Mie Honda Heat is a Japanese rugby union team based in Suzuka City , Mie Prefecture , Japan . The owner of the club is Honda Motor . (Suzuka is known for the Suzuka Circuit and the presence of car companies. Conveniently, the team uses Suzuka to jog on as part of their training programme.)
32-541: They play in the Japan Rugby League One , the top tier of Japan's rugby union hierarchy. In 2011–12, Honda Heat were relegated to regional events for 2012–13. Winning 2 and drawing 1 of their 13 games in the regular season. The team rebranded as Mie Honda Heat ahead of the rebranding of the Top League as the Japan Rugby League One in 2022. Honda Motor Co. established its rugby club in 1960 at
64-458: A back up first five to Daniel Carter , and with Browns recent form he had become a potential candidate for that position. If that were to ring true it would be more than ten years since Brown last played for the All Blacks. However the call up never came and Brown was later named as captain of Otago for the 2011 ITM Cup season. In 2020, he joined Match Fit season 1 as reinforcements since
96-641: Is a rugby union competition in Japan. It 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
128-888: Is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, who played mainly at first five-eighth (fly half) . He is an assistant coach for the South Africa national rugby union team , having previously been the head coach of Otago and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition. Brown's early life was spent in the South Otago towns of Balclutha and Kaitangata . Alongside younger brother Cory, Brown played his junior rugby for Crescent RFC and completed his first five years of high school at South Otago High School before moving to Dunedin in 1993, aged 17, and attending King's High School . Brown made his debut for Otago in
160-507: The 2015–16 season of Top League, finishing at 11th place. So the team stayed for another term , this time ending the tournament at place 16th of 16 and being relegated to the newly introduced second-tier Top Challenge League . The season 2017–18 was played as a round-robin tournament, the Heats managing to win and become promoted automatically for the 2018–19 Top League season, back to first tier status. The current Mie Honda Heat squad for
192-636: The Highlanders before taking up a contract to play for the Sanyo Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League in 2005. Brown was first picked for the New Zealand national rugby union team in 1999, making his debut in a match against New Zealand A on 11 June, before making his international debut against Samoa at Albany Stadium exactly a week later. Brown played a total of 18 test matches, scoring 171 test points (mostly with
224-489: The 1995 NPC , initially as a reserve with All Black-Manu Samoa international Stephen Bachop the first choice first five-eighth . Brown had a quick progression to first choice first five-eighth , starting ahead of Bachop in 1995 NPC final. With the launch of the Super 12 in 1996, Brown was rewarded with a place in the first ever Highlanders squad. With Bachop also selected in the Highlanders for 1996 it meant more time on
256-634: The 2008–09 season. In 2006 Brown also played Super 14 in South Africa with the Sharks . He returned to South Africa for the 2008 Super 14 season, having signed with the Stormers . In October 2008, Brown suffered a freak injury while playing in Japan, which left him with a ruptured pancreas . He underwent successful life-saving surgery, which left his future rugby playing career in doubt. However, he recovered and returned to playing for Sanyo. Brown
288-460: The 2023-24 season is: Props Hookers Locks Flankers No8s Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wingers Fullbacks Utility Backs Japan Rugby League One 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 ),
320-557: 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
352-672: The Suzuka Factory. The team gained promotion to the Kansai A-League for the 1978 season, and then finished sixth in the seven-team competition for that year. Honda remained a fixture in the Kansai A-League, being demoted only once (for the 1985 season) before it was renamed the Top West A-League in 2003-04 with the introduction of Japan's Top League . Honda did not qualify for inclusion in the Top League for inaugural season—that had to wait for another six years—but
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#1732797428083384-414: 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
416-457: 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
448-625: 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
480-560: 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
512-464: The boot, although he did score five tries) between then and his final test against Australia in August 2001. His international career included matches for New Zealand at the 1999 Rugby World Cup . Brown's goal-kicking feats enabled him to score over 30 points in three separate internationals (against Italy in 1999, Samoa in 2000, and Tonga in 2001) – the only player to have achieved this. Despite this he
544-472: 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
576-476: 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. Tony Brown (rugby union) Tony Eion Brown (born 17 January 1975)
608-468: 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
640-408: 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
672-614: 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
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#1732797428083704-431: 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
736-558: 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
768-543: The reserves for Brown. He made his debut in round two against Transvaal, starting at second five-eighth and scoring a try and two conversions. Brown went on to play four more matches in his debut Super 12 playing mainly at second five-eighth and was soon recognised at national level with selection for the New Zealand Colts and the New Zealand Māori. Brown went on to play 71 matches for Otago and 83 for
800-554: The season (the first time this had been achieved), to runner-up in the Microsoft Cup and All-Japan champion . He was the third highest points scorer with 137, and voted unanimously to the stand off slot in the Best Fifteen of the league. He was voted MVP by the fans in a J Sports poll. He also played in friendlies for the Classic All Blacks against Japan XVs on 9 and 12 May 2007 and intended to return to Sanyo for
832-406: The team continued to play in the Top West A-League. After winning the league in 2008-09 under New Zealander John Sherratt , Honda Heat was promoted. The team played one Top League season in 2009–10 before being demoted and another in 2011–12 before being demoted again to Top West A, where they remained for three seasons. Honda won the Top West A-League in 2014–15, and was promoted once again for
864-535: 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
896-412: 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
928-401: 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
960-533: Was drafted into the squad as a reserve from the wider training squad for the match against the defending champions the Bulls . Coming on in the second half, he made a stellar contribution, converting 3 tries and kicking a crucial penalty. Brown was a key player in the Highlanders 26 18 upset win over the then 6 game undefeated Crusaders. Being on the eve of the 2011 Rugby World Cup the All Blacks were on look out for
992-408: 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
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1024-488: Was never a member of the regular starting line-up, the fly-half position being held by Andrew Mehrtens during that period. He went on to play three seasons (2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08) for the Sanyo Wild Knights in the Top League in Japan. In the 2005–06 season he played in eight games and scored 98 points. In the 2006–07 season he played in ten games and scored 145 points. In the 2007–08 season he played 12 times and helped Sanyo to an unbeaten run of 13 wins in
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