Japan Rugby Football Union
Encyclopedia
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU; , Nihon Ragubi- Futtobo-ru Kyo-kai) is the governing body for rugby union
in Japan
. It was formed November 30, 1926 and is currently one of only two federations from a "Tier 2" country with a seat on the International Rugby Board
executive council, the sport's international governing body (the other is Rugby Canada
). The IRB classifies the countries involved in the Northern Hemisphere Six Nations and the Southern Hemisphere Tri Nations competitions, plus Argentina, as "Tier 1". The JRFU currently employs John Kirwan, the New Zealand
-born former Italy
coach, as the men's coach, while former Japanese prime minister
Yoshirō Mori
is the JRFU's current president.
Rugby union was first introduced to Japanese students at Keio University
in Japan by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke
(who was born in Yokohama
) and Tanaka Ginnosuke
, both graduates of Cambridge University
, in 1899. It had been played at the treaty ports (Kobe
and Yokohama
especially) before that, between teams of long-term foreign residents and visiting ships' crews, garrisons etc.
with Korea
, the JRFU bid to host the Rugby World Cup
in 2011.
The bid's catchphrase or slogan was "Making Rugby a Truly Global Sport". So far the Rugby World Cup has never been held outside the traditional rugby strongholds of the Northern and Southern hemisphere (the countries involved in the Six Nations and Tri-Nations tournaments). In that sense, the slogan was a justified attempt to grow the game worldwide, and make it a global sport.
The JRFU gave the following reasons for holding the Rugby World Cup in Japan at a press conference held on September 22, 2004:
However, New Zealand
won the hosting rights in 2011 in a process which was later much criticised for lack of transparency as at the last minute the voting was made secret thanks to an Irish RU proposal. Reasons for JRFU not getting the cup were that the Union had never hosted a major rugby tournament before. As well as that, support for rugby in Japan was considered relatively poor, with many foreign players based in Japan commenting on the Top League's low crowd numbers. The biggest factor in preventing Japan winning the bid was believed to be it leaving important bid details until its final presentation in Dublin. Many delegates had been instructed for whom to vote prior to the final bid presentations.
, giving England the 2015 Rugby World Cup
due to its strong financial status.
in 2003 with the season spanning 2003-04. In the second season the League was composed of the following company-sponsored teams:
is a knock-out tournament played between the top eight Top League teams. The winners of the first Microsoft Cup were NEC Green Rockets
, who beat Toshiba Brave Lupus
24-19 on February 22, 2004. However, Toshiba won the 41st Japan Championship on March 21, 2004 when they beat Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
22-10.
2005
February 5
1. Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 47 Kanto Gakuin University 36 (Chichibunomiya
)
2. Waseda University 59 Tamariba club 5 (Chichibunomiya)
February 12
3. Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 21 NEC Green Rockets
55 (Chichibunomiya)
4. Waseda University 9 Toyota Verblitz
28 (Chichibunomiya)
February 19
5. NEC Green Rockets 24 Yamaha Jubilo
13 (Hanazono
)
6. Toyota Verblitz 24 Toshiba Brave Lupus
19 (Chichibunomiya)
February 27
7. Final - NEC Green Rockets 17 Toyota Verblitz 13 (Chichibunomiya)
Japan Rugby Football Union,
Kita Aoyama 2-8-35,
Minato ward,
Tokyo 107-0061
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was formed November 30, 1926 and is currently one of only two federations from a "Tier 2" country with a seat on the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
executive council, the sport's international governing body (the other is Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
). The IRB classifies the countries involved in the Northern Hemisphere Six Nations and the Southern Hemisphere Tri Nations competitions, plus Argentina, as "Tier 1". The JRFU currently employs John Kirwan, the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born former Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
coach, as the men's coach, while former Japanese prime minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Yoshirō Mori
Yoshiro Mori
is a Japanese politician who served as the 85th and 86th Prime Minister of Japan starting at 5 April 2000 ending 26 April 2001. Described as having "the heart of a flea and the brain of a shark," he was an unpopular prime minister mainly remembered today for his many gaffes and situationally...
is the JRFU's current president.
Historical background
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
in Japan by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke
Edward Bramwell Clarke
Edward Bramwell Clarke was an educator in Meiji period Japan, who is credited with introducing the sport of rugby to Japan.-Biography:...
(who was born in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
) and Tanaka Ginnosuke
Tanaka Ginnosuke
was educated at the Leys School in Cambridge and then Trinity Hall, a college of Cambridge University. He introduced rugby to students at Keio University, in 1899, with the help of Edward Bramwell Clarke...
, both graduates of Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, in 1899. It had been played at the treaty ports (Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
and Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
especially) before that, between teams of long-term foreign residents and visiting ships' crews, garrisons etc.
International
- IRB TOSHIBA Junior World ChampionshipIRB Junior World ChampionshipThe IRB Junior World Championship is an international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by 12 men's junior national teams , with an under-20 age requirement. The inaugural tournament was held in June 2008,...
2009 - Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament
Domestic
- Top LeagueTop LeagueThe Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
- Microsoft CupMicrosoft CupThe Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
- All-Japan Rugby Football ChampionshipAll-Japan Rugby Football ChampionshipThe All-Japan Rugby Football Championship is played at the end of the season and now includes Top League teams, the top two universities and the champion club team as decided in the respective championships...
- University championship rugbyUniversity championship rugbyThe All-Japan University Rugby Football Championships have been held annually since 1964 to determine the top University Rugby team.In 1964 only 4 teams competed...
- National High School Rugby TournamentNational High School Rugby TournamentThe National High School Rugby Tournament is held annually since 1917 at Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in East Osaka, Japan from the end of December to early January...
Rugby World Cup 2011 bid
With Japan's advantages of a superb infrastructure (stadiums, accommodation and transportation) and the experience of co-staging the Football (soccer) World Cup 20022002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
with Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the JRFU bid to host the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
in 2011.
The bid's catchphrase or slogan was "Making Rugby a Truly Global Sport". So far the Rugby World Cup has never been held outside the traditional rugby strongholds of the Northern and Southern hemisphere (the countries involved in the Six Nations and Tri-Nations tournaments). In that sense, the slogan was a justified attempt to grow the game worldwide, and make it a global sport.
The JRFU gave the following reasons for holding the Rugby World Cup in Japan at a press conference held on September 22, 2004:
- 1. Rugby was introduced in Japan in 1899, and has a proud history, culture and tradition developed over the past 105 years. Japan is the leading Asian rugby country, and the focal point of rugby in the region.
- 2. Japan is the only Union in Asia that has participated in the last five Rugby World Cups.
- 3. Japan has the 4th largest number of registered rugby union players in the world (125,508), behind only England, South Africa and France.
- 4. Japan offers significant commercial opportunities through established relationships with major corporations based in Japan, including those involved in Top League.
- 5. Japan has a proud record of international sporting success, highlighted most recently by its outstanding achievement at the 2004 Olympic Games2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
that surpassed all expectations.
- 6. Japan has the state of the art stadiums, infrastructure, systems, and know-how required for a major sporting event such as Rugby World Cup already largely in place, following its successful hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- 7. The Government of Japan supports the growth of the game and endorses Japan’s bid to host Rugby World Cup 2011. http://www.rugbyjapan.com/rwc2011/050219.htm Former Prime Minister Yoshiro MoriYoshiro Moriis a Japanese politician who served as the 85th and 86th Prime Minister of Japan starting at 5 April 2000 ending 26 April 2001. Described as having "the heart of a flea and the brain of a shark," he was an unpopular prime minister mainly remembered today for his many gaffes and situationally...
, who played rugby for many years, is a keen advocate and active supporter of the bid, and a key figure in obtaining political support exercising significant influence.
- 8. Japan’s hosting of the World Cup would fulfill the IRBInternational Rugby BoardThe International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
’s goal of making rugby a truly global sport. It would increase competition and serve to narrow the existing divide between the Top Tier Nations and the Second Tier Nations for the good of the game in the long term.
However, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
won the hosting rights in 2011 in a process which was later much criticised for lack of transparency as at the last minute the voting was made secret thanks to an Irish RU proposal. Reasons for JRFU not getting the cup were that the Union had never hosted a major rugby tournament before. As well as that, support for rugby in Japan was considered relatively poor, with many foreign players based in Japan commenting on the Top League's low crowd numbers. The biggest factor in preventing Japan winning the bid was believed to be it leaving important bid details until its final presentation in Dublin. Many delegates had been instructed for whom to vote prior to the final bid presentations.
Rugby World Cup 2019
Having lost out to New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup, Japan put in bids for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. On 28th July 2009, the IRB awarded them the 2019 Rugby World Cup2019 Rugby World Cup
The 2019 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the 9th edition of the Rugby World Cup. At a special IRB meeting held in Dublin on 28 July 2009, Japan was announced as the host for the competition. This will be the first time this tournament to be held in Asia. Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to...
, giving England the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2015 Rugby World Cup
The 2015 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by England from 4 September to 17 October 2015. In addition, Cardiff's 74,500-seater Millennium Stadium in Wales will also be used...
due to its strong financial status.
Top League
In an effort to improve the overall standard of Japanese rugby, the JRFU created a new semi-professional Top LeagueTop League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
in 2003 with the season spanning 2003-04. In the second season the League was composed of the following company-sponsored teams:
- Kintetsu LinersKintetsu LinersKintetsu Liners rugby team are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kintetsu Corporation which was founded in 1929. They have won the All-Japan Championship three times as an amateur team...
- Kobe Steel Kobelco SteelersKobe Steel Kobelco SteelersKobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
- Kubota SpearsKubota SpearsKubota Spears is a Japanese rugby union team which is based in Funabashi, Chiba and they play in the Top League.Their slogan for the 2006 season was FIGHT ON.-2011-12 Squad:...
- NEC Green RocketsNEC Green RocketsNEC Green Rockets is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. The team's captain is . The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who is currently the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC"...
- Nihon IBM Big Blue
- Ricoh Black RamsRicoh Black RamsRicoh Black Rams is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Placed 10th in the 2004-5 season which meant it had to win a play-off against one of the top regional teams to stay in the league, as it did.Slogan for 2006 season: TAFU...
- Sanyo Wild KnightsSanyo Wild KnightsPanasonic Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which plays in the Top League. Inspired by Tony Brown at fly half , it dominated the league in the fifth season and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.All-Japan Champions:...
- Suntory SungoliathSuntory SungoliathSuntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
- Toshiba Brave LupusToshiba Brave LupusToshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
- Toyota VerblitzToyota VerblitzToyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Verblitz is a conflation of verde and blitz . The team is owned by Toyota Jidosha and is separate from, and not to be confused with, the Toyota Industries Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries...
- World Fighting BullWorld Fighting BullWorld Fighting Bull is a Top League team but was demoted at the end of the Top League fourth season. It is from Kobe in the Kansai area of Japan, and therefore a local rival of Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. World Co...
- Yamaha JubiloYamaha JubiloYamaha Jubilo is a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League...
.
Top League Champions
- 2003-4 Kobe Steel Kobelco SteelersKobe Steel Kobelco SteelersKobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
- 2004-5 Toshiba Brave LupusToshiba Brave LupusToshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft CupMicrosoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
is a knock-out tournament played between the top eight Top League teams. The winners of the first Microsoft Cup were NEC Green Rockets
NEC Green Rockets
NEC Green Rockets is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. The team's captain is . The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who is currently the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC"...
, who beat Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
24-19 on February 22, 2004. However, Toshiba won the 41st Japan Championship on March 21, 2004 when they beat Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
22-10.
All-Japan Championship (Nihon Senshuken)
The schedule for the 42nd All-Japan Championship was as follows:2005
February 5
1. Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 47 Kanto Gakuin University 36 (Chichibunomiya
Chichibunomiya rugby stadium
in the Aoyama district of central Tokyo is the spiritual home of Japanese rugby union and the headquarters of the Japan Rugby Football Union.-Facilities:...
)
2. Waseda University 59 Tamariba club 5 (Chichibunomiya)
February 12
3. Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 21 NEC Green Rockets
NEC Green Rockets
NEC Green Rockets is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. The team's captain is . The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who is currently the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC"...
55 (Chichibunomiya)
4. Waseda University 9 Toyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Verblitz is a conflation of verde and blitz . The team is owned by Toyota Jidosha and is separate from, and not to be confused with, the Toyota Industries Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries...
28 (Chichibunomiya)
February 19
5. NEC Green Rockets 24 Yamaha Jubilo
Yamaha Jubilo
Yamaha Jubilo is a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League...
13 (Hanazono
Kintetsu Hanazono rugby stadium
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka is the oldest dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. Owned by Kintetsu Corporation, it opened in 1929 and has a capacity of 30,000...
)
6. Toyota Verblitz 24 Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
19 (Chichibunomiya)
February 27
7. Final - NEC Green Rockets 17 Toyota Verblitz 13 (Chichibunomiya)
Further reading
For the historical background see Chapter 27See also
- Chichibunomiya Stadium
- Hakata no Mori stadiumLevel-5 StadiumLevel-5 Stadium , located in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka city is the home ground of Avispa Fukuoka football club....
- Japan national rugby union teamJapan national rugby union teamThe Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
- Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby StadiumKintetsu Hanazono rugby stadiumKintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka is the oldest dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. Owned by Kintetsu Corporation, it opened in 1929 and has a capacity of 30,000...
- National High School Rugby TournamentNational High School Rugby TournamentThe National High School Rugby Tournament is held annually since 1917 at Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium in East Osaka, Japan from the end of December to early January...
- Stadia used in the FIFA World Cup 2002
- Top LeagueTop LeagueThe Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
- University championship rugbyUniversity championship rugbyThe All-Japan University Rugby Football Championships have been held annually since 1964 to determine the top University Rugby team.In 1964 only 4 teams competed...
- Rugby union in JapanRugby union in JapanRugby union in Japan is a popular sport. Japan has the fourth largest population of rugby union players in the world and the sport has been played there for over a century...
Contact information
The address for JRFU is:Japan Rugby Football Union,
Kita Aoyama 2-8-35,
Minato ward,
Tokyo 107-0061
External links
- Japan RFU English pages
- Rugby World Cup 2011 Japan
- Japan Rugby Football Union Continues with RWC 2011 Bid (January 31, 2005)
- The Japanese government fully supports the JRFU's bid for RWC 2011 (February 19, 2005)
- IRB chairman points the way forward for Japanese rugby - Japan Times, February 24, 2005
- The Unofficial Japanese Rugby Page
- 41st University Rugby Championship
- Japan RFU - in Japanese