Hanazono Rugby Stadium
The Hanazono Rugby Stadium (東大阪市花園ラグビー場, literally "Higashiosaka City Hanazono Rugby Stadium") in Higashiosaka is the oldest rugby union stadium in Japan specifically dedicated to rugby. Its location is next to Hanazono Central Park (花園中央公園, hanazono chūō kōen). Owned by the City of Higashiosaka, it opened in 1929 with a capacity of 26,544.[2] It is the stage for the annual National High School Rugby Tournament held every year at the end of December and has hosted important international, Top League games.
Hanazono | |
Hanazono after renovation | |
Former names | Hanazono Rugby Stadium (1929–Before WWII) Hanazono Training Field (During WWII) Hanazono Rugby Stadium (After WWII–1982) Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium (1982-2015) |
---|---|
Location | Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan |
Coordinates | 34°40′8.2″N 135°37′35″E |
Owner | City of Higashiosaka |
Capacity | 26,544 30,000 (Expansion in 1991) |
Surface | Grass |
Scoreboard | Yes |
Construction | |
Opened | November 22, 1929 |
Renovated | 2018 |
Expanded | 1991 |
Construction cost | ¥7.2 billion (Renovation in 2018[1]) |
Tenants | |
Kintetsu Liners (1929-present) 2019 Rugby World Cup All-Japan Rugby Football Championship All-Japan University Rugby Championship Kansai University Rugby Football League National High School Rugby Tournament | |
Website | |
Official website |
Hanazono is the home of the Kintetsu Liners rugby union team.
The stadium was selected as one of the venues for 2019 Rugby World Cup (Japan) which was the first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia.[3]
World record
On May 14, 2006 Daisuke Ohata broke the record for the most overall tries in test matches at Hanazono with a hat-trick for Japan against Georgia. The previous record holder was David Campese.
Football
It hosted the J1 League game between Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus Eight played there on May 8, 1999.[4]
Renovation
The stadium underwent a large scale renovation during 2017-18 to increase facilities in preparation for the Rugby World Cup.[5] On 26 October 2018, Hanazono hosted an international fixture between Japan national rugby union team and World XV in celebration of the completion.[6]
2019 Rugby World Cup matches
Date | Time (JST) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 September 2019 | 14:15 | Italy | 47–22 | Namibia | Pool B | 20,354 |
28 September 2019 | 13:45 | Argentina | 28–12 | Tonga | Pool C | 21,971 |
3 October 2019 | 14:15 | Georgia | 10–45 | Fiji | Pool D | 21,069 |
13 October 2019 | 14:45 | United States | 19–31 | Tonga | Pool C | 22,012 |
See also
References
- "ラグビーの聖地・花園、W杯仕様に~ようやく大型画面とナイター照明". 読売新聞. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2014-12-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "World Rugby approves revised Japan 2019 hosting roadmap". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- J.League
- "施設概要・案内". 花園中央公園管理事務所. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- "ラグビー日本代表が世界選抜に大善戦". ラグビー情報チャンネル. 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
External links
- (in Japanese) Stadium website