Rugby Top League kicks off Fukuoka wins Panasonic victory January 12 18:55
In the Rugby Top League, which started on the 12th, Panasonic is trying to make it back from sixth place last season, and Japan's representative wing, Fukuoka Kenki and others beat Kubota 34-11.
Panasonic, which has six World Cup representatives from Japan and wants to rebound from sixth place last season, played against Kubota, seventh place last season, at Kumagaya Rugby Field in Saitama.
In the 17th minute of the three-point lead, Dylan Reilly's quick turnaround after a kick pass to the other side of the three-point lead helped Japan's wing and Fukuoka to try.
Four minutes later, Fukuoka received a pass at the touch line, and with skillful steps and unique speeds, smashed defenses one after another to steal Kubota.
At the end of the lead, Panasonic succumbed to the Japanese national hooker Shota Horie, who passed the crowd from the crowd.
Panasonic won four trials and scored multiple times with the success of the Japanese national team, including Fukuoka and Horie, and won the opening game 34-11.
Other match results
On the 12th, a total of eight games were held at the six match venues nationwide, including the opening games of each team.
Match results other than Panasonic vs. Kubota.
Kobe Steel vs. Canon, aiming for two consecutive victories, scored seven attempts at Kobe Steel and repeated the scoring to win 50-16.
At the Canon, scrum half from Japan and veteran Shiro Tanaka were newly added, and attention was paid to the cooperation with Yu Tamura of the control tower, but the number of trials was reduced to one.
Toshiba vs. Suntory, Toshiba won 26-19.
Toshiba's devoted play from Japan's national captain, Reach Michael, shines, winning the second place last season against Suntory, which has Japanese national team Kotaro Matsushima and Ryudai.
Yamaha vs Toyota Motors Yamaha won 31-29.
NTT Communications vs. Hino won the 29:20 win.
Honda vs. Ricoh, Honda won 28-5.
Honda teamed up with Japan's national team, Remeki Loma Rava and Gu Ji-won.
Munakata Sanix vs. NEC won the Munakata Sanix 24-18.
NTT Docomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara, both promoted this season, won 31-24 with NTT Docomo.
Many fans at the venue before the game
Many fans visited the Kumagaya rugby field in Saitama where Panasonic, which has six Japanese nationals, and Kubota, played before the game.
At the entrance of the venue, stickers with logos etc. of both teams were distributed, and families were preparing for cheering by sticking them on the cheeks of children.
A 45-year-old father, who came to Tokyo to watch a game with his family, said, "I watched the World Cup and my children became fans. I came to Kumagaya because I could not get a ticket at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Field. I'm looking forward to seeing it up close. "
A nine-year-old son said, "I want to see Keita Inagaki play. I want him to be active."
A 46-year-old man said, "I am looking forward to seeing the world's greatest players and the Japanese national team playing. Kenki Fukuoka will be playing seven-player rugby for the Tokyo Olympics. I want to pay attention to. "
Various initiatives to establish “Nowaka fans”
At the Rugby Top League match venue, which opened on the 12th, various efforts were made to retain the so-called "Niwaka Fans", which was triggered by last year's World Cup Japan Games.
Of these, at Chichibu Rugby Field in Tokyo, a signboard with "# Niwa" is placed so that you can take a commemorative photo of watching the game, and a sticker on the face with the mascot of the team etc. is distributed I did.
Many people took pictures in front of the signboard, and a woman in her 20s in Tokyo said, "I took a photo because I was" smiling. "I saw the World Cup and loved rugby, and thought I had to go. And I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot of collisions. "
Also, a man in his thirties in the jersey of the Japanese national team said, "I came because I could not get a ticket for the Japan game at the World Cup and I could not wear it. I know only Reach Michael, but I am looking forward to the game "
In addition, when entering the players, they performed the same way as in the World Cup, raising the fire, kicking off the kick-off with a countdown, and for those who are not familiar with the rules, using a large vision foul Commentary was also performed.