Harman Patil (Editor)

Suntory Sungoliath

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Location
  
Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan

Captain(s)
  
Yutaka Nagare

League
  
Top League

Coach(es)
  
Keisuke Sawaki

2016–17
  
1st

Founded
  
1980

Suntory Sungoliath wwwsuntorycomculturesportssungoliathteamimg

Union
  
Japan Rugby Football Union

Ground
  
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Suntory Sungoliath (also known as Suntory Rugby Football Club) 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.

Contents

Suntory Sungoliath George Gregan of Suntory Sungoliath runs the ball Rugby Union

Suntory coached by Katsuyuki Kiyomiya won the Microsoft Cup on February 24, 2008 by defeating Sanyo Wild Knights in a close and exciting game, 14-10. Suntory therefore became the champion of the Top League for the 2007–08 season. However Sanyo gained revenge in the 45th All-Japan Championship final, beating Suntory 40-18.

Suntory Sungoliath George Gregan Pictures Japan IBM v Suntory Sungoliath Japan Rugby

On June 18, 2008 it was announced that George Gregan, the most-capped player in the sport's history, had joined the club on a two-year contract. (Daily Yomiuri, June 19, 2008) Gregan remained with the club until he announced his retirement at the end of the 2010–11 season.

In 2010 USA Rugby captain Todd Clever joined the club.

Honours

Suntory Sungoliath SUNGOLIATH SUNTORY News SPRITS OF SUNGOLIATH 398 Justin Downey

  • All-Japan Championship
  • Champions: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2011, 2012
  • Runner-up: 2008
  • Microsoft Cup
  • Champions: 2007–08
  • Runner-up: 2005–06, 2006–07
  • All-Japan Company Championship
  • Champions: 1995, 2001, 2002
  • Top League Championship
  • Champions: 2011–12
  • History

    Suntory Sungoliath SUNGOLIATH SUNTORY News SPIRITS OF SUNGOLIATH 395 Schalk Burger

    The club was established in 1980, and since then they have won the All-Japan Championship on numerous occasions. They have also compete in the recently formed Top League since its founding in 2003. The team has been improving in the League over the past few years. Suntory Sungoliath famously beat Wales 45-41 on Saturday 3 June 2001 whilst they were on tour in Japan.

    Top League Results

    Suntory Sungoliath Suntory Sungoliath Wikipedia

    In the first season of the Top League, 2003–04, Suntory finished 4th. In 2004–05 they finished 8th. The team was 6th in the 2005–06 season and jumped up to 2nd in the 2006-7 season under new coach Katsuyuki Kiyomiya and assisted by Michael Jones. In 2006 Suntory Sungoliath lost the final of the Top League and Microsoft Cup title to Toshiba Brave Lupus by a score of 33-18. Then in February 2007, Suntory Sungoliath again lost the final of the Top League and Microsoft Cup to Toshiba Brave Lupus before a crowd of 23,076 at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium (home to Mark Secker), the first sellout at the ground in 10 years, with the final score being just 14-13 to Toshiba Brave Lupus. In the first Top League game of the 2007-8 season Suntory gained revenge over Toshiba with a 10-3 win on October 26, 2007. At the end of the 13-game season Suntory was second behind Sanyo Wild Knights, having lost to Sanyo and by just one point to Coca-Cola West Red Sparks, and drawn 31-31 with Toyota Verblitz in the final round. Sanyo and Suntory met again in the Microsoft Cup final on February 24 to decide the 2007–08 Top League champion. Suntory won that game 14-10 with a very strong mauling attack.

    Top League Table

    The table begins with the first season of the Top League, 2003-04.

    Current squad

    The current Suntory Sungoliath squad is:

    Former Notable Players

    Suntory Sungoliath George Gregan Pictures Japan IBM v Suntory Sungoliath Japan Rugby

  • Tusi Pisi - Manu Samoa International Fly-half
  • Schalk Burger - South African Flanker
  • Fourie du Preez
  • Uche Odouza - Winger, England (England 7's)
  • George Gregan – Australian scrum-half and the 2nd most-capped player in international rugby history.
  • Rocky Havili - Tongan centre
  • Toru Kurihara
  • Simon Maling - former All Black lock from 2001 to 2004
  • Jamie Washington
  • George Smith - former Australian flanker 2000-2009, 2013.
  • Norm Hadley – lock, former Canadian captain, Barbarian
  • Glenn Ennis – former Canadian No.8, Barbarian
  • Coach

  • Katsuyuki Kiyomiya (2006–09)
  • Eddie Jones (2009–12)
  • Naoya Okubo (2012–14)
  • Andy Friend (2014–16)
  • Keisuke Sawaki (2016–)

  • Suntory Sungoliath SUNGOLIATH SUNTORY FixturesResults JAPAN RUGBY TOP LEAGUE 20152016

    Suntory Sungoliath Tusi Pisi Photos Photos Suntory Sungoliath v Kobelco Steelers

    References

    Suntory Sungoliath Wikipedia