Hanazono Kintetsu Liners are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kintetsu Corporation which was founded in 1929. They have won the All-Japan Championship three times as an amateur team. Their home is at Hanazono Rugby Stadium , which was also opened in 1929 and is in Higashiosaka , Japan.
36-590: Early in 2008 Kintetsu won promotion back to the Top League for the 2008–9 season, and it was announced that former All Blacks coach Peter Sloane would be head coach. Sloane coached the team for three years before Ryusuke Maeda succeeded him in 2011. The team rebranded as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. In 1927,
72-546: A head coach and player for Kintetsu. In 1947, they won the qualifying round of western Japan for the National Sports Festival of Japan (only four teams were qualified from over Japan, i.e. northern, eastern and western Japan plus Kyushu), and participated in the final rounds. In the 1948–1949 season, they also participated in the first national Company Rugby Football Championship , which consisted of four teams from all over Japan. They were runners-up. In
108-610: A knock-out competition, and was developed by Japan Rugby Top League (JRTL) in 2003. However, a nationwide round robin competition for the company rugby did not exist in Japan till the establishment of the Top League. Before the establishment of the Top League, regional leagues were held in several regions of Japan by round robin systems. Kiuntetsu was in Kansai (western Japan) Company Rugby Football League (called Kansai Shakaijin League), which
144-533: A result, such Kintetsu players had to go abroad for rugby tour without getting any salary for some months, though other company players received salary for those periods as a "business trip". However, following their relegation to the Top West League in 2005, Kintetsu decided to re-organize the Liners as semi-professional and hire famous full-time professional players, like other teams. After three years in
180-503: A team was founded by some employees of Osaka Denki Kido (called "Daiki"). The team became an official company club in 1929, the same year in which Daiki founded Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Before and during World War II , there was no national tournament organized between company rugby teams in Japan. However, they won the Osaka Company Rugby Tournament in 1936, and were runner-up three times. After World War II,
216-690: Is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. A hooker , Sloane represented North Auckland from 1972 to 1983, and made 15 appearances for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks , including one test match, between 1973 and 1979. He has also been a coach, acting as assistant All Blacks coach to John Hart from 1998 to 1999, assistant Crusaders coach from 1997 to 1999, Highlanders head coach in 2000 and 2001, and Blues head coach between 2002 and 2005. During his time in Auckland he led
252-545: 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. Until 2022, it
288-595: The World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2012. In the 1969–1970 season, Kintetsu won the Company Championship, giving them the right to participate in the seventh All-Japan Championship. However, they declined to participate because its schedule overlapped with the second Asian Championship in Bangkok, and almost half of Japanese national players were Kintetsu players. The Company Championship had been
324-606: The "Liners", because the company is a railway corporation well known for their rapid express train the Kintetsu Urban Liner. In the first season of the Top League, Kintetsu finished in 10th place of 12 teams, and remained in the league by defeating Kyuden Voltex in the relegation match. However, in the next season (2004–05), they finished in 11th place and were relegated to the Top West League automatically. Kintetsu Corporation had been defining their rugby team as an amateur sports club without any "shamateurism", meaning
360-587: The 1953–1954 season, they won the Company Championship for the first time. This began a successful period in which they won the championship eight times and were runners-up nine times, from 1948 to 1975. Particularly notable was their title in the 1956–1957 season, when they did not concede any points in any of the four matches. This meant that they were labeled "shut-out champion", an achievement that has not been reached in any major rugby championships in Japan yet. In March 1959, Kintetsu defeated British Columbia from Canada 16–9. This British Columbia team were known as
396-482: The 1976–1977 season. These retirements were a challenge for Kintetsu. In the 1977–1978 and 1988–1989 seasons, they won the Kansai Shakaijin League. However, they won no titles in the Company Championship in these periods. In the 2003–2004 season, the Top League was established by absorbing the Company Championship, and Kintetsu was selected as an original member of the league. Their nickname became
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#1732801585473432-437: The 2024–25 season is: Props Hookers Locks Flankers No8s Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wingers Fullbacks Utility Backs Top League Japan Rugby League One ( Japanese : ジャパンラグビーリーグワン , romanized : Japanragubīrīguwan ), formerly known as the Top League ( Japanese : トップリーグ , romanized : Toppurīgu ), is a rugby union competition in Japan. It
468-495: The Blues to the 2003 Super 12 championship. In April 2006, Sloane joined the coaching staff at English rugby club Northampton Saints . Initially employed as forwards coach, he was briefly appointed head coach in 2007, but left the club the same year when Jim Mallinder was announced as head coach. In 2008, he joined Japanese Top League club, Kintetsu Liners , as head coach. In 2010 he led Kintetsu Liners to its best finish in
504-463: The Canadian national team on their tour of Japan. In British Columbia's eight games in Japan, their game against Kintetsu was their only loss. In the 1960–1961 season, the first NHK Cup was held, which decides the best rugby club in Japan. Before that, university teams had been stronger than company teams in Japan. However, after World War II, many company teams were restarted or founded. As a result,
540-747: The Japan Rugby Football Union organized the NHK cup three times from this season, and changed it to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship from the 1963–1964 season. Kintetsu were runners-up in the NHK cup in 1961–62. They also won the All-Japan Championship three times (1966–67, 67–68, 74–75) and were runners-up once (1963–64). Yoshihiro Sakata had been playing for Kintetsu and the Japan national team in those periods. He later entered
576-557: The League at the end of the season. IBM also gained promotion to return to the league. Following the 2004 Challenge series with IBM and Toyota being promoted, the following 12 teams competed in the second season: Toshiba won both the league round-robin and the Microsoft Cup knockout competition contested by the top 8 teams after the regular season. The eleventh and twelfth teams (Kintetsu and IBM) were automatically relegated, and
612-414: The Top League in the 2007–08 season: The top four teams (Sanyo, Suntory, Toyota and Toshiba) played in the fifth Microsoft Cup to decide the league champion. Suntory beat Sanyo 14–10 in the final to become the 2007–08 champions. Mitsubishi (14th) and Ricoh (13th) were automatically relegated. The number of teams was increased from 12 to 14. Coca-Cola West Red Sparks became the second Kyushu-based team in
648-457: The Top League rose to become some of the highest in the rugby world ; in 2012, South Africa's Jaque Fourie , now with Kobelco Steelers , was widely reported to be the world's highest-paid player. The 2023-24 format for the Japanese club system is divided into three divisions. The league consists of 12 teams based in various cities in the country. A second-tier Top League Challenge Series
684-625: The Top League, with the JRFU adopting a new fully-professional three-tier system from 2022. More details about the new structure was announced to the media in January 2021. Featuring 25 teams, the 12 top-tier clubs would be split into two conferences, with seven teams competing in division two and six in division three. The new competition was formally announced as Japan Rugby League One in July 2021. The first season in 2003–04 featured 12 teams. The league
720-560: The Top League. IBM returned to the league. The top four teams in the league played in the Microsoft Cup which was officially integrated into the league from this season as the "Top League Play-off Tournament Microsoft Cup". Toshiba won the cup and also won the All-Japan Championship . Secom and World (13th and 14th) were automatically relegated, to be replaced by Kyuden Voltex , the third team from Kyushu to enter
756-461: The Top West League, Kintetsu returned to the Top League in 2008. Peter Sloane became the head coach in 2008 with three-year contract. Kintetsu have signed international players such as Leon MacDonald in 2009, Rico Gear in 2010, Andre Taylor in 2014, and Pierre Spies and Damian de Allende in 2015. Then-Rebels & former Reds & Australian test halves pairing Quade Cooper and Will Genia signed for 2019–2020, with Cooper joining following
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#1732801585473792-457: The company name was changed to Kinki Nippon Railway (called "Kintetsu"). The team was reformed in April 1946. Some members returned to the team, but some were unable to rejoin the team because of the war. At that time, Heinai Tsuge joined the team. He was a player of Sentetsu ( Chosen Government Railway ) Rugby Club, who had been a leading team in the company rugby scene in the 1930s. Tsuge became
828-652: The conclusion of the 2019 Super Rugby season having been omitted from the Wallabies World Cup squad by coach Michael Cheika, while Genia joined following Australia's exit in the quarter-final against eventual finalists, England. Coincidentally, Kintetsu signed an agreement with their former club in 2020, becoming a major partner, appearing as their major sponsor for the Rebels on their away kit. Both clubs allowed access to each other's players for training and coaching experience. The Hanazono Kintetsu Liners squad for
864-472: The creation of Rugby League One and its three divisions, the raison d'etre for the Top Challenge League ceased to exist, and it was discontinued. NTT Shining Arcs and Yamaha Jubilo which won their 2005 promotion/relegation play-offs ( Irekaesen ) against Canon Eagles and Kyuden Voltex to retain their places for the 2011–12 season. The following teams were in the league: The top 4 sides of
900-477: The cup was considered a separate competition to the Top League prior to 2007. Secom and Sanix were relegated at the end of the season. IBM and Toyota were promoted. The following foreign players that have played in the Top League have either won or been nominated for a major IRB award, played in a Rugby World Cup, played for a combined-nations touring side, or captained their national team. Peter Sloane Peter Henry Sloane (born 10 September 1948)
936-468: The league, and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars from Kanto. After the pre-season 2005 Challenge series , Secom and Sanix returned after a year out of the league, replacing Kintetsu and IBM. The following 12 teams competed in the third season: Toshiba again won both the league round-robin and the Microsoft Cup knockout competition contested by the top 8 teams after the regular season. Coca-Cola West Japan (now Coca-Cola West Red Sparks) gained promotion to
972-408: The league: Kintetsu Liners returned to the league, and Yokogawa Denki were promoted for the first time (and renamed Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars in the off season). They replaced Ricoh Black Rams and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars . The following teams were in the league: Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars joined the league for the first time. The following 14 teams were in
1008-614: The league: The top 4 sides (Toshiba, Sanyo, Toyota and Suntory) from the regular season competed in a knock out tournament to fight for the Top League title. In the final, Sanyo defeated Suntory 28–23. IBM Big Blue and Yokogawa Atlastars were automatically relegated at the completion of the 2008–9 season for finishing 13th and 14th. Ricoh and Honda won promotion through the Top Challenge series. Kyuden and Sanix retained their places in Top League when they won their respective promotion and relegation play-offs. The following teams were in
1044-431: The ninth and tenth placed teams (World and Ricoh) had to win their 2005 promotion and relegation play-offs ( Irekaesen ) to stay in the Top League, which they did. The first season began with 12 teams: Toshiba won the inaugural Top League title by finishing on top of the round-robin competition. The top eight teams qualified for the inaugural Microsoft Cup . Toshiba went on to lose the final of Microsoft Cup to NEC, but
1080-424: The players were required to work full-time at the company without any additional advantages afforded by playing rugby. Further, when employees were absent from work due to rugby (often for extended periods of time because of the travel required), Kintetsu Corporation did not pay for their absence. This policy was also applied to Kintetsu players who represented Japan and traveled abroad for matches such as World Cup. As
1116-558: The regular season (Suntory, Toshiba, Sanyo, and NEC) competed in the 2012 Top League Champions Cup knock-out tournament for the Top League title at Chichibu , Tokyo. Suntory defeated Sanyo 47–28 in the final to win the title. Both teams met again a few weeks later in the final of the 49th All-Japan Rugby Football Championship . Additionally, in the Wildcard play-offs , the Top League teams ranked 5th and 8th (Kintetsu Liners and Yamaha Jubilo) played each other at Hanazono, Osaka , as did
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1152-440: The teams ranked 6th and 7th (Kobe Steelers and Ricoh Black Rams), with the winners (Kobe and Yamaha) also qualifying for the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship. Honda Heat and Kyuden Voltex were automatically relegated at the completion of the 2009–10 season for finishing 13th and 14th. Toyota Industries Shuttles and NTT Communications Shining Arcs won promotion through the Top Challenge series. The following teams were in
1188-412: Was also introduced in 2003. Between 2003–04 and 2016–17, teams from three regional leagues would qualify to this post-season competition, in which they could either win promotion to the next season's Top League, or qualify to promotion play-off matches. In 2017, a second-tier Top Challenge League was introduced, to operate in a league format above the regional leagues. The regional leagues are: With
1224-401: Was an industrial league, where many players were employees of their company and the teams were all owned by major companies. While the competition was known for paying high salaries, only world-class foreign players and a small number of Japanese players played fully professionally, which meant most of the players still played in an amateur capacity. The delayed 2021 season was the final season of
1260-467: Was expanded to 14 teams in 2006–07 and 16 teams in 2013–14. While Japan Rugby League One's season overlaps with the start of Super Rugby's season, the Top League played during the off-season of the Super Rugby . Therefore, many full-time foreign professionals from Southern Hemisphere countries played in the Top League, notably Tony Brown , George Gregan and Dan Carter . In the 2010s, salaries in
1296-620: Was started in 1958. They won 11 consecutive championships from the first to the eleventh editions of the Kansai Shalaijin League (from 1958 to 1969). In total, they won the league 17 times. The Kansai Shalaijin League was finished in 2002, and Top West League was started in 2003 as a subsidiary league of the Top League. In the 1974–1975 season, Kintetsu won the All-Japan Championship, following which some notable national players such as Yoshihiro Sakata and Hiroshi Ogsasawara retired. Ryozo Imazato and Susumu Hara also retired after
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