC 41-23. The two winners from the second round in Yamaha and Toyota qualified for the National Championship as the Wildcard Qualifiers.
2013 (50th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.
2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): DNQ as only top 6 TL teams qualified.
2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNQ as only top 4 TL teams qualified.
2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2004 (41st NC - 22 teams): beat Hosei Univ 57-38, then lost to Toyota 66-21.
Corporate Championship – one: All-Japan Company Championship (1954).
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment