Top League Profiles 2017-18: Ricoh Black Rams
Top League Profiles 2017-18
Ricoh Black Rams
2017-18 Introduction: In the 2016-17 season, Ricoh Black Rams finished sixth overall on the final Japan Rugby Top League table on 40 points with 8 wins and 7 losses.
The Black Rams had their best ever finish in Top League last season and if the club can carry that form over into the new season upsets will be on the cards. There has been little turnover of players at the club in the off-season and so there is a very solid base for manager Hiroyuki Kamitori and head coach Matt Cockbain to work with. Ricoh is a club heading in the right direction but it is important that they keep improving as all the mid-table teams are making progress. Number eight Shuhei Matsuhashi is the stand out player in the squad playing his way into the Sunwolves and full Japan teams this year while Tonga-born centre Amanaki Lotoahea has earned seven caps for Japan since last autumn. Elsewhere, back-rower Michael Broadhurst has 26 caps for Japan while, locks Emosi Kauhenga and Franco Mostert and centre Tamati Ellison are other important figures in the team. Versatile Robbie Robinson is a new acquisition at the club this season as the former Highlanders and Chiefs fullback moves across after two seasons with Toyota.
The Coach: The new head coach at Ricoh for the 2017-18 season is Australia-born Matt Cockbain (44 y/o, 19/09/1972) with Sam Harris the defence coach. Hiroyuki Kamitori is the public face of Ricoh in his role as general manager.
The Captain: The captain at Ricoh for the 2017-18 season is again 30-year-old lock Takeshi Mabuchi (14/10/1986). The vice-captains are again flanker Daisuke Musha, halfback Shota Yamamoto and centre Aki Makita.
The 2017-18 Squad: (48) the list starts with captain and vice-captains and continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.
Takeshi Mabuchi (c), Daisuke Musha (v-c), Shota Yamamoto (v-c), Aki Makita (v-c). Forwards: Kazuhiro Shibata, Alex Woonton, Kenta Tsujii, Takehiro Fujiwara, Sotaro Okawa, Takao Makabe, Kotaro Yoshimura, Taichi Chiba, Yuki Mori, Joshua Mau, Kan Yoshino, Kazuhiro Koike, Masashi Onishi, Emosi Sakura Kauhenga, Pohiva Yamato Lotoahea, Franco Mostert, Takahiro Terui, Chisei Koyama, Michael Broadhurst, Tatsuhide Akabori, Shohei Fukumoto, Colin Bourke, Daiki Yanagawa and Shuhei Matsuhashi. Backs: Masatoshi Nakamura, Yohei Nakamura, Toshiya Takahashi, Kosuke Kigami, Toshiki Hamagishi, Tamati Ellison, Daisuke Komatsu, Fumiya Santo, Kazuki Kohama, Amanaki Lotoahea, Daisuke Hamano, Shori Hoshino, Genki Hasegawa, Masaki Watanabe, Yusuke Matsumoto, Kengo Fukatsu, Toshiki Yamauchi, Robbie Robinson, Takuya Takahira and Takehiro Nakazawa. Coach: Matt Cockbain (44).