VERY IMPORTANT: Astro Boy now official mascot of Japan Rugby

[RugbyFuture]

I reckon the SupeRugby team should be called the "astros" or "atomics" now....

 

[Marcelo]

The Astro Boys XV

 

[Tangawizi]

Well I'll be buying the Astro Boy Jersey...

 

[p.Tah]

I really hope they're not called the atomics.

 

[Baldric]

I hope they don't play like Gastro Boy

 

[wamberal]

Atomics? Comics, maybe.

 

[Troy]

HA that's pretty cool, the kids will love that!

 

[boyo]

The Astro-turfs

 

[Wilson]

First time the get held to nil they'll be the Astro-naughts.

 

[Antony]

I really hope they're not called the atomics.

Jesus.

 

[p.Tah]

Perhaps I'm looking at it too deeply, but it's the link to Nagasaki and Hiroshima that concerns me.

 

[RugbyFuture]

I just thought it linked to the fact that everything there is futuristic and powered by nuclear power.....shows the difference in generational awareness.

 

[Omar Comin']

I think it's great. The JRFU have a reputation for being very conservative and set in their ways, but this is something that people will engage with. Looking forward to see what sort of commercials and marketing stuff they come up with.

 

[p.Tah]

I just thought it linked to the fact that everything there is futuristic and powered by nuclear power...shows the difference in generational awareness.

Im not that much older than you
I do like the logo

 

[RugbyFuture]

so for further clarity, he's the mascot for the national team in the lead up to the World Cup.

Tezuka in rugby Japan representative of cheer character to compete in Rugby World Cup 2015, which takes place in England in September 2015 Osamu of the original cartoon, is the protagonist of "Astro Boy," "Boy" was decided.
The Japan national rugby union team's first cheer character atom, in addition to the plan to rush to cheer in Japan representative game of the match venue to be carried out in the country, for the purpose of well-known activities and activities of the Japanese national team to more people , sales and of the atom and the collaboration with the Japanese representative goods, is scheduled to appear as a representative of Japan support characters in a variety of ways in which we conduct announcement activities.

But also interestingly he's been the mascot for japanese baseball teams named the atoms before.

http://www.astroboy-online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9261

won't quote the article in here since the Google Translation isn't that great, but this is pretty interesting nonetheless. This is not the first time that Atom has been the mascot for one of Japan's sports teams; he was a mascot for the Sankei Atoms in the late '60s and the Yakult Atoms in the early '70s:

 

[TOCC]

I like it, surely it's no coincidence that this is occurring only months away from the release of the Super Rugby team details.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[boyo]

Perhaps I'm looking at it too deeply, but it's the link to Nagasaki and Hiroshima that concerns me.

Or Fukushima

 

[RugbyFuture]

one step closer to that name coming up with Japan Rugby opening up the name to the public

http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/japan-asks-fans-to-help-name-super-rugby-team/

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has launched a fan engagement initiative as part of the process to devise a name for its new team that will join Super Rugby in 2016, alongside the Kings from South Africa and a soon-to-be-announced outfit from Argentina.

The JRFU is committed to developing a broad and passionate support base and has taken the process public to give fans a say in the establishment of the team's identity
Director of Rugby, Eddie Jones, said "Japan is ready to take part in Super Rugby; the world's foremost provincial rugby competition featuring the best players on earth.
"We call upon the fans to become the 24th player and help Japan build a team to challenge the best. Our team needs to be uniquely Japanese. We need to be fast, courageous but also smart and play rugby that the world has not seen before.
"Joining Super Rugby gives Japanese players the opportunity to play high level rugby consistently so that the players will go to Rugby World Cup 2019 with more than 40 Test caps and 50-60 Super Rugby caps."
The team will be based at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium with three home games per season to be played at the Singapore Sports Hub.
Click here for more information on the structure of the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Contest Guideline: We seek a team name that is easy to pronounce, powerful and befits the new Japan Super Rugby team.
Period: 29 May - 19 June 2015
Application Procedure: Click here to lodge your application - apply as many times as you wish
Selection: The Super Rugby Japan Committee will select the final name
Announcement: The scheduled date is the end of July 2015
Concept of the new team name:
1) A name that describes a brave Japanese side challenging the world’s top teams with passion and pride
2) A name that is internationally recognised and enables us to attract international rugby fans
3) A name that represents the imagery of Japanese culture, tradition and history[/QUOTE]
cast vote here: https://super-japanrugby.com/

 

[Tangawizi]

Astro's probably a favourite looking at the selection criteria.

I'd love to see them call it the Kaiju (Japanese for Monster) and then have Godzilla and friends roaming the sidelines.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Astro's probably a favourite looking at the selection criteria.

I'd love to see them call it the Kaiju (Japanese for Monster) and then have Godzilla and friends roaming the sidelines.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiju

Kaiju was my recommendation.

there was a top league team who had some kaiju and ultraman as mascots earlier this year