Top League
In an effort to improve the overall standard of Japanese rugby, the JRFU created a new semi-professional Top League in 2003 with the season spanning 2003-04. In the second season the League was composed of the following company-sponsored teams:
- Kintetsu Liners
- Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
- Kubota Spears
- NEC Green Rockets
- Nihon IBM Big Blue
- Ricoh Black Rams
- Sanyo Wild Knights
- Suntory Sungoliath
- Toshiba Brave Lupus
- Toyota Verblitz
- World Fighting Bull
- Yamaha Jubilo.
Read more about this topic: Japan Rugby Football Union
Famous quotes containing the words top and/or league:
“In all her products, Nature only develops her simplest germs. One would say that it was no great stretch of invention to create birds. The hawk which now takes his flight over the top of the wood was at first, perchance, only a leaf which fluttered in its aisles. From rustling leaves she came in the course of ages to the loftier flight and clear carol of the bird.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 5:19-23.