Coca Cola West Red Sparks RFC (formerly Coca Cola West Japan and originally Kitakyushu Coca Cola when founded) is a Japanese company-owned rugby union team based in Fukuoka

Fukuoka, Fukuoka

is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...

 city, Kyūshū

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

. The coach is currently Shogo Mukai (appointed April 1, 2004), the former Japan national rugby union team

Japan national rugby union team

The 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...

 coach during the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

The team won promotion to the expanded 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...

 of 14 teams at the end of the 2005-6 season, and was renamed Coca Cola West Red Sparks. The club motto is "Have Guts Have Glory" and their slogan for 2006 season: "Always Attack & Aggressive". In the fourth Top League (2006-7) the team came 10th, with four wins, nine losses and 21 points. It therefore did not need to take part in any play-offs. Sanix, the local rivals, came ninth.

The team is now (2007) one of three teams from Kyūshū

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

 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...

. The other two are Fukuoka Sanix Blues

Fukuoka Sanix Blues

, formerly Fukuoka Sanix Bombs, is a Japanese rugby union team based in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Founded in April 1994 , the team rose rapidly through the Kyūshū leagues and was in the Top League for the first season as Kyūshū's sole representative, but lost a relegation battle with...

 and newcomer Kyuden Voltex

Kyuden Voltex

Kyuden Voltex is a Japanese rugby team owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co. . The nickname "Voltex" is a conflation of "Voltage" and "Techniques" and was decided after the team won promotion to the Top League. The team is based in Kashii, Fukuoka and from the 2007-8 season is playing in the...

. The team mascot's name is Sparky.

Squad

Former

• George Laupepe - Centre
• Luke Andrews - No.8
• Mark Ranby - Centre
• Benjamin Jones - Full Back
• Soushi Fuchigami - Fly Half

External links

• Coca Cola West Red Sparks - official website