Top League Profiles 2017-18: Yamaha Jubilo
Top League Profiles 2017-18
Yamaha Jubilo
2017-18 Introduction: In the 2016-17 season, Yamaha finished second overall on the final Top League table with 14 wins and one loss. Their only loss in the Top League season was to Suntory who went on to take the title undefeated.
Over recent years, Jubilo have been slowly building under Katsuyuki Kiyomiya as head coach and the confidence is there under his guidance to go one more step and take their first Top League title. Further, a factor this season will be the return of goal-kicking fullback Ayumu Goromaru after overseas stints with Toulon and the Queensland Reds. Goromaru was one of the heroes of the Japan side at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and his presence back in Yamaha colours will be a welcome sight for many Jubilo fans. The influence of both Kiyomiya and Goromaru cannot be under-estimated in the 2017-18 season.
However, Yamaha have contributed a number of players to recent national sides and the Sunwolves, particularly in the forwards and that collective experience will pay dividends throughout the course of the season. Props Heiichiro Ito, Koki Yamamoto, hooker Takeshi Hino, locks Yuya Odo and Uwe Helu all fall into this category. Meanwhile, former All Black back-rower Mose Tuiali’i, halfback Yuki Yatomi, wing Chikara Ito and Japan centre Male Sau are other important figures in the squad.
The Coach: Katsuyuki Kiyomiya is in his seventh season as head coach at Yamaha in the 2017-18 season.
The Captain: Number Eight Kyosuke Horie is the new captain at Yamaha for the 2017-18 season. He is in his fifth season with the club after graduating from Meiji University. Flanker Hayato Nishiuchi and centre Masatoshi Miyazawa are the vice-captains for 2017-18.
The 2017-18 Squad: (50) The list starts with captain and vice-captains then continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. Family names come last.
Kyosuke Horie (c), Hayato Nishiuchi (v-c), Masatoshi Miyazawa (v-c). Forwards: Ryo Yamamura, Satoshi Nakatani, Heiichiro Ito, Koki Yamamoto, Sohei Nishimura, Kenta Otsuka, Taishi Takabe, Yuji Ueki, Yuji Nishiuchi, Keita Kato, Shogo Naka, Takeshi Hino, Kohei Eguchi, Keisuke Yagishita, Johan Bardoul, Duke Krishnan, Kohei Saita, Yuya Odo, Uwe Helu, Eishin Kuwano, Mose Tuiali’i, Yuhimaru Mimura, Kazuki Yamaji, Shoya Hirokawa and Rikiya Matsumoto. Backs: Yuki Yatomi, Shinya Ikemachi, Fumihiro Yoshizawa, Yuki Kagoshima, Tatsuhiko Otao, Sho Kiyohara, Matt McGahan, Genta Wada, Male Sa’u, Toru Kawaharada, Viliami Tahitua, Hiroto Kobayashi, Tomokazu Kira, Rocky Havili,
Shinji Nakazono, Shota Tanaka, Chikara Ito, Shohei Awata, Naoki Hayakawa, Ayumu Goromaru, Gerhard van den Heever and Hiroki Ishizuka. Coach: Katsuyuki Kiyomiya (50).