Summary
The Hanazono Rugby Stadium (東大阪市花園ラグビー場, Higashiōsaka-shi Hanazono Ragubī-ba) 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 27,346.[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 / 34.668944°N 135.62639°E |
| Owner | City of Higashiosaka |
| Capacity | 27,346 30,000 (Expansion in 1991) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 22 November 1929 |
| Renovated | 2018 |
| Expanded | 1991 |
| Construction cost | ¥7.2 billion (Renovation in 2018[1]) |
| Tenants | |
| Kintetsu Liners (1929-present) FC Osaka (2023–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 and J. League club, FC Osaka.
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 edit
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 edit
It hosted the J1 League game between Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus Eight played there on May 8, 1999.[4]
FC Osaka hosted stadium in J3 League on 18 march 2023 against relegated team from J2 in last season Iwate Grulla Morioka after full calendar of J3 match in 20 January 2023.
Renovation edit
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 edit
| 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 edit
References edit
- ^ "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.
- ^ "World Stadiums - Stadiums in Japan :: Kinki". Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2014-12-25.
- ^ "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 edit
- (in Japanese) Stadium website