Toshiba Brave Lupus

Rugby team
teamname = Toshiba Brave Lupus
東芝ブレイブルーパス


imagesize =
fullname = Toshiba Brave Lupus | nickname = Brave Lupus
founded = 1948
union = Japan Rugby Football Union
ground = Toshiba Fuchu Ground
country

location= Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
capacity =
coach = Segawa Chihiro
chairman =
competitions = Top League
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Toshiba Brave Lupus (Lupus is wolf in Latin) is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. They are based in Fuchu, Tokyo, as is their local rival Suntory Sungoliath. They won the second ever Top League championship in the 2004-5 season and the Microsoft Cup in 2005 under their innovative and inventive coach Masahiro Kunda, himself a former hooker for Toshiba and Japan. They are particularly known for the strength of their mauls. Before the Top League was created the team was called Toshiba Fuchu, after their location. Their slogan for 2006 season is "Once again to the Pinnacle (Restart)".

On 14th March 2008, Bristol Rugby player David Hill announced he'd leave the English club for Toshiba at the end of the season.

Honours

*All-Japan Championship
** Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 (joint champions with NEC Green Rockets), 2007

* Top League:
** Champions: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07

Current Players

*Nick Holten - no. 8, lock and forwards coach
*Scott Macleod - centre
*Hitoshi Ono - lock
*Nataniela Oto
*Goshi Tachikawa - full back
*Teppei Tomioka - centre (captain)
*Mamoru Ito - scrum half

Past players

*Masahiro Kunda - hooker for Toshiba and Japan, now TBL's coach
*Andrew McCormick - centre, former captain of the Japan national rugby union team, now coaching at Coca Cola West Japan
*Wataru Murata - scrum half (before he went to France and then played for Yamaha Jubilo)
*Shinji Ono - number 8
*Yohei Suzuki - full back
*Ruatangi Vatuvei - lock/centre (moved to Kintetsu Liners before 2007-8 season)
*Kei Yasuda - lock

External links

* [http://www.toshiba.co.jp/sports/rugby/index.htm Toshiba Brave Lupus] official site
* [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20060227TDY20002.htm NEC, Toshiba share title] , Daily Yomiuri, February 27, 2006
* [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20060220TDY20005.htm Toshiba teaches Waseda a lesson] , Daily Yomiuri, February 20, 2006
* [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20060206TDY24003.htm Toshiba downs Suntory, wins Microsoft] , Daily Yomiuri, February 6, 2006
* [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?sr20050207a1.htm Brave Lupus add name to rugby Cup] - Japan Times, February 7, 2005
* [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?sr20050131a1.htm Toshiba, Yamaha set to do battle in Microsoft Cup final] - Japan Times, January 31, 2005
* [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?sr20041230a1.htm Inventive approach from Toshiba's coach is rewarded with Top League crown] Japan Times, December 30, 2004