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| Full name | Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Japan Rugby Football Union | ||
| Nickname | Wild Knights | ||
| Founded | 1960; 65 years ago (1960) | ||
| Location | Kumagaya,Saitama | ||
| Ground(s) | Kumagaya Rugby Ground (Capacity: 25,600) | ||
| Director of Rugby | Robbie Deans | ||
| Coach | Kanazawa Atsushi | ||
| League | Japan Rugby League One[a] | ||
| 2024–25 | 2nd of 12,Semi-finals | ||
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| Official website | |||
| panasonic | |||
TheSaitama Panasonic Wild Knights[b] is a professional Japaneserugby union team located inKumagaya,Saitama prefecture. The team was created in 1960 by students andSanyo workers. The team compete annually in thetop-flight (Division 1)Japan Rugby League One. Originally located inŌta,Gunma Prefecture, the team was relocated 13 kilometres south toKumagaya,Saitama Prefecture in 2021.[1]
The Wild Knights, in thefifth season (2007–08) of the top-flight Japanese rugby union, was the first team to go unbeaten throughout a Top League season. They won their first Japanese title, theTop League, in2011. They became the first team fromGunma Prefecture to win a Top League title, and in2022, the first team fromSaitama prefecture to win aJapan Rugby League One title.
The Wild Knights were founded in 1960 by alumni of the Kumagai Industrial School and workers of the Tokyo Sanyo corporation. Initially an amateur company team, they competed in theKantō Leagues during the 1960s, rising gradually through the ranks of the prefecture's rugby pyramid.
In 1968 they undertook the first tour in their history when they travelled toSouth Korea to face a number of university and company teams there. In 1971 they won their first everKantō Rugby Championship, after arising from the fourth division only nine years earlier. This success was followed the next season with a successive championship title, a testament to the increasing fortunes of theGunma club.
After a few runners-up places, the club won seven back-to-back titles between 1976 and 1982, becoming the dominant rugby force in Kantō-chihō. Further titles were added in 1986 and 1987, before the Wild Knights were entered into the newEast Japan Rugby Championship against other top clubs from Kantō and Tōhoku. Rugby in Japan was a growing sport, gradually gaining popularity and competitiveness outside of its normal strongholds in company break-rooms and college campuses. Although still nominally amateur, the Wild Knights nonetheless used their position in the Tokyo Sanyo corporation to hire talented foreigners to 'work' for the company with the real intention of playing for the rugby team. Known as "shamateurism", it became rampant in rugby union, as well as football and baseball.
Due to the merger of Tokyo Sanyo Electric with Sanyo Electric in 1986, the team name was changed to Sanyo Electric Rugby Team. The maiden season of the new East Japan league was captured in 1988, with further crowns captured in 1990 and 1991. Further titles were nabbed during the 1990s and in May 1997 the club's new ground at Ryumai-cho was officially unveiled.
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In 2003 theJapan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) launched theTop League, Japan's first nationwide domestic rugby competition. Held annually between September and February, the Top League would mark a new future for the sport in Japan and a fully professional structure would help clubs like the Wild Knights to attract better players.
Immediately prior to the launch of the Top League in 2003, the club renamed the name to "Sanyo Wild Knights". In the maiden season of the Top League, the club finished in 7th but did manage to win the Fair Play Award for 2003–04. The league that year was won by theKobe Kobelco Steelers. The Wild Knights fans were also awarded the Japan Special Award for their support and atmosphere. The club's starting scrum-halfWataru Ikeda was also chosen for the league Best XV that year.
The following season seemed to mirror the first, as the Wild Knights fans were again awarded the Special Award and the club finished in 7th. They exited theMicrosoft Cup in the first round. 2006 saw them finish runners-up in the league and see team-membersTony Brown andYamauchi Tomokazu selected for the league's Best XV.
In 2008, the club was crowned Top League champions, managing to go on a 13-game unbeaten record on their way to the title. The club won their second Top League crown in 2010 only to lose out in the playoffs. However, the club's success was mirrored in the fact thatNaoki Kawamata,Shota Horie,Seiichi Shimomura,Tomoki Kitagawa andAtsushi Tatanabe selected in the league's Best XV. FullbackAtsushi Tatanabe was also crowned the league's top scorer and best kicker for 2009.
In 2011, despite finishing in 3rd during the regular league season, the club won the Championship play-offs by beatingSuntory Sungoliath 28–23 in the final.Akihito Yamada was named MVP for the entire season. The club were runners-up in the play-offs in 2012.
Prior to the start of the 2012–13 season, the club was sold toPanasonic corporation and renamed the Panasonic Wild Knights, the name they currently bear. The team colours were switched from red and black to predominantly blue and black.
In 2014, Head CoachNorifumi Nakajima left the club on the back of a historic double championshipTop League andAll-Japan Rugby Football Championship during the 2013–14 season. On 21 April 2014, it was confirmed that formerWallabies andCrusaders Head CoachRobbie Deans would become the new coach of Panasonic Wild Knights.[2]
In August 2021, it relocated from theŌta No. 2 Soccer-Rugby Ground (太田市第2サッカー・ラグビー場) inŌta city,Gunma prefecture toKumagaya Rugby Ground,Kumagaya,Saitama prefecture, 13 kilometers south of the original site.
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Robbie Deans |  New Zealand |
| Backs Coach | Kanazawa Atsushi |  Japan |
| Forwards & Defence Coach | Koliniasi Holani | Japan |
| Scrum Coach | Kikawa Jungo |  Tonga |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Cain Yoshiura |  Australia |
| Contact Coach | Aoyagi Katsuhiko | Japan |
| General Manager | Hitoshi Iijima | Japan |
The Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights squad for the 2025-26 season is:[3]
| Saitama Wild Knights squad | ||
|---|---|---|
Props
Hookers Locks | Flankers
No8s Scrum-halves Fly-halves | Centres Wingers Fullbacks Utility Backs |
| (c) Denotes team captain,Bold denotes player is internationally capped |
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