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 dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. There is next to Hanazono Central Park (花園中央公園, hanazono chūō kōen). Owned by 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.

Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Hanazono
Hanazono after renovation
Former namesHanazono Rugby Stadium (1929–Before WWII)
Hanazono Training Field (During WWII)
Hanazono Rugby Stadium (After WWII–1982)
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium (1982-2015)
LocationHigashiosaka, Osaka, Japan
Coordinates34°40′8.2″N 135°37′35″E
OwnerCity of Higashiosaka
Capacity26,544
30,000 (Expansion in 1991)
SurfaceGrass
ScoreboardYes
Construction
OpenedNovember 22, 1929 (1929-11-22)
Renovated2018
Expanded1991
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 has been selected as one of the venues for 2019 Rugby World Cup (Japan) which will be 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 was played there on May 8, 1999.[4]

Renovation

Tne 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 201914:15 Italy47–22 NamibiaPool B20,354
28 September 201913:45 Argentina28–12 TongaPool C21,971
3 October 201914:15 Georgia10–45 FijiPool D21,069
13 October 201914:45 United States19–31 TongaPool C22,012

See also
Hanazono before renovation

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2014-12-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "World Rugby approves revised Japan 2019 hosting roadmap". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. J.League
  5. "施設概要・案内". 花園中央公園管理事務所. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  6. "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.
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