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Japan Rugby League One, formerly known as the Top League, 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. 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.
Rene Mark Nelson Ranger is a New Zealand rugby union player. Ranger plays the positions of wing and centre.
Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.
Ryan Tongia is a professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He is currently based out of Hawke's Bay in New Zealand. Tongia is of Papua New Guinean, Chinese and German descent, but was born and raised in Australia. His position is right or left wing, or fullback. He is a Papua New Guinea rugby league international.
Aaron Luke Smith is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. A scrum half, Smith played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby where upon retirement in 2023 was the club's all time leader in caps, and for Manawatu in the ITM Cup. He has won 124 caps for New Zealand and is their 2nd most-capped back after Beauden Barrett.
Jack Tafa Lam is a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised rugby player who plays as a flanker for Moana Pasifika and internationally for Samoa.
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 National Provincial Championship.
Lolagi Visinia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or fullback for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented both New Zealand and Manu Samoa internationally.
Pita Jordan Ahki is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Toulouse. Born in New Zealand, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Ash Dixon is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Green Rockets Tokatsu in the Japan Rugby League One. He formerly played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He has also played for the Hurricanes and Auckland.
Trent Wiremu Kitahi Renata is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently is playing for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Brad McCormick Weber is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a halfback for Stade Français in the French Top 14. He previously played for Hawke's Bay in the National Provincial Championship and the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He has represented New Zealand internationally.
Matthew Gary Moulds is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Northland in the Bunnings NPC. He has also previously represented New Zealand at rugby sevens.
Toni Pulu is a rugby union player who currently plays as a wing for the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR competition. He previously played for the Brumbies and Chiefs.
Greg Pleasants-Tate is a New Zealand rugby union player who has played as a hooker for Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Auckland, Canterbury and Southland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues and Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.
James Tucker is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Waikato in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.
Ryohei Yamanaka is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.He currently plays for Japanese club Kobelco Steelers.
Sefo Kautai is a New Zealand rugby union player who previously played as a tighthead prop for Waikato in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition. He is currently playing for Kobelco Steelers rugby club - which is based in Kobe, Japan.
Kylem Francis Te Riri O'Donnell is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup. He is also a former All Blacks Sevens representative.
Bryn Gatland is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a fly-half for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan's Rugby League One. Gatland is the son of international coach and former player Warren Gatland.
References
- ↑ "Matt Vant Leven Waikato Player Profile" . Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ↑ "Super Rugby Wider Training Groups Named". 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ↑ "new foreign players join kobelco Steelers" (in Japanese). 16 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
