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| Date of birth | 21 January 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Kyoto, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 20 October 2016 (aged 53) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Fushimi Technical High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Doshisha University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Seiji Hirao (平尾誠二, 21 January 1963 – 20 October 2016) was a Japanese rugby union footballer and coach. He played as a fly-half, and was one of the most popular Japanese players of his time, earning the name of "Mr. Rugby".
Hirao first played rugby at Fushimi Kogyo, in Kyoto, who won the national high school title in 1980. He then moved to Doshisha University, where he won three national university titles. He graduated in 1985, moving to England, where he played a year for Richmond. Returning to Japan in 1986, he helped Kobelco Steelers to win seven consecutive National Championships, from 1989 to 1995. [2]
He had 35 caps for Japan, from 1982 to 1995, scoring 1 try, 5 conversions and 1 penalty, 18 points in aggregate. His first match was a 22-6 loss to New Zealand Universities national team, at 30 May 1982, aged only 19 years old. Hirao played at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, all the three matches. He also played at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, as the captain, again in all the three matches, and, after a three years and a half retirement, at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing two matches and scoring a try in the 50-28 loss to Ireland, at 31 May 1995. That would be his last cap for his National Team, aged 32 years old.
He was the coach of Japan, from 1997 to 2000, and led his National Team at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Japan was unfortunate, losing all the three matches but giving worthy performances. He then went on to coach Kobelco Steelers. He died on 20 October 2016 at the age of 53 after battling bile duct cancer. [3]
The Japan national rugby union team, also known as the Cherry Blossoms, Brave Blossoms, or simply Sakura, is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and has enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years. Rugby union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), which was founded in 1926. They compete annually in the Pacific Nations Cup and previously in the Asia Rugby Championship. They have also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987.
Yukio Motoki is a former Japanese rugby union footballer. He played as a centre and was known for his powerful running and tackling.
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.
Hiroaki Shukuzawa was a Japanese rugby union player and coach, who coached the Japan national rugby union team between 1989 and 1991. As a player, he was capped three times by Japan as a scrum-half, and he also advised the Japan Rugby Football Union. He also held important posts as a banker.
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Toshiyuki Hayashi, is a former Japanese rugby union player. He played as a prop and as a lock. He was educated at Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School and was graduated in economics at Doshisha University. He was nicknamed Destroyer and Daimaru.
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Ryohei Yamanaka is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.He currently plays for Japanese club Kobelco Steelers.
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Masami Horikoshi, is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach. He played as scrum-half. Currently he is the coach of Rissho University RFC.
Terunori Masuho is a former rugby union player who played as a wing and former Kobelco Steelers coach.
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Takafumi Hirao, also known as Tsuyoshi Hirao, is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as wing and as fullback. He is not related to the late Seiji Hirao. As of 2015 he works as teacher at Kobe Shinwa Women's University's Development and Education Faculty of Junior sports education Department, with "sports pedagogy", "kinematics" as field of specialization and "body and sports" and "sports education rooted in children's development" as research field.
Toshikazu Nakamichi is a Japanese former rugby union player who played usually as hooker or as prop. He earned 16 caps without scoring in his international career.
Kohei Oguchi is a Japanese former rugby union player. He played as a prop.
Yuji Sonoda is a Japanese former rugby union player and currently coach. He played as scrum-half. He is the current coach of Hosei University RFC. He is nicknamed "Son".
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