Black Rams Tokyo (formerly Ricoh Black Rams) is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. Being ranked tenth meant that, in order to continue in the league, it had to defeat one of the top regional clubs in a play-off, which it achieved.

Slogan for 2006 season: TAFU ("Tough" in English). The acronym stands for Team, Aggression, Faith, Unity.

In January 2008 it was announced that Stephen Larkham would be joining the team next season, but the team was relegated back to the Japan East League where Larkham would begin his career in Japan. In April 2008, Todd Louden was announced as head coach, to be assisted by Pote Human (Daily Yomiuri, April 26, 2008).

The team rebranded as Black Rams Tokyo following the rebranding of the Top League to the Japan Rugby League One ahead of 2022.

Schedule/Results

2005

February 13. Ricoh Black Rams v Toyota Jido Shokki - placed third in the Top League Challenge Series.

Players

Current squad

The Black Rams Tokyo squad for the 2025–26 season is:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:70%"

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! colspan="100%" | Black Rams Tokyo squad

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Props

  • Kazuma Nishi
  • Yuichiro Taniguchi
  • Kosei Nakamura
  • Taishi Tsumura
  • Paddy Ryan
  • Taichi Chiba
  • Kota Mitake
  • Daigo Sasagawa
  • Shohei Ōyama
  • Yūi Matsubara <sup>REP</sup> <sup>DEP</sup>

Hookers

  • Masashi Ōnishi
  • Shin Ōuchi
  • Hinata Takei
  • Ko Sato
  • Lee Soon-hong*
  • Tomoya Adachi*
  • Nic Souchon

Locks

  • Pohiva Yamato Lotoahea
  • Reijiro Yamamoto
  • Yūsuke Kishi
  • Michael Allardice*
  • Josh Goodhue
  • Harrison Fox*

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Flankers

  • Shū Yamamoto
  • Talau Samurai Fakatava*
  • Felix Kalapu
  • Liam Gill

No8s

  • Samuel Waqabaca*
  • Amato Fakatava
  • Shūhei Matsuhashi
  • Brodi McCurran*
  • Otoya Kihara
  • Shogo Yamamura

Scrum-halves

  • Toshiya Takahashi
  • Seima Inaba
  • TJ Perenara (c)
  • Takanobu Minami

Fly-halves

  • Ichigo Nakakusu
  • Kohei Horigome
  • Kotaro Ito
  • Isaac Lucas*

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Centres

  • Yūta Kurihara
  • Rameka Poihipi
  • Yūki Ikeda
  • Ryohei Isoda
  • Takumi Aoki
  • Siope Tavo*
  • Penieli Jr Latu*
  • Larzlow Sword
  • Taichi Kugino

Wingers

  • Daisuke Nishikawa
  • Yūta Akihama
  • Yoshiyuki Koga
  • Tomu Takamoto
  • Tomoya Yamamura

Fullbacks

  • Taira Main

Utility Backs

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| colspan="100%" style="height: 10px;" |

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| colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | <small> (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped</small>

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Notable former players

  • Glen Osborne - Fullback
  • Inoke Afeaki - Lock
  • Eroni Clarke - Centre
  • James Haskell - Loose forward
  • Ma'a Nonu - Centre
  • Stephen Larkham - Fly Half
  • Sui Liaga - Wing
  • Dean Hall - Wing
  • Glenn Paterson - Fly Half
  • Michael Broadhurst - Loose forward

Coaches

  • Tim Lane (2005–6 season)
  • Peter Hewat (2021-2024)
  • Tabai Matson (2024-present)

Notes

References

  • Ricoh Black Rams - official site
  • Ricoh unveils Larkham - Daily Yomiuri, February 14, 2008
  • Official Site - Official site