Kensuke Iwabuchi
Encyclopedia
Kensuke "Kenny" Iwabuchi (岩渕健輔 いわぶちけんすけ) born on December 30, 1975 in Tokyo
is a Japanese rugby player and coach. He plays at stand off, and has 20 caps for the Japan national rugby union team
. He also captained the Japan sevens team in the third sevens World Cup and was the first Japanese player to play professional rugby in England.
who was a very reliable kicker, both of conversions and in open play. (He was the backup to Hirose in the Rugby World Cup 1999.) Iwabuchi was also very unlucky with persistent serious injuries.
in Tokyo, entered Kobe Steel
and joined Kobelco Steelers. In October he proceeded to study overseas at Cambridge University where he won a Blue and much praise for his efforts in the The Varsity Match
.
In July 2000 he graduated from Cambridge and left Kobe Steel at the same time. In August he became the first Japanese player to join an English premiership team when he signed up with Saracens F.C.
.
In 2002 he suffered a severe knee injury playing sevens rugby at the Pusan Asian tournament.
, on secondment from Saracens. In 2005 he was registered at Sanix as a player-coach. The following year he moved to US Colomiers
in France.
In 2007 he was registered as player-coach of Secom Rugguts
. He also works part-time as a guest commentator for J Sports and did so for the Rugby World Cup 2007.
On February 28, 2008 he was announced as coach of the Japan national sevens team
, working with Wataru Murata as head coach.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
is a Japanese rugby player and coach. He plays at stand off, and has 20 caps for the 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...
. He also captained the Japan sevens team in the third sevens World Cup and was the first Japanese player to play professional rugby in England.
Player
Very quick and good at initiating backline moves, Iwabuchi's achilles heel at the top level was his kicking ability, which he himself acknowledged was inferior to that of his excellent contemporary Keiji HiroseKeiji Hirose
Keiji Hirose is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a fly-half. His club team was Toyota Verblitz....
who was a very reliable kicker, both of conversions and in open play. (He was the backup to Hirose in the Rugby World Cup 1999.) Iwabuchi was also very unlucky with persistent serious injuries.
Player
In 1998 he graduated from Aoyama Gakuin UniversityAoyama Gakuin University
, abbreviated AGU, is a Japanese Christian university in Shibuya near Omotesandō, Tokyo, Japan. Aoyama Gakuin University is part of a comprehensive educational institute called Aoyama Gakuin, which includes a kindergarten, an elementary school, junior and senior high schools, and a women's junior...
in Tokyo, entered Kobe Steel
Kobe Steel
, operating worldwide under the brand Kobelco, is a major Japanese steel manufacturer headquartered in Chuo-ku, Kobe. Kobe Steel also has a stake in Osaka Titanium Technologies.It was formed on September 1, 1905...
and joined Kobelco Steelers. In October he proceeded to study overseas at Cambridge University where he won a Blue and much praise for his efforts in the The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
.
In July 2000 he graduated from Cambridge and left Kobe Steel at the same time. In August he became the first Japanese player to join an English premiership team when he signed up with Saracens F.C.
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
.
In 2002 he suffered a severe knee injury playing sevens rugby at the Pusan Asian tournament.
Coach
In 2004 he was strategy controller at Fukuoka Sanix BluesFukuoka 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...
, on secondment from Saracens. In 2005 he was registered at Sanix as a player-coach. The following year he moved to US Colomiers
US Colomiers
US Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
in France.
In 2007 he was registered as player-coach of Secom Rugguts
Secom Rugguts
Secom Rugguts is a Japanese rugby union team which was in the Top League for the first season of the league but was demoted at the end of the season...
. He also works part-time as a guest commentator for J Sports and did so for the Rugby World Cup 2007.
On February 28, 2008 he was announced as coach of the Japan national sevens team
Japan national rugby union team (sevens)
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby sevens. The team compete in competitions such as the World Sevens Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens.-Coach:*Wataru Murata - head coach from February 28, 2008...
, working with Wataru Murata as head coach.
External links
- Japan's Iwabuchi signs for Saracens (Independent, August 10, 2000)