Sanyo Wild Knights
Encyclopedia
Panasonic Wild Knights (formerly Sanyo) 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 (though he was not captain), it dominated the league in the fifth season
and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.
All-Japan Champions: 2008
Ota, Gunma
is a city 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, in eastern Gunma prefecture, Japan. This city is located between the Tone and Watarase rivers. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 219,789, making it the third most populous city in Gunma....
, Gunma prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
which plays in the Top League
Top 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...
. Inspired by Tony Brown
Tony Brown (rugby player)
Tony Eion Brown is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing mainly at first five-eighth .-Early life:...
at fly half (though he was not captain), it dominated the league in the fifth season
2007-08 Top League
The Top League is a semi-professional league at the top of Japanese domestic rugby union, now played between 14 teams like the Super 14 and the Top 14. For the first time from this, the fifth season, timekeepers were introduced...
and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.
All-Japan Champions: 2008
2011 Squad
Past
- Epi TaioneEpi TaioneEpi Taione is a Tongan rugby union footballer who currently plays for London Welsh. He normally plays at centre but can cover wing or back row forward.-Rugby career:...
- Tongan Centre/Wing/Flanker who has played for NewcastleNewcastle FalconsThe Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
, SaleSale SharksSale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
and more recently Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
side The SharksNatal SharksThe Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby... - Semi Taupeaafe - former Wallabies sevens, New South Wales WaratahsNew South Wales WaratahsThe New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
and TonganTonga national rugby union teamThe Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
international - Sinali LatuSinali LatuSinali Latu is a retired Tongan-Japanese rugby union player. He played in Japan for Sanyo and also played for the Japan national rugby union team. Now he coaches the Daito Bunka University rugby team....
- now coach of Daito Bunka University R.F.C. - Murray HendersonMurray Henderson (Rugby Coach)Murray Henderson was a New Zealand rugby union player and is a current coach. He had a successful rugby union playing career including provincial and national representation. He is now a professional rugby coach, coaching club, university and national sides.-Early career:Henderson joined the New...
- former Sanyo Wild Knights coach, Portugal National team forwards coach, current Oxford Uni OURFC Head Coach
Coaches
- Mike Cron - All Blacks and Sanyo forwards consultant
- Katsufumi Miyamoto - head coach and former Japan player
- Gary Wallace - strength & conditioning adviser
External links
- Panasonic Wild Knights - official site (English)
- Panasonic Wild Knights - official site (Japanese)
- Sanyo Wild Knights win 45th All-Japan Championship - JRFU English website