Suntory Dominate Awards as Nakazuru Named TL MVP
TOKYO (Jan. 15) – A day after winning their fourth Japan Rugby Top League title, Suntory Sungoliath dominated the awards at the close-of-season prize giving ceremony.
Coach Keisuke Sawaki and captain Yutaka Nagare collected the league trophy before the team was honoured with six players in the Top XV as well as the league MVP, top try scorer and top points scorer.
Takaaki Nakazuru was named MVP after scoring a league leading 17 tries this season as Suntory bagged their first title since 2012-13 to add to their three corporate titles from the pre-professional era and five All-Japan Championships.
“There are a lot of great players in the Top League so I feel this is an underserved award for me,” Nakazuru said.
The 26-year-old was joined in the all-star XV by five of his teammates.
Scrumhalf Nagare, flyhalf Kosei Ono and fullback Kotaro Matsushima were named in the backs with lock Joe Wheeler and flanker George Smith earning selection in the forwards.
Ono was also honoured as the top scorer in the league after amassing 187 points, courtesy of three tries, 56 conversions and 20 penalty goals.
Smith said Suntory’s success was based on good coaching and the team’s leadership group.
“Nagare is a very open captain who is always listening and looking for advice. But there are a lot of leaders in the team. Joe Wheeler has come in and runs the line-out, Hendrik Tui has been around a few years and Kosei Ono has been a huge link between the foreigners and Japanese players.”
Three players from league runners-up Yamaha Jubilo were named in the Top XV in hooker Takeshi Hino, tighthead prop Heiichiro Ito and center Viliami Tahitua.
Panasonic Wild Knights also had three players in the side with lock Daniel Heenan, loosehead prop Keita Inagaki and flanker Shunsuke Nunomaki honoured.
The rest of the team was made up by Kubota Spears center Harumichi Tatekawa, Kobe Kobelco Steelers wing Rakuhei Yamashita and Ricoh Black Rams No. 8 Shuhei Matsuhashi, who was also named Rookie of the Year.
Other award winners included Yamaha fullback Gerhard van den Heever who was named best kicker and Honda Heat wing Digby Ioane who was named best line breaker.