Toshiba Brave Lupus
Encyclopedia
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 Kunda
, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan
. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created the team was called Toshiba Fuchu, after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season is "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)".
On 14 March 2008, Bristol Rugby
player David Hill
announced he'd leave the English club for Toshiba at the end of the season.
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...
team 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...
. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo
Fuchu, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory 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...
. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup
Microsoft 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...
in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro Kunda
Masahiro Kunda
Masahiro Kunda is Japanese rugby union hooker and coach. Kunda played for Toshiba Brave Lupus, a team he coached to a League title victory in 2007. Originally from Gifu Prefecture, he was educated at University of Tsukuba...
, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan
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...
. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created the team was called Toshiba Fuchu, after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season is "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)".
On 14 March 2008, Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
player David Hill
David Hill (rugby player)
David William Hill is a rugby union player who played for Waikato in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Chiefs in the Super 14. He played for Waikato University in the Waikato premier competition...
announced he'd leave the English club for Toshiba at the end of the season.
Honours
- All-Japan 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...
- Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 (joint champions with 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"...
), 2007
- Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 (joint champions with NEC Green Rockets
- 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...
:- Champions: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09
2011-12 Squad
Past players
- Shogo MukaiShogo MukaiShogo Mukai was the coach of the Japan national rugby union team during and prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. As such he must take a great deal of credit for the exciting and attractive brand of rugby which the team played at that time, which was very popular with many fans, not just Japanese ones...
- full back for Toshiba and Japan, now head coach of Coca Cola West Japan
- Masahiro KundaMasahiro KundaMasahiro Kunda is Japanese rugby union hooker and coach. Kunda played for Toshiba Brave Lupus, a team he coached to a League title victory in 2007. Originally from Gifu Prefecture, he was educated at University of Tsukuba...
- hooker for Toshiba and Japan - Andrew McCormickAndrew McCormickAndrew McCormick is a New-Zealand-born Japanese rugby union footballer.The son of All Black Fergie McCormick, McCormick was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and came to Japan to play for Toshiba Fuchu in 1992...
- centre, former captain of the 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...
, now coaching at Coca Cola West Japan - Wataru Murata - scrum half (before he went to France and then played for 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...
) - Shinji Ono - number 8
- Yohei Suzuki - full back
- Ruatangi VatuveiRuatangi VatuveiLuatangi Samurai Vatuvei is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer.He used to play rugby in Japan for Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League and has also played for the Japan national rugby union team under the IRB three year residence qualification.Usually a second row but also used by...
- lock/centre (moved to 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...
before 2007-8 season) - Kei Yasuda - lock
- Mamoru Ito - scrum half
- Scott McLeodScott McLeod (rugby union)Scott James McLeod is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former second-five eighth and centre. McLeod played 10 tests for the All Blacks from 1996 to 1998, and played club rugby for Waikato, the Chiefs, and Toshiba Brave Lupus...
- Centre
External links
- Toshiba Brave Lupus official site
- NEC, Toshiba share title, Daily Yomiuri, February 27, 2006
- Toshiba teaches Waseda a lesson, Daily Yomiuri, February 20, 2006
- Toshiba downs Suntory, wins Microsoft, Daily Yomiuri, February 6, 2006
- Brave Lupus add name to rugby Cup - Japan Times, February 7, 2005
- Toshiba, Yamaha set to do battle in Microsoft Cup final - Japan Times, January 31, 2005
- Inventive approach from Toshiba's coach is rewarded with Top League crown Japan Times, December 30, 2004