- IBM Big Blue
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IBM Big Blue
日本IBMビッグブルーFull name IBM Big Blue Union Japan Rugby Football Union Nickname(s) Big Blue, BBB Founded 1976 Location Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan Ground(s) IBM Yachiyodai Ground Coach(es) Hiroki Ando Team kitIBM Big Blue is a Japanese semi-professional rugby union team in the Top League, founded in 1976 by IBM. The company decided to make rugby, along with baseball and American football, one of the official company sports in 1989, which allowed the rugby club to gain support and momentum.
Big Blue won promotion from the Japan East Ten league to the Top League at the end of the League's first season (2003-4) but was then automatically relegated by coming 12th in the second season (2004-5). The team returned to the Top League for the 2006-7 season. It is based in Chiba prefecture in the Kanto area.
The former head Coach, Ippei Onishi, is a former captain of Kobe Kobelco Steelers. As of 2007–2008, the coach is Hiroki Ando. USA Eagle flyhalf Mike Hercus is a notable alumnus.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.
Player Position Union Keishi Noda Hooker Japan
Toshiya Sakuta Hooker Japan
Yoshimitsu Yasue Hooker Japan
Atsushi Tanabe Prop Japan
Yasuki Yamaguchi Prop Japan
Daisaku Sato Prop Japan
Shinya Kojima Lock Japan
Hiraku Satoh Lock Japan
Taishin Ito Lock Japan
Masato Ishida Lock Japan
Tevita Tanginoa Lock Tonga
Satonobu Ko Flanker Japan
Gen Kakurai Flanker Japan
Jake Paringatai Flanker New Zealand
Kei Oshima Flanker Japan
Lotu Filipine Number 8 Tonga
Yasuo Suda Number 8 Japan
Player Position Union Toshiyuki Yamanaka Scrum-half Japan
Junji Enya Scrum-half Japan
Kazumasa Tanaka Scrum-half Japan
Takayuki Kase Fly-half Japan
Yuhta Michihiro Fly-half Japan
Hiroyuki Sakamoto Centre Japan
JP Nel Centre South Africa
Roy Kinikinilau Centre New Zealand
Makoto Ohmatsu Centre Japan
Akihiro Shigemi Centre Japan
Takamasa Sakurai Wing Japan
Keita Katsumata Wing Japan
Takahiro Mizuta Wing Japan
Hiroshi Takeyama Wing Japan
Tadanobu Ko Fullback Japan
References
External links
- IBM Big Blue RFC - official home page
Top League Current Teams Former Teams IBM Big Blue • Mitsubishi Dynaboars • Secom Rugguts • World Fighting Bull • Yokogawa Musashino AtlastarsSeasons 2003-04 • 2004-05 • 2005-06 • 2006-07 • 2007-08 • 2008-09 • 2009-10 • 2010-11 • 2011-12Rugby union in Japan Governing body National teams Competitions Japan at the Rugby World Cup • Top League • Top League Challenge series • Microsoft Cup • All Japan University Rugby Championship • National High School Rugby Tournament • All-Japan Rugby Football Championship • Asian Five Nations • Japan SevensMajor figures Ginnosuke Tanaka • Edward Bramwell Clarke • Prince Chichibu • Shiggy Konno • Yoshirō Mori • International PlayersRelated articles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium • 2019 Rugby World Cup • School Wars: HeroCategories:- Japanese rugby union teams
- Rugby in Kantō
- Sports clubs established in 1976
- Chiba Prefecture
- Japanese sport stubs
- Rugby union team stubs
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