Tokyo Sungoliath (formerly known as 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. The team rebranded as Tokyo Sungoliath ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022.[1]
 | |||
| Union | Japan Rugby Football Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | April 1980 | ||
| Location | Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Ground(s) | Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (Capacity: 27,188) | ||
| Coach(es) | Kiyonori Tanaka | ||
| Captain(s) | Yutaka Nagare | ||
| League(s) | Japan Rugby League One | ||
| 2023 | 4th Playoffs: 4th | ||
| |||
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.
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.
Honours
- 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
The club was established in 1980, and since then they have won the All-Japan Championship on numerous occasions. They have also competed in the 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
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.
| Season | Order | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | T | G | PG | DG | Penalties | Points For | Points Against | Points Diff | Pts | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 4th | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 150 | 408 | 265 | 143 | 42 | Yuji Nagatomo |
| 2004–05 | 8th | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 43 | 28 | 12 | 0 | 142 | 307 | 282 | 25 | 24 | Yuji Nagatomo |
| 2005–06 | 6th | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 43 | 30 | 10 | 1 | 118 | 308 | 241 | 67 | 32 | Yuji Nagatomo |
| 2006–07 | 2nd | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 81 | 58 | 8 | 0 | 157 | 545 | 161 | 384 | 56 | Katsuyuki Kiyomiya |
| 2007–08 | 2nd | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 70 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 106 | 453 | 229 | 224 | 53 | Katsuyuki Kiyomiya |
Current squad
The Tokyo Sungoliath squad for the 2024-25 season is:[2]
| Tokyo Sungoliath 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.
Notable former players
- Tusi Pisi – Manu Samoa international fly-half
- Schalk Burger – South African flanker
- Fourie du Preez – South African scrum half
- Uche Odouza – winger, England (England 7s)
- George Gregan – Australian scrum-half and the 2nd most-capped player in international rugby history
- Rocky Havili – Tongan centre
- Toru Kurihara – Japan fullback or wing
- Simon Maling – former All Black lock from 2001 to 2004
- Beauden Barrett - All Black five-eighth, 2015 Rugby World Cup Winner
- 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 (2016–2019)
Milton Haig (2020-)
External links
- Suntory Sungoliath - official home page
- George Gregan and Goliath, 365.com (June 20, 2008)
- Suntory are Top League Champions - JRFU English website, February 24, 2008
- Stylish Sungoliath turn out lights on Wild Knights, Daily Yomiuri, October 16, 2006
- Wales suffer opening defeat, scrum.com, June 3, 2001
References
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