Top League Profiles 2017-18: Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Top League Profiles 2017-18
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
2017-18 Introduction: In the 2016-17 season, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers finished fourth overall on the final Japan Rugby Top League table on 48 points with 10 wins and five losses.
Kobe as the inaugural Top League champions back in 2003-4 have consistently finished between third and sixth every season since but this season looks like being one full of hope and expectation. A number of prominent overseas names are at the Steelers this season including former Springbok lock Andries Bekker, former All Black halfback Andy Ellis, wing Fraser Anderson and utility back Cody Rei. There are also a number of current Japan internationals and Sunwolves players in the ranks including hooker Takeshi Kizu, prop Takayuki Watanabe and playmaker Ryohei Yamanaka. The big signing at the Steelers for this season is former Wallabies outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper who makes the move to Japan from Bordeaux in France.
The Coach: The head coach for 2017-18 is again Jim McKay who is in his second year in the role. Assistant coaches are Nicholas Holten, Marco Caputo and Scott Hansen.
The Captain: Flanker Shohei Maekawa is the captain for the 2017-18 season. Prop Motoki Yamazaki and five-eighth Ryohei Yamanaka are the vice captains.
The 2017-18 Squad: (48) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.
Shohei Maekawa (c), Motoki Yamazaki (v-c), Ryohei Yamanaka (v-c). Forwards: Hisateru Hirashima, Tateo Kanai, Hiroshi Yamashita, Masahiko Nakagawa, Hiroya Sawai, Raiko Katsuki, Takumi Tsukahara, Takayuki Watanabe, Takeshi Kizu, Kota Nobuhara, Kentaro Nagasaki, Shoji Ito, Andries Bekker, Yu Shimizu, Hikaru Okubo, Isieli Nakajima, Daisuke Maeda, Yuho Ashiya, Jang Seok-Hwan, Daiki Hashimoto, Matt Vant Levan, Ryuta Yasui, Hikaru Hashimoto, Itaru Taniguchi and Kosuke Nishibayashi. Backs: Takashi Sato, Andrew Ellis, Daijiro Tanaka, Ryang Jong-Chu, Kenta Tokuda, Kenji Shomen, Nicholas Ealey, Akihiro Shimizu, Yuta Imamura, Naoya Minamihashi, Tonisio Vaihu, Shintaro Hayashi, Issei Shige, Fraser Anderson, Yoshikazu Ohashi, Rakuhei Yamashita, Shinya Morita, Tsuyoshi Iguchi, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Codey Rei. Coach: Jim McKay (50).