Hanazono Rugby Stadium

The Hanazono Rugby Stadium (東大阪市花園ラグビー場, Higashiōsaka-shi Hanazono Ragubī-ba) in Higashiosaka is the oldest rugby union stadium in Japan specifically dedicated to rugby. Its location is next to Hanazono Central Park (花園中央公園, Hanazono Chūō Kōen). Owned by the City of Higashiosaka, it opened in 1929 with a capacity of 27,346.^[2] It is the stage for the annual National High School Rugby Tournament held every year at the end of December and has hosted important international, Top League games.

Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium
東大阪市花園ラグビー場

Hanazono
Hanazono after renovation
Former names	Hanazono Rugby Stadium (1929–Before WWII) Hanazono Training Field (During WWII) Hanazono Rugby Stadium (After WWII–1982) Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium (1982-2015)
Location	Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan
Coordinates	34°40′8.2″N 135°37′35″E
Owner	City of Higashiosaka
Capacity	27,346 30,000 (Expansion in 1991)
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Yes
Construction
Opened	22 November 1929; 95 years ago (1929-11-22)
Renovated	2018
Expanded	1991
Construction cost	¥7.2 billion (Renovation in 2018[1])
Tenants
Kintetsu Liners (1929-present) FC Osaka (2023–present) 2019 Rugby World Cup All-Japan Rugby Football Championship All-Japan University Rugby Championship Kansai University Rugby Football League National High School Rugby Tournament
Website
Official website

Hanazono is the home of the Kintetsu Liners rugby union team and J. League club, FC Osaka.

The stadium was selected as one of the venues for 2019 Rugby World Cup (Japan) which was the first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia.^[3]

World record

On May 14, 2006 Daisuke Ohata broke the record for the most overall tries in test matches at Hanazono with a hat-trick for Japan against Georgia. The previous record holder was David Campese.

Football

It hosted the J1 League game between Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus Eight played there on May 8, 1999.^[4]

FC Osaka hosted stadium in J3 League on 18 march 2023 against relegated team from J2 in last season Iwate Grulla Morioka after full calendar of J3 match in 20 January 2023.

Renovation

The stadium underwent a large scale renovation during 2017-18 to increase facilities in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.^[5] On 26 October 2018, Hanazono hosted an international fixture between Japan national rugby union team and World XV in celebration of the completion.^[6]

2019 Rugby World Cup matches

Date	Time (JST)	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round	Attendance
22 September 2019	14:15	Italy	47–22	Namibia	Pool B	20,354
28 September 2019	13:45	Argentina	28–12	Tonga	Pool C	21,971
3 October 2019	14:15	Georgia	10–45	Fiji	Pool D	21,069
13 October 2019	14:45	United States	19–31	Tonga	Pool C	22,012

See also

Hanazono before the renovation.

Hanazono after the renovation.

• Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
• Level-5 stadium
• National Stadium (Tokyo, 1958)
• J.League
• Japan national rugby union team
• Top League
• 2007–08 Top League
• Higashi-Hanazono Station – Kintetsu Nara Line
• List of stadiums in Japan
• Lists of stadiums

References

1. "ラグビーの聖地・花園、Ｗ杯仕様に～ようやく大型画面とナイター照明". 読売新聞. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
2. "World Stadiums - Stadiums in Japan :: Kinki". Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2014-12-25.
3. "World Rugby approves revised Japan 2019 hosting roadmap". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
4. J.League
5. "施設概要・案内". 花園中央公園管理事務所. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
6. "ラグビー日本代表が世界選抜に大善戦". ラグビー情報チャンネル. 2018-10-27. Archived from the original on 2019-08-03. Retrieved 2019-01-16.

External links

• (in Japanese) Stadium website