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Japan Rugby League One is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by absorbing the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The chief architect of the league was Hiroaki Shukuzawa who strongly felt the urgency of improving Japanese domestic company rugby to a professional level which would allow Japan to compete more convincingly at Rugby World Cups.
The Kobelco Kobe Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-2004 season. The team rebranded as Kobelco Kobe Steelers ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022.
Craig Wing, also known by the nickname of "Wingy", is an Australian-born former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He began his career in rugby league, playing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, representing Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin. He switched to rugby union, playing in Japan for the NTT Communications Shining Arcs and the Kobelco Steelers, earning selection for the Japanese national team after completing three years residency.
Thinus Delport is a South African ex rugby union player who played at wing or fullback for Worcester Warriors and South Africa.
Josh Blackie is a former New Zealand rugby union player who notably played for Otago in the National Provincial Championship and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. He also had a long stint for the Kobelco Steelers in Japan and played a season with the Blues in 2008. His position of choice was flanker.
Andries Bekker is a former South African rugby union player for the Springbok rugby team as well as Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League.
Richard Buckman is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a midfield back, wing or fullback for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One competition.
Gary Jacques van Aswegen is a South African former rugby union player that played as a fly-half throughout his career. He represented Western Province in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions between 2010 and 2014 and the Stormers in Super Rugby from 2011 to 2013. He also played for the Eastern Province Kings in 2014 and 2015. He retired after the 2015 season, aged 25.
Brodie Allan Retallick is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who currently plays as a lock for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship.
Grant Neil Hattingh is a rugby union player who plays as a lock, flanker or eighthman for Japanese sides the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Kobelco Steelers in the Top League.
Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.
Allister Coetzee is a South African rugby union coach and former player, currently in charge of the Namibian national team on a part time basis, whilst also head coach of Rugby Rovigo in Italy. He served as the head coach of the South African national team from April 2016 to February 2018.
Cameron Robin Wright is a South African rugby union player for the Sharks in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup. His regular position is scrum-half.
EW Viljoen is a South African rugby union player playing for the Johannesburg based Lions. He previously played for the Stormers in Super Rugby and Western Province in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge, while also representing the Leicester Tigers. It was announced on the 14th of July 2020 that Viljoen would be joining the Lions. He is a utility back that can play as a fullback, winger or centre.
John Dobson is a South African rugby union coach, currently the head coach of United Rugby Championship side Stormers.
Ryohei Yamanaka is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.He currently plays for Japanese club Kobelco Steelers.
Sintu Manjezi is a South African rugby union player for the Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. His regular position is lock or blindside flanker.
Matthew Proudfoot is a South African rugby union coach and former player who represented Scotland. He is currently an assistant coach with the Namibia national team.
Inny-Christian Radebe is a South African rugby union player for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and the Sharks XV in the Rugby Challenge. He can play as a fly-half, inside centre or fullback.
Stedman-Ghee Rivett Gans is a South African rugby sevens player for the South Africa national team and a rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. He usually plays as a centre or a winger.
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Peter Grant". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ↑ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
