Suntory Sungoliath

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Suntory Sungoliath サントリーサンゴリアス
Founded	1980
Union	Japan Rugby Football Union
Location	Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
Ground	Suntory Fuchu Sports Centre
Capacity	?
Coach	Katsuyuki Kiyomiya
League	Top League
2005-06	6th
Home colours		Away colours

Suntory Sungoliath (also known as Suntory Rugby Football Club) is owned by Suntory and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus. The slogan for the 2006-7 season is: "ALIVE"

Contents 1 History 2 Players 3 Coach 4 Record in Top League 5 Titles 6 External links

[edit] History

The club was established in 1980, and since then they have won the Japanese Championship on numerous occasions. They also compete in the recently formed Top League. In their first season, 2003-04 they finished 4th, then 8th the following season, and then 6th in the 2005-06 season. The club celebrated its 25th anniversary in April 2005.

[edit] Players

• Toru Kurihara
• Ryan Nicholas - scored a Top League record individual points tally in the game versus IBM Big Blue on September 16, 2006 (36 points)
• Hirotoki Onozawa
• Jamie Washington
• Daigo Yamashita

[edit] Coach

• Katsuyuki Kiyomiya (from 2006)
• Coaching advisers include Eddie Jones, formerly of Australia.

[edit] Record in Top League

• 2003-4 4th
• 2004-5 8th
• 2005-6 6th

[edit] Titles

• 1995 All-Japan company champions, All-Japan champions
• 2000 All-Japan champions
• 2001 All-Japan company champions, All-Japan champions
• 2002 All-Japan company champions

[edit] External links

• Suntory Sungoliath - official home page

• Stylish Sungoliath turn out lights on Wild Knights, Daily Yomiuri, October 16, 2006