Full name Canon Eagles Ground(s) Various stadiums 2016–17 7th League Top League Region Machida | Nickname(s) Eagles Coach(es) Yoji Nagatomo Founded 1980 President Fujio Mitarai | |
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Union Japan Rugby Football Union | ||
The Canon Eagles is a Japanese rugby union team founded in 1981 that competes in the Top League and is owned by Canon based in Machida, Tokyo, Japan. According to the official website, it was founded as Canon Rugby Team in 1980, and determined the nickname Eagles in 2010.
Contents
Team History
When the rugby team was promoted to the Top East regional league, it played there for the seasons 2008-2009 through 2011-12. With season 2009-2010 the team successfully established itself with place 8 of 12 teams, the next year it was undefeated in its league, and set up to win for two consecutive seasons 2010-11 and 2011–12, both times qualifying for the Top Challenge series of the next level Top League, earning the nickname Eagles.
In the 2010–11 Top Challenge series, the best placed regional teams from East Japan, West Japan, and Kyushu played each other in a round-robin tournament. The Eagles ranked 3rd, advanced to the Top League promotion and relegation play-offs, but lost 31 - 19 against the NTT Shining Arcs, which remained in their league for the next season.
In the 2011-12 Top East regional league season, the team again topped the competition and qualified directly for the four-team Top Challenge One series. The Eagles beat Toyota Industries Shuttles 46 - 24 in their first round game, then beat Kubota Spears 37 - 24 on their next game before losing 68 - 17 to Kyuden Voltex in their final game. However, the team topped the Top Challenge table to qualify for the 49th All Japan Rugby Football Championship as the Top Challenger. They won the first round (against Teikyo University), but lost the Quarter Final (to the NEC Green Rockets). More important, the team also won promotion to the next level Top League for the following season.
The 2012–13 Top League season did mark their debut in this highest competition class, ending with 11th place of 14 teams on table on 19 points with 3 wins and 10 losses. The team did not qualify again for entry into the 50th All Japan Rugby Football Championship, but nonetheless remained in the Top League.
In the 2013–14 Top League regular season 16 teams participated in 2 pools/groups of 8. In the round-robin tournaments of the pool stage the Canon Eagles in Pool A reached 4th place on 20 points with 4 wins and 3 losses and went through to Group 1 in the group stage with 1 starting point. In the round-robin tournaments of the group stage the Eagles in Group 1 reached 7th rank on 8 points with 1 win and 6 losses, retaining their place in the Top League for the next season. The team went on to the wildcard play-offs for entry into the 51st All Japan Rugby Football Championship.
The qualified Group 1 and Group 2 teams played off over two rounds, with the second round winners competing in the Championship Tournament. The team lost 25 – 41 in its first round against the Kintetsu Liners, which also failed to advance after round two the week later.
Current squad
The current Canon Eagles squad is:
Coaches
Home ground
Canon Sports Park