Shizuoka Blue Revs Explained
Shizuoka Blue Revs (formerly the Yamaha Júbilo) are a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League (2004–05). They were coached by former All Black Grant Batty and Fijian player-coach Tabai Matson. Founded in 1984, its name was "Yamaha Motors Rugby Football Club". The team rebranded as the Shizuoka Blue Revs ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022.[1]
The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese, which has had a notable influence on the Japanese language. The name was also shared with the also Yamaha-owned Júbilo Iwata from J2 League.[2]
Current squad
The Shizuoka Blue Revs squad for the 2023-24 season is:[3]
Shizuoka Blue Revs squad |
---|
Props- Kazuhiro Kawata
- Takayoshi Mohara
- Shohei Nishimura
- Heiichiro Ito
- Kaku Bunkei*
- Shintaro Okamoto
- Joren Fuchi
- Kenta Yamashita
- Ritsuki Nakayama REP
- Sean Vete REP
Hookers
- Toshiya Hirakawa
- Takeshi Hino
- Yuji Ueki
- Richmond Tongatama*
- Shunsuke Sakuta REP
Locks
| Flankers
No8s
Scrum-halves
- Bryn Hall
- Yuki Yatomi
- Minoru Tanoue
- Fumihiro Yoshizawa
- Yoshiki Yoshioka
- Kodai Okazaki
- Shuntaro Kitamura REP
- Taiga Kato REP DEP
Fly-halves
| Centres
Wingers
- Tomokazu Kira
- Hironori Yatomi
- Chikara Ito
- Eito Maki
- Malo Tuitama*
- Keagen Faria*
- Kaito Sugimoto REP
Fullbacks
Utility Backs
|
|
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped | |
- * denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds.
Notable former players
- Wataru Murata (2001-08, 68 games) Scrum-half, Japanese International (2001-08, 41 caps)
- Leon MacDonald (2004–05, 12 games) Fly-half, Allblack (2000–08, 56 caps)
- Ryō Yamamura (2004-21, 211 games) Prop, Japanese international (2002-07, 39 caps)
- Brendan Laney (2005-07, 23 games) Utility back, Scottish international (2001-04, 20 caps)
- Ayumu Goromaru (2008-16, 2017-21, 150 games) Fullback, Japanese international (2005-15, 57 caps)
- Male Sa'u (2008-18, 118 games) Centre, Japanese international (2013-16, 27 caps)
- Mose Tuiali'i (2009-19, 125 games) Loose forward, Allblack (2004-06, 9 caps)
- Jerry Collins (2011–13, 13 games) Loose forward, Allblack (2001–07, 48 caps)
- Siale Piutau (2012-17, 45 games) Centre, Tongan international (2011–19, 43 caps)
- Koki Yamamoto (2013-21, 105 games) Prop, Japanese international (2016-, 7 caps)
Coaches
External links
Notes and References
- News: La nouvelle ligue japonaise s'appelle la Japan Rugby League One. Asie Rugby. 16 July 2021. 16 July 2021. French.
- Book: Nomikos Vaporis, Constantine . Jan 6, 2012 . Voices of Early Modern Japan: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life during the Age of the Shoguns . ABC-CLIO . 99 . 978-0313392016 . June 12, 2015 . The Portuguese and their culture had some influence on Japanese clothing, accessories, food and language..
- Web site: Players Staff . Shizuoka Blue Revs . ja . 11 October 2021.