Shizuoka Blue Revs (formerly the Yamaha Júbilo) are a rugby union team based in
Iwata, Shizuoka,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. The team came second behind
Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's
Top League (2004–05). They were coached by former
All Black Grant Batty and Fijian player-coach
Tabai Matson. Founded in 1984, its name was "
Yamaha Motors Rugby Football Club". The team rebranded as the Shizuoka Blue Revs ahead of the rebranding of the Top League to the
Japan Rugby League One in 2022.
The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in
Portuguese, which has had a notable
influence on the Japanese language. The name was also shared with the also Yamaha-owned
Júbilo Iwata from
J2 League
The or simply J2 is the second division of the and the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The top tier is represented by the J1 League. It (along with the rest of the J.League) is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasud ...
.
Current squad
The Shizuoka Blue Revs squad for the 2024-25 season is:
* * denotes players qualified to play for the
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
on dual nationality or residency grounds.
Notable former players
*
Wataru Murata (2001-08, 68 games) Scrum-half, Japanese International (2001-08, 41 caps)
*
Leon MacDonald (2004–05, 12 games) Fly-half, Allblack (2000–08, 56 caps)
*
Ryō Yamamura (2004-21, 211 games) Prop, Japanese international (2002-07, 39 caps)
*
Brendan Laney (2005-07, 23 games) Utility back, Scottish international (2001-04, 20 caps)
*
Ayumu Goromaru (2008-16, 2017-21, 150 games) Fullback, Japanese international (2005-15, 57 caps)
*
Male Sa'u (2008-18, 118 games) Centre, Japanese international (2013-16, 27 caps)
*
Mose Tuiali'i
Moses Moses Tuiali'i (born 25 March 1981) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A Loose forward (rugby union), Loose forward, Tuiali'i notably played for the Crusaders (rugby union), Crusaders in Super Rugby between 2004 and 2008. He also ...
(2009-19, 125 games) Loose forward, Allblack (2004-06, 9 caps)
*
Jerry Collins (2011–13, 13 games) Loose forward, Allblack (2001–07, 48 caps)
*
Siale Piutau (2012-17, 45 games) Centre, Tongan international (2011–19, 43 caps)
*
Koki Yamamoto (2013-21, 105 games) Prop, Japanese international (2016-, 7 caps)
Coaches
*
Kevin Schuler - Director of Rugby
* Tabai Matson - Player and Head Coach
*
Takanobu Horikawa - coach
*
Waisake Sotutu - backs coach, player
*
Simon Kerr - forwards coach
Notes
References
External links
Toshiba, Yamaha set to do battle in Microsoft Cup final- Japan Times, January 31, 2005
Yamaha rugbyhome page (in Japanese)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaha Jubilo
Japan Rugby League One teams
Rugby clubs established in 1984
Júbilo Iwata
Sports clubs and teams in Shizuoka Prefecture
Yamaha Corporation
1984 establishments in Japan
Iwata, Shizuoka