RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER Vol.10, No.48

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

RiJ brings the reader the full report on the Japan win over Spain while Kintetsu is the next TL profile.

Enjoy the read.

CONTENTS

• Japan v Spain
• Japan Top League-Window month-no games
• Japan Rugby Top League Team Profiles 2013-14 (7) Kintetsu Liners
• University Rugby 2013

Japan 40 d Spain 7

Japan 40 – Tries: Michael Broadhurst 2, Shota Horie and Toshiaki Hirose; Conversion: Ayumu Goromaru; Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru 6 d.

Spain 7 – Try: Cesar Sempere; Conversion: Mariano Garcia.

Competition: Japan Tour to Europe 2013.
Date: Saturday, 23 November 2013.
Venue: Madrid Ciudad Universitaria Stadium, (Estadio Nacional Complutense/Complutense National Stadium) Madrid.

Japan Test Number: 296.
Japan Game Number: TBC.
Kick-off: 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT/UTC; Sunday 24 November, 00:00 JST).

Referee: Joaquin Montes (Uruguay). Assistant Referees: Tual Trainini (France) and David Rosich (France). TMO: No TMO.

Conditions: Fine and sunny, light breeze. Surface well grassed and firm.
Attendance: 6,000.
Halftime: Japan 15 – Spain 7.

Yellow Cards: Luke Thompson (Japan No.5, 32 min 1H, repeated infringements), Hisateru Hirashima (Japan No.1, 3 min 2H, taking out lineout jumper in air), Matt Cook (Spain No.7, 18 min 2H, repeated infringements), Anthony Pradalie (Spain No.16, 22 min 2H, repeated infringements).

Head-to-head Encounters:

Japan and Spain have met on three occasions dating back to 1999. Japan have won all three encounters.

The highest scoring win for Japan was 44-29 at Chichibu in Tokyo in November 2005, while the biggest winning margin was 33 points in the 30-7 win in Madrid in November 2013. The longest winning sequence for Japan is three wins in a row between 1999 and 2013.

Two tests have been played in Japan and one in Spain. Japan and Spain have not met at the Rugby World Cup finals.

Official test results for Japan against Spain

No.	Date	Result (Home – Away)	Venue	Tournament	Japan Test No.	W/D/L (For Japan)
3	23 Nov 2013	Spain 7 – Japan 40	Madrid		296	Won
2	05 Nov 2005	Japan 44 – Spain 29	Chichibu, Tokyo		208	Won
1	20 Aug 1999	Japan 30 – Spain 7	National Stadium, Tokyo		158	Won

Japan (IRB rank 14 (71.72), at 18 November 2013)

Pos.	Name (Test Player Number)	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Hisateru HIRASHIMA (514)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	15/01/1983	30	180/110	29
2	Shota HORIE (530)	Panasonic Wild Knights	21/01/1986	27	180/105	27
3	Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	01/01/1986	27	183/122	29
4	Hitoshi ONO (445)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	06/05/1978	35	192/106	77
5	Luke THOMPSON (493)	Kintetsu Liners	16/04/1981	32	196/108	43
6	Hendrik TUI (565)	Suntory Sungoliath	13/12/1987	25	189/107	18
7	Michael BROADHURST (566)	Ricoh Black Rams	30/10/1986	27	196/111	16
8	Takashi KIKUTANI (474)	Toyota Verblitz	24/02/1980	33	187/106	66
9	Fumiaki TANAKA (510)	Panasonic Wild Knights	03/01/1985	28	166/71	41
10	Kosei ONO (492)	Suntory Sungoliath	17/04/1987	26	171/83	22
11	Akihito YAMADA (TBC)	Panasonic Wild Knights	26/07/1985	28	181/90	2
12	Yu TAMURA (555)	NEC Green Rockets	09/01/1989	24	181/92	17
13	Male SAU (TBC)	Yamaha Jubilo	13/10/1987	26	183/97	13
14	Toshiaki HIROSE (c) (495)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	17/10/1981	32	173/82	19
15	Ayumu GOROMARU (467)	Yamaha Jubilo	01/03/1986	27	185/99	33
16	Hiroki YUHARA (537)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	21/01/1984	29	173/102	13
17	Masataka MIKAMI (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	04/06/1988	25	178/115	13
18	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)	Suntory Sungoliath	02/08/1985	28	178/115	50
19	Shinya MAKABE (533)	Suntory Sungoliath	26/03/1987	26	192/118	20
20	Justin IVES (544)	Canon Eagles	24/05/1984	29	196/105	16
21	Atsushi HIWASA (545)	Suntory Sungoliath	22/05/1987	26	166/72	30
22	Seiichi SHIMOMURA (454)	Panasonic Wild Knights	20/09/1981	32	175/87	6
23	Yuta IMAMURA (480)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	31/10/1984	29	178/93	39

Acting Head Coach: Scott Wisemantel (AUS).

Subs
16 subbed 2, 36 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 27 min 2H. Also subbed 8, 6-16 mins 2H while No.1 in sinbin.
18 subbed 3, 8 min 2H.
19 subbed 4, 8 min 2H.
20 subbed 8, 22 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 8 min 2H.
22 subbed 12, 14 min 2H.
23 subbed 11, 36 min 2H.

NB: The IRB announced a number of global law amendment trials to start on 1 September 2012 in the northern hemisphere and 1 January in the southern hemisphere. One of these amendments is to permit international teams to nominate up to eight replacements.

Spain (IRB rank 20 (60.95), at 18 November 2013)

Pos.	Name (Test Player Number)	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Frank LABBE	CA Lormont (FRA)	N/A	33	188/110	4
2	Juan ANAYA	UA Libourne Rugby (FRA)	N/A	27	174/98	8
3	Agustin ORTIZ	US Nafarroa (FRA)	05/06/1985	28	186/121	5
4	Alejandro BLANCO	Universidad de Vigo	1984	29	189/110	5
5	David BARRERA	RAC Angerien (FRA)	N/A	24	196/105	7
6	Glen ROLLS	CA Lormont (FRA)	1986	27	186/95	9
7	Matt COOK	Tunbridge Wells RFC (ENG)	17/05/1978	35	194/106	22
8	Gauthier GIBOUIN	Bordeaux Begles (FRA)	24/03/1989	24	184/103	15
9	Pablo FEIJOO (c)	Bera Bera RT	18/08/1982	31	174/74	58
10	Mariano GARCIA	Independiente RC	N/A	24	176/86	1
11	Ignacio CONTARDI	Independiente RC	N/A	22	179/80	3
12	Jaime NAVA	US Bressane Paus l’Ain (FRA)	N/A	30	191/108	43
13	Martin HEREDIA	CA Lormont (FRA)	N/A	28	182/86	10
14	Sebastien ASCARAT	FC Auch-Gers (FRA)	N/A	25	183/92	5
15	Cesar SEMPERE	CR El Salvador	26/05/1984	29	182/86	51
16	Anthony PRADALIE	FC Villefranche de Lauragais (FRA)	N/A	27	189/115	11
17	Xabier GARMENDIA	Biarritz Olympique (FRA)	1984	19	195/130	1
18	Ignacio VILANUEVA	CR Cisneros	N/A	22	198/103	2
19	Adam NEWTON	Valladolid RAC	07/09/1984	29	187/95	4
20	Matias TUDELA	CR Cisneros	06/10/1984	29	188/97	16
21	Javier CANOSA	CRC Madrid	28/02/1983	30	195/95	47
22	Igor GENUA	Hernani CRE	N/A	25	176/83	3
23	Unai LASA	Guernica RT	N/A	23	177/98	4

Head Coach: Santiago Santos.

Subs
16 subbed 1, 18 min 2H.
17 subbed 3, 27 min 2H.
18 subbed 5, 21 min 2H.
19 subbed 6, 14 min 2H.
20 subbed 11, 14 min 2H.
21 subbed 12, 21 min 2H.
22 subbed 9, 21 min 2H.
23 subbed 2, 16 min 2H.

Preview

Japan and Spain have met on two previous occasions with Japan winning both encounters. Both tests were played in Japan with the first test played on 20 August 1999 at the National Stadium in Tokyo in the immediate lead-up to the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Spain qualified for their first-ever Rugby World Cup later in the year and with both sides at the world event this one-off test provided a final hit out. Seiji Hirao was head coach with Andrew McCormick captaining the side from centre and with Japan in good form after winning the Pacific Rim Championship that year the hosts ran in three tries to one to take the result 30-7. Wings Terunori Masuho and Daisuke Ohata along with flanker Yasunori Watanabe touched down for Japan in a team that also included Jamie Joseph and Graeme Bachop.

The next meeting between Japan and Spain was held at Chichibu in Tokyo on 5 November 2005 in what was the first test under new head coach Jean-Pierre Elissalde. Halfback Wataru Ikeda was the captain while a future captain in the form of Takashi Kikutani made his international debut on the side of the scrum. In a test that saw eight tries scored, Japan were far too good on the day winning 44-29. Kikutani also scored a try on debut to go with Goshi Tachikawa, Takashi Akatsuka, Nataniela Oto and Hirotoki Onozawa as the try scorers.

The Japanese selectors have shuffled the props for this test with loosehead Masataka Mikami and tighthead Kensuke Hatakeyama dropping to the bench after starting against the All Blacks, Scotland and Russia. Hatakeyama will be itching to get out there for his fiftieth test cap but he will have to bide his time with the Kobe Steelers pair of Hisateru Hirashima and Hiroshi Yamashita to prop for hooker Shota Horie. Hitoshi Ono and Luke Thompson are the locks and while Hendrix Tui and Michael Broadhurst are again on the side of the scrum Takashi Kikutani comes in for Koliniasi Ryu Holani at No8. It will be a special occasion for Kikutani as he played his first test against the Spanish in Tokyo back in November 2005 and he is the only survivor from that test in this Japan side.

In the backs, Fumiaki Tanaka and Kosei Ono are the spirited halves who will get the backs rolling if given front foot ball to use from their forwards. Akihito Yamada gets his chance to shine on the left wing taking the spot of Yoshikazu Fujita while captain Toshiaki Hirose is on the right wing. Yu Tamura and Male Sau are the centres while goal-kicking ace Ayumu Goromaru has set his name in concrete in the No.15 jersey.

On the bench, Hiroki Yuhara is the back-up hooker with Mikami and Hatakeyama the reserve props. Like last week against Russia, Shinya Makabe and Justin Ives will cover the rest of the positions in the scrum. Atsushi Hiwasa is there as the second halfback and Seiichi Shimomura who plays in the centres for his club side Panasonic and Yuta Imamura will cover the rest of the backline. Utility back Imamura gets his name in a match-day squad for the first time this November and he will be hoping to add one more cap to his tally.

Acting head coach Scott Wisemantel noted at the team announcement, “We’ve put in Hisateru Hirashima and Hiroshi Yamashita as the starting props after all the good work they have done on tour, while we will use Masataka Mikami and Kensuke Hatakeyama for impact as the game wears on. The scrum is really coming on in leaps and bounds and it is great we have strong competition for starting places. It is also a big chance for wing Akihito Yamada who gets his first run-on start. Unfortunately, after all their hard work there are still other players who will not get a run on this tour but we are also looking ahead to the HSBC Asian Five Nations next spring.”

Captain Toshiaki Hirose said, “This is our final test for the year and we want to go out and show what we can do. We want to play our ‘Japan Way’ for the full eighty minutes, keep the pressure on and control the flow of the game.”

Vice-captain Takashi Kikutani who made his debut against Spain in Tokyo eight years ago reflected, “I played my first test against Spain back in November 2005 and I want to go out and show how I’ve grown over these eight years. It’s our last test for the year and I’m looking for a spirited win.”

Wing Akihito Yamada who will have his first run-on start said, “As this tour draws to a close, I feel very honoured to be in the starting side for this last game against Spain. I want to play with the same passion as during my time on the field against Russia and put everything I have learned in rugby into this test.”

Los Leones have only had one win from seven matches this year, a 26-3 over Chile in Santiago on 9 November while also coming up with draws against Belgium and Portugal earlier in the year. In their most recent outing, they suffered a gruelling one-point loss to Uruguay in Montevideo last Saturday going down 16-15 before returning home to face Japan in Madrid.

Wrap

Japan played in their alternate strip of blue jersey, white shorts and socks with Spain playing in their regular kit of red jersey, navy shorts and socks.

Spain kicked off the first-ever test between these two sides to be played in Spain with Japan taking the ball cleanly and immediately returning it downfield. Spain then infringed at a breakdown giving Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru his first attempt at penalty in the third minute of play. Luck was on the side of the Japan fullback with the long-range kick landing on the crossbar then tipping over for the first points of the test.

Japan were in the mood for open rugby and with quick ball in hand the Spanish defence was forced into trying to slow down the speed of the game but this only drew a further penalty at the tackle area in the seventh minute with Goromaru once again stepping up to the mark and cleanly slotting the kick to open up an early 6-0 lead for the visitors.

Japan had the better of possession and territory over the opening ten minutes with the hosts finding it almost impossible to get out of their own half. This pressure was turned into more points in the ninth minute from yet another penalty with Goromaru kicking Japan out to a 9-0 lead.

Spain were given their first real chance to attack when Japan were penalised for collapsing a scrum. Spain took the lineout inside the Japan half and from a period of sustained offence Japan were penalised at the tackle area allowing the Spanish five-eighth Mariano Garcia his first kick at goal in the sixteenth minute. However, the kick failed to raise the flags leaving the score unchanged.

From the re-start Spain kept up the pressure in the area just outside the Japan twenty-two, but the defence held firmly. By the twenty-minute mark, Spain were gaining parity in the possession and territory stakes but were still having difficulty finding a way through the Japan defence.

Japan were given a further opportunity for points in the twenty-third minute after winger Akihito Yamada was taken out after kicking downfield and Goromaru potted the kick to stretch the lead to 12-0.

Around the field there was not a lot between the two teams but discipline and penalties were hurting the home side on the scoreboard and with the gap now into double figures Spain had to be next to score to bring the game back to Japan. In the twenty-seventh minute Japan were penalised for not rolling away at a tackle and Spain turned down the shot at goal for a lineout. The Spanish forwards secured the lineout and tried to maul ahead drawing another penalty with Japan coming in the side. Spain again opted for a lineout on the Japan five-metre line drawing yet another penalty that forced Uruguayan referee Joaquin Montes to speak to Japan captain Toshiaki Hirose. Spain kept up the pressure with another lineout but things came unstuck when Spain knocked-on. However, Japan halfback Fumiaki Tanaka was free-kicked for an incorrect feed to the scrum and Spain kept the ball alive with a quick tap and go. Spilt ball, however, allowed Goromaru to boot the ball downtown.

Then, in the thirty-first minute, lock Luke Thompson was yellow-carded for not rolling away from the tackle area reducing Japan to fourteen players for the next ten minutes. Spain took advantage of the extra man from a scrum in the thirty-seventh minute with captain and halfback Pablo Feijoo directing traffic down the short side putting right wing Sebastien Ascarat into space who then passed off to fullback Cesar Sempere to score the opening try of the match in the left-hand corner. To cap it off, five-eighth Garcia landed the conversion from the touchline to close the gap to 12-7.

From the re-start, Spain were penalised for obstruction allowing Goromaru to land his fifth penalty from in front in the thirty-ninth minute to push out the score to 15-7. Then, to close out the half, Spain again turned down as easy shot at penalty for a lineout, however, Japan won the lineout and kicked to touch. This handed Spain one last roll of the dice from the ensuing lineout but Japan turned the ball over and kicked for touch to take the sides to the break with Japan leading 15-7.

Japan kicked-off the second half deep into Spanish territory with the hosts returning the kick back into the Japan half. A breakdown penalty then allowed Japan a lineout in the Spanish half and with both sides getting feisty the referee called on both captains for calm. From the next lineout in the sixth minute, Japan suffered their second sinbinning of the afternoon when loosehead prop Hisateru Hirashima was carded for taking out the Spanish jumper in the air.

With Japan reduced to fourteen men for the second time in the game the chance was there for Spain to press for points. Nevertheless, Japan upped the ante in attack catching the Spanish defence napping with hooker Shota Horie eventually crashing over in the left-hand corner in the forty-sixth minute in the same spot that Spain scored in the first half. In one of the rare sights in rugby, a Spanish defender managed to race out and charge down the Goromaru conversion leaving the score at 20-7.

Japan tried to extend the lead in the eleventh minute with Goromaru trying to boot his sixth penalty but the usually very reliable kicker failed to raise the flags. However, he made amends two minutes later with a simple penalty from in front of the Spanish posts to push out the lead to 23-7.

With Japan restored to their full complement of fifteen players, the visitors were starting to take the game away from their hosts. In the fifty-eighth minute it was the Spanish turn to play with fourteen men when flanker Matt Cook was sinbinned for infringing at the breakdown. Japan then added their second try in the eighteenth minute of the half when flanker Michael Broadhurst barged over from a five-metre lineout and although Goromaru could not make the conversion Japan had a comfortable lead at 28-7.

With Japan now enjoying a substantial lead, Hirose as captain turned out a shot at penalty for a lineout with Broadhurst rumbling over for his second five pointer in the twenty-fourth minute. Goromaru landed the conversion from in front to widen the gap to 35-7.

Japan were now in total control of proceedings and could play their own game. In the twenty-ninth minute, Hirose picked up loose ball from a driving scrum to dive over for a straightforward try and although Goromaru was again off target the 40-7 score line was starting to get embarrassing for the home side.

In the closing stages of the match, Spain pressed the Japanese try line but were ultimately denied when Japan turned over the ball and sent it into touch with Japan taking the result 40-7.

After the match, acting head coach Scott Wisemantel commented, “The starting players worked really hard with the replacements then maintaining the tempo and the win is a credit to everyone. Tests are often won or lost in what happens in the first ten or twenty minutes and we chose to take the points on offer through penalties. That is test match rugby. Building points is important and the players learnt that against Russia. One of the good things to come out of this European tour was the improvements in on-field game management.”

Captain Toshiaki Hirose also said, “The players all put in a spirited performance and we got off to a great start. However, we are far from a hundred percent and we still have things to work on.

Flanker Michael Broadhurst who scored two tries on the day said, “This was a great way to end our tour of Europe. We could have done better in the first half but in the second half things improved, particularly with our ball retention and work at the breakdown. The forwards tried to keep it simple and performed well at the scrum and lineout.”

Finally, goal-kicking fullback Ayumu Goromaru noted, “Against Russia we learned the value of taking shots at penalty when on offer and we were very united as a team about this with captain Hirose emphatic about taking the points in this test. We learned a lot about playing test match rugby on this tour.”

 
Justin Ives takes on the Spanish defence.

Top League Profiles 2013-14

(7) Kintetsu Liners

www.kintetsu.co.jp/rugby/

2013-14 Introduction: Last season (2012-13) Kintetsu finished seventh on the final Top League table.

Kintetsu are one of the oldest company clubs in Japanese rugby with a long and proud tradition and although the competition looks fierce this year the Liners will be hoping to go one better and make the play-offs for the first time in the 2013-14 season. In the forwards, former captain in lock Luke Thompson and backrower Toetu’u Taufa will be looking for big domestic seasons as they try to revive their Japan representative hopes. Meanwhile, in the backs a number of veteran players at the club such as goal-kicking playmaker Mr Dependable Yasumasa Shigemitsu who has consistently finished high on the point scorers lists over a number of years, midfield line breaker Jeffrey Ierome, former All Black Rico Gear and versatile fullback Tadanobu Ko all must step up again this year. Ryusuke Maeda will be in his third year as head coach and he will be looking to get the best out of this Osaka based squad.

Established: Kintetsu are one of the oldest company teams in Japan having been established in 1929.The full name for the club is Kintetsu Liners. The Liners refers to the nature of the company as a railway and transport concern in and around the Osaka area. The name ‘Liner’ comes from the name of a popular company express train known as the Urban Liner. In rugby terms, it is used to reflect the speed and power of Kintetsu rugby. Kintetsu are also the owner of the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka, one of the two main rugby grounds in Japan. (The other is the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo). Hanazono too was established in 1929 and so both Kintetsu rugby and the Hanazono ground celebrated 80 years in 2009.

The slogan for the 2013-14 season is: “Aggressive Revive.”

The Company: The Kintetsu Corporation has a railway network in western Japan that covers Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Yoshino, Ise-shima and Nagoya. Have a look at www.kintetsu.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.

2012-13 (14 teams): 7^th on table on 33 points with 6 wins and 7 losses.

2011-12 (14 teams): 5^th on table on 39 points with 8 wins and 5 losses.

2010-11 (14 teams): 9^th on table on 31 points with 6 wins and 7 losses.

2009-10 (14 teams): 11^th on table on 23 points with 4 wins, a draw and 8 losses.

2008-9 (14 teams): 9^th on table on 28 points with 5 wins and 8 losses.

2007-8: DNP. Played in Top West competition.

2006-7: DNP. Played in Top West competition.

2005-6: DNP. Played in Top West competition.

2004-5 (12 teams): 11^th on table on 18 points with 2 wins and 9 losses. (Automatically relegated)

2003-4 (12 teams): 10^th on table on 18 points with 3 wins and 8 losses.

National Championship – 3 times (1975, 1968 and 1967); runners-up once (1964).

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 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 (50^th NC - 10 teams): DNQ.

2012 (49^th NC - 10 teams): Lost to Yamaha 17-15 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.

2011 (48^th NC - 10 teams): Lost to Sanix 30-22 in Wildcard Tournament and thus DNQ.

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

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

2008 (45^th NC - 8 teams): Qualified as Top Challenger. Defeated Keio University 45-14 before losing to Toyota 53-43.

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

2006 (43^rd NC - 8 teams): DNP.

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 – 8 times (1975, 1970, 1968, 1967, 1962, 1958, 1957 and 1954); runners-up 9 times (1974, 1966, 1964, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1956, 1952 and 1949). 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: Kintetsu wear a very traditional strip with a red and dark blue hooped jersey, white or dark blue shorts and dark blue socks. The second jersey is sky blue with black flashes through the flanks.

Style of Play: Kintetsu won their way back into Top League for the 2008-9 season after a three year absence completing a phoenix like renaissance for this old club. Kintetsu finished tenth in the inaugural 12-team Top League season of 2003-4 and then finished 11^th the following season. As the bottom two teams are automatically relegated Kintetsu found themselves playing out of the Top West competition for what amounted to the next three seasons. Along the way they came agonisingly close to winning their way back into Top League, losing 46-20 to Sanix in the promotion-relegation play-offs at the end of the 2005-6 season while the following season they got as close as drawing with IBM 29-all in the play-offs. Unfortunately though, Kintetsu needed an outright win to gain promotion and so they were doomed to another year in the provinces.

The Liners are playing their sixth season back in Top League in 2013-14 and Ryusuke Maeda is the coach for the third year in a row. There has not been such a large turnover of players at the club in the off-season and so this should add to the stability in the ranks. There is a lot of individual local and overseas talent in the squad and hopefully that potential can be realised this season. Kintetsu had their best ever season in Top League in 2011-12 when they finished fifth on the final table then dropped to a respectable seventh last season and although they may not be aiming to win the Top League title this year, but at the very least they would be aiming to improve on last year, make the play-offs for the first time and along the way their free spirited brand of rugby could provide a few upsets. Another aspect that is always an advantage for Kintetsu is the fact that they are one of the few clubs in Top League that can claim to truly have a home ground. The Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground facilities are first class and when they get to play ‘home’ games they really are home games.

Kintetsu are an old and proud club and although their hay-day was back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s the pride and tradition is there and so the 2013-14 slogan of ‘Aggressive Revive’ is a very fitting one to take the club forward into the future. Because the club has been around so long and because the Kintetsu company is fully committed to rugby they are in it for the long haul. Their resilience and determination to make it back into Top League after three years playing in the provinces is also testament to their commitment to the cause. Consequently, one gets the feel that it may not happen over the next few years, but five, ten, twenty years down the track the second coming of Kintetsu will dawn. The history of Japanese corporate rugby is littered with clubs that have come and gone but with Kintetsu and also Kobe who have been around for 80 years, the feeling is that they will still be around in another 80 years too.

Players to Watch: There has been less of a turnover of playing personnel at Kintetsu during the off-season with four players retiring or moving on while five new players have joined the club.

In the forwards, a lot of their strength still lies with New Zealand born lock Luke Thompson, now in his eighth season with Kintetsu after spending a season with Sanyo before that. In his time in Japan he has managed to establish himself as a front line forward in the national squad with 43 caps for Japan to his name. He has also acquired Japanese citizenship too. At the back of the scrum is Toetu’u Taufa who made his debut for Japan in the spring of 2009, and has since gone on to play in 22 tests is another tower of strength in the pack, especially at the breakdown. Long-term servant of Kintetsu rugby, flanker Mikio Sato (twelfth year) is also part of the bedrock on which this pack is built. Other players to watch in the forwards this year include Australian lock Tom Hockings and backrower Radike Samo who at 37 years of age just gets better with time.

In the backs, halfback Chul-Won Kim, who is now in his seventh season with Kintetsu, has established himself as the first choice half with the club after debuting for Japan during the 2007 RWC. Outside him at five-eighth is goal-kicking playmaker Mr Dependable Yasumasa Shigemitsu who has consistently finished high on the point scorers lists over a number of years. Meanwhile, in the midfield line breaker Jeffrey Ierome has made a name for himself. Also in the backs, former All Black Rico Gear, centre Gene Fairbanks and versatile fullback and new captain Tadanobu Ko add to the mix of the Kintetsu backline this year and the level of depth and competition for places looks like reaping rewards for the Kintetsu Liners in the 2013-14 season.

Cap Holders for Japan in the Current Squad: (3)

In 2013, in the HSBC A5N series, Kintetsu were not represented. In the IRB PNC series, Kintetsu were not represented. In the middle of the PNC series, Wales toured Japan for two tests and Kintetsu were not represented.

In 2012, in the HSBC A5N series, Kintetsu were not represented. In the IRB PNC series, Kintetsu were not represented. On the autumn tour of Romania and Georgia Kintetsu were represented by lock Luke Thompson who started both tests.

Luke THOMPSON (NZ/Japan) (493) 32 y/o (16/04/1981), 43 caps at lock/flanker.

Toetu’u TAUFA (Tonga/Japan) (524) 33 y/o (08/10/1980), 22 caps at flanker/No8.

KIM Chul-Won (Korea/Japan) (500) 29 y/o (22/01/1984), 2 caps at halfback.

Shotaro ONISHI, (388) 33 y/o, 33 caps at five-eighth/centre. Moved to Toyota Industries at the end of the 2012-13 season.

The Coach: Ryusuke Maeda is in his third season as head coach of Kintetsu in the 2013-14 season. On 29 January 2011 it was announced that the new head coach at Kintetsu Liners for the 2011-12 season would be Maeda. He was backs coach at Kintetsu under Sloane in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons while prior to that he was backs coach at Waseda University from 2006-7 to 2008-9. Furthermore, he was also backs coach of Japan A on the tour of Scotland and Spain in 2010. Maeda played at Kintetsu from 1997-8 to 2004-5 and was captain from 1999-2000 to 2002-3. He attended Waseda University from 1993 to 1996 while before that he attended Tenri High School from 1989 to 1992.

Maeda was born in Osaka on 10 July 1974 and over his playing career represented Japan at High School, U23 and Japan A levels. Maeda will be helped by John Mulvihill as backs coach.

The Captain: Hooker Haruki Ota (26 y/o, 16/02/1987) is the new captain at Kintetsu for the 2013-14 season. Ota is in his fifth season with the club and was vice-captain last year. Ota will be assisted by five-eighth Naoki Morita as vice-captain.

Losses: (4)

Yusuke NAKAMURA, 28 y/o (31/08/1985), prop, 178/114, into company workforce after 5 seasons with club.

Masazumi TANAKA, 35 y/o (25/04/1978), flanker, 183/100, after 4 seasons with club.

Shotaro ONISHI, (388) 35 y/o (18/11/1978), 33 caps at five-eighth/centre, 180/85, to Toyota Industries after four seasons with club.

Koji TERADA, 28 y/o (20/12/1984), wing, 183/99, into company workforce after 5 seasons with club.

Gains: (5)

Kohei YAMAGUCHI, 23 y/o (11/08/1990), lock, 188/105, from Osaka Sports University, he has represented Japan at High School level.

Radike SAMO (Fiji) 37 y/o (09/07/1976), No8, 197/117, 28 caps for Wallabies, SR Brumbies, Reds, Stade Francais (Fra), Yokogawa 2007-8 to 2009-10.

Naoyuki TSUJI, 22 y/o (23/11/1991), flanker, 178/95, from Ryutsu Keizai University, he has represented Japan at U20 level.

Tatsuma NANTO, 23 y/o (19/07/1990), wing/fullback, 177/82, from Teikyo University.

Kazuma MIYATA, 23 y/o (25/07/1990), fullback, 178/84, from Tokai University, he has represented Japan at U20 level.

Overseas Players and Staff (10 + 4):

Toetu’u TAUFA (Tonga/Japan) 33 y/o (08/10/1980), flanker/No8, 183/105, 9^th year. He attended Nihon Univ and has represented Japan at university and U23 levels. He made his debut for Japan in the spring of 2009, and by the end of the 2011 had 22 caps.

Luke THOMPSON (NZ/Japan) 32 y/o (16/04/1981), lock, 196/108, 8^th year, 43 caps for Japan, Canterbury NPC, Sanyo (2004-5).

Jeffrey IEROME (NZ), 31 y/o (18/05/1982), centre, 180/99, 7^th year, Bay of Plenty.

KIM Chul-Won (Korea/Japan) 29 y/o (22/01/1984), halfback, 171/76, 7^th year, 2 caps for Japan. He graduated from Osaka Sports University.

Rico GEAR (NZ), 35 y/o (26/04/1978), centre/wing, 181/97, 4^th year, 19 caps for All Blacks (2004-7). From Worcester (Eng.). Blues (1999, 2002-4), Crusaders (2000-1, 2005-7).

Lepuha LATUILA (Tonga), 28 y/o (19/01/1985), flanker, 189/109, 4^th year, from Daitobunka Univ, he has represented Japan at Sevens.

LI Yang (China), 29 y/o (29/09/1984), wing/fullback, 178/83, 3^rd year, from China Agricultural University, he has represented China at Sevens and the full national level.

Tom HOCKINGS (AUS), 27 y/o (22/02/1986), lock, 198/112, 2^nd year, he has represented Australia at U19 and U21 levels, from Western Force.

Gene FAIRBANKS (AUS), 31 y/o (08/08/1982), centre, 174/83, 2^nd year, he has represented Australia at Australia A level, Honda (2009-10), from Western Force.

Radike SAMO (Fiji) 37 y/o (09/07/1976), No8, 197/117, 1^st year, 28 caps for Wallabies, SR Brumbies, Reds, Stade Francais (Fra), Yokogawa 2007-8 to 2009-10.

John Mulvihill (AUS), 47 y/o, backs coach, Mitsubishi Dynaboars 2009-10, Perth Spirit (ANC) 2007, Western Force assistant coach 2005-6.

Kym SIMPRINGHAM (NZL), 36 y/o, head trainer.

Joe RUSH, 30 y/o, translator/interpreter.

Matthew CAMODY, 34 y/o, translator/interpreter.

The 2013-14 Squad: (47) the list starts with captain and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.

Haruki Ota (c), Naoki Morita (v-c). Forwards: Sung Ang-Duk, Atsushi Tanabe, Chong Kwi-Hong, Yoshifumi Sakai, Shuji Saita, Daiki Toyota, Ryosuke Maeda, Shinsuke Yoshida, Atsushi Kashimoto, Radike Samo, Taishin Tenma, Kohei Yamaguchi, Luke Thompson, Isamu Matsuoka, Kota Kawashima, Tom Hockings, Masaaki Murashita, Mikio Sato, Toetu’u Taufa, Takaaki Okuma, Lepuha Latuila, Yoshiyuki Kitagawa and Naoyuki Tsuji. Backs: Kim Chul-Won, Kazuma Kitamura, Tatsuhiko Fukuchi, Yusuke Mori, Yasumasa Shigemitsu, Kazuki Sakamoto, Tadanobu Ko, Gene Fairbanks, Ryu Chi-Yon, Takuya Togo, Jeffrey Ierome, Shuji Yoshikawa, Rico Gear, Hiromasa Matsui, Yusuke Tanaka, Li Yang, Kota Tokumaru, Taisuke Suminaka, Yusuke Dantsuji, Naoyoshi Shima, Tatsuma Nanto and Kazuma Miyata. Coach: Ryusuke Maeda (39).

University Rugby 2013

The major university rugby leagues around the country are now coming to conclusion with schools in the Kanto area now having played five or six of their seven round games while in the Kansai league four rounds have been completed.

Kanto Taiko

(Tsukuba University, Teikyo University, Meiji University, Waseda University, Keio Gijuku University, Nippon Sports Science University, Aoyama Gakuin University and Seikei University.)

In the Kanto Taiko competition, Teikyo as the defending national university champions have won their opening five games in style while traditional powerhouse Waseda and Keio have both suffered one loss each for four wins. Meiji have three wins and two losses and Tsukuba have three wins and three losses. Aoyama Gakuin with two wins and three losses each while Nippon Sports Science have five straight losses and Seikei are also winless with six losses.

Kanto League

(Tokai University, Ryutsu Keizai University, Takushoku University, Hosei University, Nihon University, Chuo University, Daitobunka University and Rissho University.)

In the Kanto League competition, Ryutsu Keizai and Chuo top the table with 20 points from five straight wins followed by Tokai on 15 points from three wins and three losses. Daitobunka are on 14 points from three wins and two losses. Hosei and Rissho are both on 12 points from two wins and four losses. Nihon are next on 11 points from two wins and three losses, while Takushoku are still winless with six losses on 6 points.

Kansai League

(Tenri University, Ritsumeikan University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Kinki University, Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto Sangyo University and Kansai University.)

In the Kansai League, Ritsumeikan suffered their first defeat in round five and now have four wins and one loss together with Doshisha. Kwansei Gakuin, Kyoto Sangyo and OUHSS all have won three and lost two from their opening five matches. Tenri have two wins for three losses, Kansai have one win and four losses while Kinki are still looking for their first win.

Last up-dated: Monday, 11 November 2013.