Suntory Sungoliath
Encyclopedia
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 slogan for the 2006-7 season was "ALIVE" and it continued to be the slogan in 2007-8.
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
. However Sanyo gained revenge in the 45th All-Japan Championship final, beating Suntory 40-18.
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.
In 2010 USA Rugby
captain Todd Clever
joined the club.
on numerous occasions. They have also compete in the recently formed 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.
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 24th to decide the 2007-08 Top League champion. Suntory won that game 14-10 with a very strong mauling attack.
, 2003-04.
Suntory
is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to sandwich chains...
beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo
Fuchu, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
. The slogan for the 2006-7 season was "ALIVE" and it continued to be the slogan in 2007-8.
Suntory coached by Katsuyuki Kiyomiya
Katsuyuki Kiyomiya
is a notable Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC and now of Suntory Sungoliath. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.-Early life:...
won the Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
on February 24, 2008 by defeating Sanyo Wild Knights
Sanyo Wild Knights
Panasonic Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which plays in the Top League. Inspired by Tony Brown at fly half , it dominated the league in the fifth season and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.All-Japan Champions:...
in a close and exciting game, 14-10. Suntory therefore became the champion of the Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
for the 2007-08 season
2007-08 Top League
The Top League is a semi-professional league at the top of Japanese domestic rugby union, now played between 14 teams like the Super 14 and the Top 14. For the first time from this, the fifth season, timekeepers were introduced...
. However Sanyo gained revenge in the 45th All-Japan Championship final, beating Suntory 40-18.
On June 18, 2008 it was announced that George Gregan
George Gregan
George Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
, 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.
In 2010 USA Rugby
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
captain Todd Clever
Todd Clever
Todd Stanger Clever is an American rugby union player. He is currently the Captain of the USA rugby union team. His current club is Suntory in Japan. In rugby Clever plays as a flanker, but while playing for the USA Sevens side he plays as a prop.-Club career:Todd joined Suntory of Japan in June...
joined the club.
Honours
- All-Japan ChampionshipAll-Japan Rugby Football ChampionshipThe All-Japan Rugby Football Championship is played at the end of the season and now includes Top League teams, the top two universities and the champion club team as decided in the respective championships...
- Champions: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2011
- Runner-up: 2008
- Microsoft CupMicrosoft CupThe Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
- Champions: 2008
- Runner-up: 2006, 2007, 2011
- All-Japan Company Championship
- Champions: 1995, 2001, 2002
History
The club was established in 1980, and since then they have won the All-Japan ChampionshipAll-Japan Rugby Football Championship
The All-Japan Rugby Football Championship is played at the end of the season and now includes Top League teams, the top two universities and the champion club team as decided in the respective championships...
on numerous occasions. They have also compete in the recently formed Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
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 KiyomiyaKatsuyuki Kiyomiya
is a notable Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC and now of Suntory Sungoliath. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.-Early life:...
and assisted by Michael Jones.
In 2006 Suntory Sungoliath lost the final of the Top League and Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
title to Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro...
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
Sanyo Wild Knights
Panasonic Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which plays in the Top League. Inspired by Tony Brown at fly half , it dominated the league in the fifth season and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.All-Japan Champions:...
, having lost to Sanyo and by just one point to Coca Cola West Red Sparks
Coca Cola West Red Sparks
Coca Cola West Red Sparks RFC is a Japanese company-owned rugby union team based in Fukuoka city, Kyūshū...
, and drawn 31-31 with Toyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz
Toyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Verblitz is a conflation of verde and blitz . The team is owned by Toyota Jidosha and is separate from, and not to be confused with, the Toyota Industries Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries...
in the final round. Sanyo and Suntory met again in the Microsoft Cup
Microsoft Cup
The Microsoft Cup is a knock-out Japanese rugby union tournament sponsored by Microsoft Japan, first played in February 2004. For the first three seasons the top eight teams of the Top League participated and it was a separate competition to the Top League, but in 2007 this was cut to the top four...
final on February 24th 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 LeagueTop League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
, 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 Katsuyuki Kiyomiya is a notable Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC and now of Suntory Sungoliath. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.-Early life:... |
| 2007-08 | 2nd | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 70 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 106 | 453 | 229 | 224 | 53 | Katsuyuki Kiyomiya |
2011-12 Squad
Former Notable Players
- Uche OdouzaUche OdouzaUche Oduoza is an English rugby union player who currently plays for Leeds Carnegie. Oduoza's position of choice is wing although he can also play fullback.-Career:...
- Winger, England (England 7's) - George GreganGeorge GreganGeorge Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
– Australian scrum-half and the most-capped player in international rugby history. - Rocky Havili - Tongan centre
- Toru KuriharaToru Kuriharais a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a fullback or wing.He played for Suntory Sungoliath.Kurihara had 27 caps for Japan, from 2000 to 2003, scoring 20 tries, 70 conversions and 34 penalties, 342 points on aggregate. He played four times at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, scoring 1 try, 4...
- Simon Maling - former All Black lock from 2001 - 2004
- Jamie Washington
Coach
- Katsuyuki KiyomiyaKatsuyuki Kiyomiyais a notable Japanese rugby union coach, formerly of Waseda University RFC and now of Suntory Sungoliath. Many in Japan hope he will coach the national side in the future.-Early life:...
(from 2006) - Coaching advisers include Eddie JonesEddie Jones (rugby)Eddie Jones is a rugby union coach and former player.-Coaching career:...
, formerly of Australia. He has been a frequent presence at Top League games in the 2007-8 season.
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