Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Rugby stadium in Tokyo, Japan

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Former names| Tokyo Rugby Stadium (1947–1953)
Location|  Kitaaoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates| 35°40′21.37″N 139°43′5.41″E﻿ / ﻿35.6726028°N 139.7181694°E﻿ / 35.6726028; 139.7181694
Owner| Japan Sport Council
Operator| Japan Sport Council
Capacity| 27,188
Surface| Grass
Construction
Opened| 1947
Renovated| 1973, 2003
Tenants
NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Tokyo Sungoliath
Sunwolves (2015-2020)

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (秩父宮ラグビー場, Chichibunomiya Ragubī-jō) (also called Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium) is a rugby union stadium located in the Aoyama district of central Tokyo, Japan. It is the spiritual home of Japanese rugby union and the headquarters of the Japan Rugby Football Union. Named for Prince Chichibu, the late brother of Emperor Hirohito, the venue is used mostly for rugby sevens and rugby union matches.

Redevelopment plans call for the stadium and the adjacent Meiji Jingu Stadium, used for baseball, to be demolished and replaced with new facilities.

## Facilities

[edit]

The stadium currently can accommodate 27,188 spectators, but only part of the stands are covered. A large electronic scoreboard was added to the grounds as a step toward modernization before the fifth Rugby World Cup in 2003.

On April 19, 2007, it was announced that the stadium was to be equipped with lights for night games by the end of July, to assist with the RWC 2015 bid. The first rugby game under lights was Japan v Asian Barbarians in August 2007, the send-off for Japan going to RWC 2007. Since then it has been used for the first Top League game of the 2007–8 season between Suntory Sungoliath and Toshiba Brave Lupus, also played under lights and won 10–3 by the former on October 26, 2008.

## History

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Originally completed in 1947, it was at first called Tokyo Rugby Stadium. In 1953 the name was changed to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. The stadium also served as a venue for football matches in the 1964 Summer Olympics.

The name Chichibunomiya commemorates the sporting prince, Prince Chichibu, who was not a rugby union player but was passionately fond of the sport and died in 1953. A statue of the prince in a rugby uniform was erected at the stadium.

On February 3, 2008, snow prevented two Top League games being played in the 13th and final round of the fifth season. They were postponed to February 9.

From 2012 through 2015, the stadium hosted the Japan Sevens, a newly created event on the circuit for men's national rugby sevens teams now known as the World Rugby Sevens Series. When inaugurated, the tournament was the seventh on the circuit schedule, and was held in late March/early April.[1] After the 2014–15 series, Japan was removed from the schedule in favor of a return to former series host Singapore.

From 2016, it has been used as the home ground for the Sunwolves Super Rugby team, along with Singapore National Stadium.

In 2018, the stadium was used for Nogizaka46 6th Year Birthday Live, they also use Meiji Jingu Stadium who placed beside this stadium simultaneously. All the members run back to back each stadium while performing.

In 2019, the Meiji Jingu Gaien, the Japan Sports Council, Mitsui Fudosan and Itochu Corp. groups agreed to redevelop both Meiji Jingu Stadium and the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Under the plans, Meiji Jingu Stadium will be demolished and rebuilt on the site of the rugby ground.[2] The replacement rugby stadium will be built on the current site of the Meiji Jingu Stadium Number 2 field. Officials have announced that the new stadium will have a roof over the field and stands.[3]

## See also

[edit]

* Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
* Japan national rugby union team
* Sunwolves Super Rugby Team
* Top League
* List of rugby union stadiums by capacity
* Lists of stadiums

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Japan joins expanded HSBC Sevens World Series" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 18 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.`{{cite press release}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. ^ "Olympics: Tokyo's iconic baseball, rugby fields set for redevelopment". Kyodo News. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
3. ^ "Officials choose dome for new Prince Chichibu rugby stadium". The Asahi Shimbun. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.

* 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Archived 2010-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Volume 1. Part 1. p. 120.
* 秩父宮ラグビー場, National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

* v
* t
* e

Venues of the 1964 Summer Olympics (Tokyo)

* Asaka Nezu Park
* Asaka Shooting Range
* Chofu City
* Enoshima
* Fuchu City
* Hachioji City
* Hachioji Velodrome
* Karasuyama-machi
* Karuizawa
* Kemigawa
* Komazawa Gymnasium
* Komazawa Hockey Field
* Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
* Komazawa Volleyball Courts
* Korakuen Ice Palace
* Lake Sagami
* Mitsuzawa Football Field
* Nagai Stadium
* National Gymnasium
* Tokyo National Stadium
* Nippon Budokan
* Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium
* Ōmiya Football Field
* Prince Chichiba Memorial Football Field
* Sasazuka-machi
* Shibuya Public Hall
* Shinjuku
* Toda Rowing Course
* Tokorozawa Shooting Range
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
* Tokyo Metropolitan Indoor Swimming Pool
* Waseda Memorial Hall
* Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium

* v
* t
* e

Olympic venues in association football

| 1890s|

1896
Neo Phaliron Velodrome

|

1900s|

1900
Vélodrome de Vincennes
1904
Francis Olympic Field
1908
White City Stadium

1910s|

1912
Råsunda IP, Stockholm Olympic Stadium (final), Tranebergs Idrottsplats

1920s|

1920
Jules Ottenstadion, Olympisch Stadion (final), Stade Joseph Marien, Stadion Broodstraat
1924
Stade Bergeyre, Stade Yves-du-Manoir (final), Stade de Paris, Stade Pershing
1928
Monnikenhuize, Olympic Stadium (final), Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel

1930s|

1936
Hertha-BSC Field, Mommsenstadion, Olympiastadion (final), Poststadion

1940s|

1948
Arsenal Stadium, Champion Hill, Craven Cottage, Empire Stadium (medal matches), Fratton Park, Goldstone Ground, Green Pond Road, Griffin Park, Lynn Road, Selhurst Park, White Hart Lane

1950s|

1952
Kotkan urheilukeskus, Kupittaan jalkapallostadion, Lahden kisapuisto, Olympic Stadium (final), Ratina Stadion, Töölön Pallokenttä
1956
Melbourne Cricket Ground (final), Olympic Park Stadium

1960s|

1960
Florence Communal Stadium, Grosseto Communal Stadium, L'Aquila Communal Stadium, Livorno Ardenza Stadium, Naples Saint Paul's Stadium, Pescara Adriatic Stadium, Stadio Flaminio (final)
1964
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium, Mitsuzawa Football Field, Nagai Stadium, Tokyo National Stadium (final), Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium, Ōmiya Football Field, Prince Chichibu Memorial Football Field
1968
Estadio Azteca (final), Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Estadio Nou Camp, Jalisco Stadium

1970s|

1972
Dreiflüssestadion, ESV-Stadion, Jahnstadion, Olympiastadion (final), Rosenaustadion, Urban Stadium
1976
Lansdowne Park, Olympic Stadium (final), Sherbrooke Stadium, Varsity Stadium

1980s|

1980
Dinamo Stadium, Dynamo Central Stadium – Grand Arena, Central Lenin Stadium – Grand Arena (final), Kirov Stadium, Republican Stadium
1984
Harvard Stadium, Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Rose Bowl (final), Stanford Stadium
1988
Busan Stadium, Daegu Stadium, Daejeon Stadium, Dongdaemun Stadium, Gwangju Stadium, Olympic Stadium (final)

1990s|

1992
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, Camp Nou (final), Estadio Luís Casanova, La Romareda, Sarrià Stadium
1996
Florida Citrus Bowl, Legion Field, Orange Bowl, RFK Memorial Stadium, Sanford Stadium (both finals)

2000s|

2000
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Bruce Stadium, Hindmarsh Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Olympic Stadium (men's final), Sydney Football Stadium (women's final)
2004
Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Karaiskakis Stadium (women's final), Olympic Stadium (men's final), Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Pankritio Stadium, Panthessaliko Stadium
2008
Beijing National Stadium (men's final), Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Shanghai Stadium, Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Workers' Stadium (women's final)

2010s|

2012
Coventry Arena, Hampden Park, Millennium Stadium, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium (both finals)
2016
Estádio Nacional de Brasília, Arena Fonte Nova, Mineirão, Arena Corinthians, Arena da Amazônia, Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, Maracanã (both finals)

2020s|

2020
International Stadium Yokohama (both finals), Kashima Soccer Stadium, Miyagi Stadium, Saitama Stadium, Sapporo Dome, Tokyo Stadium
2024
Parc des Princes (both finals), Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Stade de la Beaujoire, Stade de Nice, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Stade Matmut Atlantique, Stade Vélodrome
2028
Rose Bowl (both finals), BMO Stadium, Levi's Stadium, PayPal Park, Stanford Stadium, California Memorial Stadium, Snapdragon Stadium

2030s|

2032
Lang Park (both finals), Barlow Park, Melbourne Cricket Ground, North Queensland Stadium, Sunshine Coast Stadium, Stadium Australia, Robina Stadium

* v
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* e

Venues of the 2019 Rugby World Cup

* Fukuoka
* Kamaishi
* Kobe
* Kumagaya
* Kumamoto
* Ōita
* Osaka
* Sapporo
* Shizuoka
* Tokyo
* Toyota
* Yokohama

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Japan

Governing body|

* Japan Rugby Football Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Japan
* A
* U-20
* 7's

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7's

Competitions|

| International|

* Super Rugby

|

National|

* Japan Rugby League One
* Lixil Cup
* Top Challenge League
* All-Japan Rugby Football Championship

Amateur|

* All-Japan University Rugby Championship
* National High School Rugby Tournament

Hosted events|

* 2019 Rugby World Cup
* Japan Sevens
* Japan Women's Sevens
* 2001 World Games
* Sanix World Youth Tournament

Defunct|

* Japan Company Rugby Football Championship

Major figures|

* Ginnosuke Tanaka
* Edward Bramwell Clarke
* Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu
* Shiggy Konno
* Yoshirō Mori
* International Players

Related articles|

* Sunwolves
* Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
* School Wars: Hero

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

World Rugby Sevens Series venues

Current (2023-24)|

* The Sevens
* Cape Town Stadium
* Bankwest Stadium
* FMG Stadium Waikato
* Dignity Health Sports Park
* BC Place
* Twickenham
* Stade Jean-Bouin
* Singapore National Stadium
* Hong Kong Stadium

Former|

* Adelaide Oval
* HFC Bank Stadium
* Ballymore
* Chichibunomiya
* Danie Craven
* Dubai Exiles
* Domingo Burgueño
* José María Minella
* San Carlos de Apoquindo
* Kings Park
* Millennium Stadium
* Murrayfield
* Nelson Mandela Bay
* Olympic Sports Centre (Beijing)
* Outeniqua Park
* Petaling Jaya
* Petco Park
* Robina
* Sam Boyd
* Scotstoun
* Chaban-Delmas
* Sydney Football Stadium
* Sydney Showground Stadium
* Wellington Regional Stadium
* Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium

* v
* t
* e

Super Rugby stadiums

Australia|

* Allianz Stadium
* GIO Stadium
* HBF Park
* Suncorp Stadium

New Zealand|

* Apollo Projects Stadium
* Eden Park
* FMG Stadium Waikato
* Forsyth Barr Stadium
* Sky Stadium

Former stadiums|

| Argentina|

* José Amalfitani Stadium

|

Australia|

* AAMI Park
* Allianz Stadium
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney
* Ballymore
* Brookvale Oval
* Cbus Super Stadium
* CommBank Stadium
* Leichhardt Oval
* Mars Stadium
* McDonald Jones Stadium
* Manuka Oval
* Queensland Country Bank Stadium
* Subiaco Oval
* Sunshine Coast Stadium
* Sydney Cricket Ground
* Willows Sports Complex
* WIN Stadium

England|

* Twickenham Stadium

Fiji|

* Churchill Park
* HFC Bank Stadium

Hong Kong|

* Mong Kok Stadium

Japan|

* Level5 Stadium
* Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium

New Zealand|

* Alpine Energy Stadium
* AMI Stadium
* Athletic Park
* Baypark Stadium
* Carisbrook
* Central Energy Trust Arena
* ECOLight Stadium
* Go Media Stadium
* McLean Park
* North Harbour Stadium
* Owen Delany Park
* Queenstown Events Centre
* Rotorua International Stadium
* Rugby Park
* Semenoff Stadium
* Tauranga Domain
* Trafalgar Park
* Wakatipu Rugby Club
* Yarrow Stadium

Samoa|

* Apia Park

Singapore|

* National Stadium

South Africa|

* Boet Erasmus Stadium
* Boland Stadium
* Bosman Stadium
* Buffalo City Stadium
* Ellis Park Stadium
* Free State Stadium
* Kings Park Stadium
* Loftus Versfeld
* Mbombela Stadium
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
* Newlands
* North West Stadium
* Outeniqua Park
* Orlando Stadium
* Puma Stadium
* Tafel Lager Park

Tonga|

* Teufaiva Stadium

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