Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. 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 was "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)". The team rebranded as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to Japan Rugby League One in 2022.[1]
 | |||
| Full name | Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Japan Rugby Football Union | ||
| Nickname(s) | Brave Lupus | ||
| Founded | 1948 | ||
| Location | Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Ground(s) | Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, 27,188 capacity Ajinomoto Stadium, 49,970 capacity | ||
| Coach(es) | Todd Blackadder | ||
| League(s) | Japan Rugby League One | ||
| 2023 | 5th | ||
| |||
Honours
edit- All-Japan Championship
- Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 (joint champions with NEC Green Rockets), 2007
- Top League:
- Champions: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009-10, 2023-24
Current squad
editThe Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo squad for the 2024-25 season is:[2]
| Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers Locks
|
Flankers No8s Scrum-halves Fly-halves |
Centres Wingers
Fullbacks Utility Backs
|
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped |
- * denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds.
All Blacks Richie Mo’unga has signed with the Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and is due to join the side after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[3]
Past players
edit- François Steyn - fly-half and full back for Toshiba
- Shogo Mukai - full back for Toshiba and Japan, now head coach of Coca-Cola Red Sparks
- Masahiro Kunda - hooker for Toshiba and Japan
- Andrew McCormick - centre, former captain of the Japan national rugby union team, now coaching at Coca-Cola Red Sparks
- Wataru Murata - scrum-half (before he went to France and then played for Yamaha Jubilo)
- Shinji Ono - number 8
- Yohei Suzuki - full back
- Ruatangi Vatuvei - lock/centre (moved to Kintetsu Liners before 2007-8 season)
- Kei Yasuda - lock
- Mamoru Ito - scrum-half
- Scott McLeod - centre
- Toshiaki Hirose (2004–16, 166 games) Fly-half/winger, Japanese international (2007–15, 28 caps)
- Tomoki Yoshida (2004–17, 124 games) Scrum-half, Japanese international (2007–11, 25 caps)
- Hiroki Yuhara (2006–20, 156 games) Hooker, Japanese international (2010–15, 22 caps)
- Steven Bates (2008–16, 119 games) Loose forward, Allblack (2004, 1 cap)
- Takehisa Usuzuki (2008–22, 118 games) Winger/fullback, Japanese international (2011, 7 caps)
- Takuma Asahara (2010–19, 131 games) Prop, Japanese international (2013–18, 12 caps)
References
edit- ^ "La nouvelle ligue japonaise s'appelle la Japan Rugby League One". Asie Rugby (in French). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ "Toshiba Brave Lupus: The Team" (in Japanese). Toshiba Sports. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ "Richie Mo'unga officially signs in Japan". 25 December 2022.
External links
edit- 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