Toyota Verblitz

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = Toyota Verblitz
トヨタ自動車ヴェルブリッツ

| image = Toyota Verblitz logo.jpg

| caption =

| image_size = 200px

| fullname = Toyota Verblitz

| nickname =

| founded = 1941

| union = Japan Rugby Football Union

| ground = Toyota Stadium
Mizuho Rugby Stadium

| location = Toyota, Aichi, Japan

| capacity = 45,000
15,000

| rugby director = Steve Hansen

| coach = Ben Herring

| captain = Kazuki Himeno

| league = Japan Rugby League One

| season = 2023

| position = 7th

| pattern_la1 =

| pattern_b1 = _Verblitzkitb

| pattern_ra1 =

| pattern_so1 = _Verblitzsocksb

| leftarm1 = ffffff

| body1 = 008080

| rightarm1 = ffffff

| shorts1 = FFFFFF

| socks1 = 008080

| pattern_la2 =

| pattern_b2 = _Verblitzkit

| pattern_ra2 =

| pattern_so2 = _Verblitzsocks

| leftarm2 = 2D5356

| body2 = 008080

| rightarm2 = 2D5356

| shorts2 = FFFFFF

| socks2 = 008080

| url = https://toyotatimes-sports.toyota/teams/verblitz

}}

Toyota Verblitz is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. Verblitz is a portmanteau of verde (Italian, Spanish and Portuguese for 'green') and blitz (German for 'lightning'). The team is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation and is not to be confused with the Aichi Shuttles rugby team, owned by Toyota Industries. It shares Toyota Stadium in the city of Toyota, Aichi with the football club Nagoya Grampus which also used to be owned by Toyota Motors.

Honours

All-Japan Championship
Champions: 1969, 1968, 1987
Runners-up: 2007

Results

Verblitz (surprisingly given the team's pedigree) failed to make the cut for the first season of the Top League (2003-4) but entered the Top League in the second season and were a contender for the second Microsoft Cup. They lost the Japan Championship final on February 27, 2005, to NEC Green Rockets 13–17.

Current squad

The Toyota Verblitz squad for the 2024-25 season is:{{cite web | url=http://sports.gazoo.com/verblitz/player/ | title=Toyota Verblitz: The Team | publisher=Toyota Verblitz | language=ja | access-date=11 February 2019}}

colspan="100%" \| Toyota Verblitz squad
class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:70%"
valign="top" \| Props {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shogo Miura {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Gaku Shimizu {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryunosuke Momoji {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Samuelu Mataafa {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shunsuke Asaoka {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Genki Sudo {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yusuke Kizu {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} Che Run-ya* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Takuma Nishino {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Taiga Kawasaki {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Hanjiro Hirai ^REP Hookers {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yoshikatsu Hikosaka {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryusei Kato {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shintaro Fukuzawa {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Dowling Jonas Tanaka* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryuhei Arita Locks {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Daichi Akiyama {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Issa Yamakawa {{Flagicon\|Scotland}} Richie Gray {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Josh Dickson {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Toby Macpherson ^DEP {{efn\|group="Squad"\|name=Macpherson\|Macpherson was released from the team after round 11.}} {{Flagicon\|South Africa}} Adré Smith ^REP	Flankers {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kazuki Himeno (c) {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Isaiah Mapusua {{Flagicon\|South Africa}} Pieter-Steph du Toit {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryusei Koike {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Jingo Murata {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kosei Miki {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Fetuani Lautaimi {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Akito Okui {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Will Tupou {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Keito Aoki ^REP {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Michael Hooper ^REP {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Blair Ryall ^REP No8s Scrum-halves {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kaito Shigeno {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Aaron Smith {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kaisei Tamura {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} Ryang Jong-chu* Fly-halves {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Masahiro Kitamura {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Rikiya Matsuda {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Matt McGahan* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shinya Komura ^REP	Centres {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Nicolas McCurran {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Chihiro Matsuyama {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Vatiliai Tuidraki* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Siosaia Fifita {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yuki Okada {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shuhei Yamaguchi {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Joseph Manu {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Dick Wilson* Wingers {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Viliame Tuidraki* {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Jone Nabetelevu* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yuichiro Wada {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Taichi Takahashi {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kota Oyabu Fullbacks {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kippei Taninaka {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Tiaan Falcon {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Takemichi Nakano Utility Backs
colspan="100%" style="height: 10px;" \|
colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" \| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped

* denotes players qualified to play for the Japan on dual nationality or residency grounds.

Former players

Orene Ai'i - Blues (Super Rugby) and New Zealand national rugby sevens team representative{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/orene-aii|title=Orene Ai'i | New Zealand Rugby History|first=VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington|last=www.vcsnet.co.nz|website=www.rugbyhistory.co.nz}}
Lionel Cronjé (2017–22, 48 games) Fly-half
Dominic Day 2016 - Lock (Now playing for Saracens in the (English Premiership)
Troy Flavell - lock (now in France with Bayonne)
Michael Hooper (2021, 10 games) Loose forward, Wallaby (2012–, 121 caps)
Tamaiti Horua - No. 8 formerly played for Brumbies then Western Force
Takashi Kikutani (2004–13, 114 games) Loose forward, Japanese International (2005–14, 68 caps)
Toshizumi Kitagawa (2004-19, 102 games) Lock, Japanese International (2005–13, 43 caps)
Joe Launchbury Lock, England International (2012–, 65 caps)
Wycliff Palu (2016-17, 14 games) Loose forward, Wallaby (2006–16, 58 caps)
Kieran Read (2020-21, 10 games) Loose forward, All Black (2008–19, 128 caps)
Filo Tiatia - Hurricanes and 2 test All Black No 8. Later played with the Ospreys in Wales.
Steven Yates - New Zealand national rugby sevens team representative 2007-08{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=974|title=Rugby Database: Steven Yates Player Profile & Stats|website=www.rugbydatabase.co.nz}}

Stadium

File:JPNxGEO20180623 (3).jpg|Toyota Stadium

File:Mizuho Rugby Stadium.jpg|Mizuho Rugby Stadium

File:Toyota-Sports-Center-2.jpg|Toyota Sports Center

Notes

References

External links

[http://sports.gazoo.com/verblitz/ Toyota Verblitz] - official site

Category:Japan Rugby League One teams

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1941

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Aichi Prefecture

Category:Toyota

Category:1941 establishments in Japan

Category:Sport in Toyota, Aichi

colspan="100%" \| Toyota Verblitz squad
class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:70%"
valign="top" \| Props {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shogo Miura {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Gaku Shimizu {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryunosuke Momoji {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Samuelu Mataafa {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shunsuke Asaoka {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Genki Sudo {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yusuke Kizu {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} Che Run-ya* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Takuma Nishino {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Taiga Kawasaki {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Hanjiro Hirai ^REP Hookers {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yoshikatsu Hikosaka {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryusei Kato {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shintaro Fukuzawa {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Dowling Jonas Tanaka* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryuhei Arita Locks {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Daichi Akiyama {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Issa Yamakawa {{Flagicon\|Scotland}} Richie Gray {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Josh Dickson {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Toby Macpherson ^DEP {{efn\|group="Squad"\|name=Macpherson\|Macpherson was released from the team after round 11.}} {{Flagicon\|South Africa}} Adré Smith ^REP	Flankers {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kazuki Himeno (c) {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Isaiah Mapusua {{Flagicon\|South Africa}} Pieter-Steph du Toit {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Ryusei Koike {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Jingo Murata {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kosei Miki {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Fetuani Lautaimi {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Akito Okui {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Will Tupou {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Keito Aoki ^REP {{Flagicon\|Australia}} Michael Hooper ^REP {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Blair Ryall ^REP No8s Scrum-halves {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kaito Shigeno {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Aaron Smith {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kaisei Tamura {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} Ryang Jong-chu* Fly-halves {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Masahiro Kitamura {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Rikiya Matsuda {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Matt McGahan* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shinya Komura ^REP	Centres {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Nicolas McCurran {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Chihiro Matsuyama {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Vatiliai Tuidraki* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Siosaia Fifita {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yuki Okada {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Shuhei Yamaguchi {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Joseph Manu {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Dick Wilson* Wingers {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Viliame Tuidraki* {{Flagicon\|Fiji}} Jone Nabetelevu* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Yuichiro Wada {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Taichi Takahashi {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kota Oyabu Fullbacks {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Kippei Taninaka {{Flagicon\|New Zealand}} Tiaan Falcon {{Flagicon\|Japan}} Takemichi Nakano Utility Backs
colspan="100%" style="height: 10px;" \|
colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" \| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped