IBM Big Blue (rugby union)

IBM Big Blue is a Japanese semi-professional rugby union team in the Top League. The team was founded in 1976 by IBM. The company decided to make rugby, along with baseball and American football, one of the official company sports in 1989, which allowed the rugby club to gain support and momentum.

IBM Big Blue
日本IBMビッグブルー
Full nameIBM Big Blue
UnionJapan Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Big Blue, BBB
Founded1976
LocationYachiyo, Chiba, Japan
Ground(s)IBM Yachiyodai Ground
Coach(es)Hiroki Ando
Team kit

Big Blue won promotion from the Japan East Ten league to the Top League at the end of the League's first season (2003-4) but was then automatically relegated by coming 12th in the second season (2004-5). The team returned to the Top League for the 2006-7 season. It is based in Chiba prefecture in the Kanto area.

The former head coach, Ippei Onishi, is a former captain of Kobe Kobelco Steelers. As of 2007–2008, the coach is Hiroki Ando. USA Eagle flyhalf Mike Hercus is a notable alumnus.

Squad 2011/2012

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Atsushi Yamaga Prop   Japan
Kochi Nakamura Prop   Japan
Takayuki Kinoshita Prop   Japan
Keisuke Ando Hooker   Japan
Shinji Terayama Hooker   Japan
Hiroshi Ebisawa Hooker   Japan
Tatsuji Yoshida Hooker   Japan
Hiromitsu Matsuba Lock   Japan
Takamasa Maruyama Lock   Japan
Takumi Nishikawa Lock   Japan
Hiroaki Tatsumichi Lock   Japan
Keisuke Omata Flanker   Japan
Daigo Fujita Flanker   Japan
Yosuke Watanabe Flanker   Japan
Player Position Union
Nagamasa Miyazawa Scrum-half   Japan
Katsuya Higuchi Scrum-half   Japan
Kento Ikeda Scrum-half   Japan
Sogen Masumoto Fly-half   Japan
Takuya Himeno Centre   Japan
Muso Imamura Centre   Japan
Tatsunori Kojima Wing   Japan
Hiromichi Ikeda Wing   Japan
Hideki Ishibashi Fullback   Japan
Yuta Kato Fullback   Japan

[1]

See also

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IBM Big Blue (X-League)

References

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  1. ^ "secom-rugguts - japonrugby". www.japonrugby.net. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
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