Katsufumi Miyamoto
Katsufumi Miyamoto (宮本勝文, Miyamoto Katsufumi) (born March 19, 1966 in Osaka Prefecture) is a former Japanese rugby union player and coach.[1] He played as flanker.
| Birth name | Katsufumi Miyamoto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | March 19, 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Osaka Prefecture, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Osaka Institute of Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Doshisha University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
Miyamoto first started his career playing for the team of Osaka Institute of Technology (currently: Joshou Gakuen High School) and then, for Doshisha University. In 1988, he started to play for Sanyo. Since his amateur days, he took part at the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups with his powerful breakthrough strength as weapon. However, the achievements of the domestic teams, including the university period, ended in second place at the highest, and in his active period he was nicknamed The Battle General of Trouble (悲運の闘将, Hiun no Tōshō), especially in the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship final against Kobe Steel, where in the second half, the match finished in a draw after the Kobe Steel winger Ian Williams scored a try. Miyamoto's regretful expression left a strong impression on the rugby fans nationwide with the then coach, Katsumi Miyaji. Later, Miyaji and Miyamoto continued to play against Kobe Steel, but Sanyo lost. Lastly, during the 1994 Japan Company Rugby Football Championship final in January, Miyamoto retired from playing in the young age of 27 due to a knee injury. After retiring, Miyamoto moved to Hong Kong and focused on his company.
Coach career
After retiring as player, in October 2004 he took over as coach for Sanyo Wild Knights[2] after the sacking of the coach Koichi Shibata, returning to the rugby scene for the first time in ten years. In the 2005 season, Sanyo Wild Knights have won eight consecutive titles since the start, only to lose against Toshiba Brave Lupus in the Top League championship. In the 2007 season, although winning the Top League, Sanyo lost the Microsoft Cup against Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese championship final, bringing the team to its first Japanese championship title. As from April 1, 2008, Miyamoto was appointed general manager of Sanyo Electric overseas sales division, being still focused on his company's business. In 2011 he was appointed as coach for Doshisha University Rugby Football Club, which classified second in the Kansai League in its inaugural year and played a desperate struggle against Teikyo University. In the following season, he retired as coach of Doshisha University rugby club. In April 2013, he took office as Sanyo Executive Officer.
References
- "Uncrowned Jersey", （Junji Tominaga, Yuizensha, October 1998 ISBN 9784896913392）
- "Number Video Japan Company Rugby Football Championship Final Sanyo vs Kobe Steel" (January 18, 1991)" （Bungeishunjū）