The Coca-Cola Red Sparks () was a Japanese company-owned rugby team based in
Fukuoka
is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...
city,
Kyūshū
is the third-largest island of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa and the other Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Islands). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regio ...
.
The team was initially founded as
Kitakyushu
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, Kitakyushu has an estimated population of 940,978, making it the second-largest city in both Fukuoka Prefecture and the island of Kyushu after the city of Fuk ...
Coca-Cola and then changed its name to Coca-Cola West Japan.
The team won promotion to the expanded
Top League
Japan Rugby League One (), formerly known as the Top League (), is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by ...
of 14 teams at the end of the 2005–06 season, and was renamed Coca-Cola West Red Sparks. The club motto is "Have Guts Have Glory" and their slogan for 2006 season: "Always Attack & Aggressive". In the fourth Top League (2006–07) the team came 10th, with four wins, nine losses and 21 points. It therefore did not need to take part in any play-offs. Sanix, the local rivals, came ninth.
The team was promoted from the
Kyūshū
is the third-largest island of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa and the other Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Islands). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regio ...
league to the
Top League
Japan Rugby League One (), formerly known as the Top League (), is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by ...
in 2013, and was renamed the Coca-Cola Red Sparks for the 2013–14 season. Following six seasons in the top flight, they were relegated back to the
Top Kyūshū League after the 2018–19 season.
On 30 April 2021, it was announced that the Red Sparks would disband as a rugby club at the conclusion of the 2021 Top Challenge League Season. It had previously agreed to join the new 25-team domestic competition in Japan before withdrawal.
Final squad
The Coca-Cola Red Sparks' team for the 2021 season was:
Former
*
Lelea Paea - outside centre
*
George Leaupepe - Centre
*
Luke Andrews - No.8
*
Mark Ranby
Richard Mark Ranby (born 1 June 1977) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A Rugby union positions#Centre, midfield back, Ranby represented Manawatu Rugby Union, Manawatu, the Central Vikings Rugby Union, Central Vikings and Waikato Rugby ...
- Centre
*
Benjamin Jones - Full back
*
Soushi Fuchigami - Fly Half
*
Glenn Paterson - Fly Half
*
Nick Cummins
Nicholas Mark Cummins (born 5 October 1987), known by his nickname Honey Badger after the Honey badger, mammal of the same name, is an Australian Former professional Rugby Union Player and advertiser for Tradie underwear.
Cummins' nickname w ...
- Wing
*
Sam Afro Wykes - Second row
Coaches
*
Earl Va'a
Earl Va'a (born 1 May 1972)
Scrum.com
2017–2020
See also
*
Top League Challenge series
References
External links
*
{{Rugby union in Japan
Rugby in Kyushu
Rugby clubs established in 1966
Sports clubs and teams in Fukuoka
Red Sparks
1966 establishments in Japan
Rugby union teams in Japan
Rugby union clubs disestablished in 2021
2021 disestablishments in Japan