The Kobelco Kobe Steelers (Japanese: コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ), commonly referred to as simply the Kobe Steelers, is a professional Japanese rugby union team based in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture and owned by the Kobe Steel company. The team compete in the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) competition and have been playing under the Kobe Steelers name since the inaugural season in 2022.
Contents
Current squad
The Kobelco Kobe Steelers squad for the 2026-27 season is:
Past players
Yuta Imamura (2007–19, 124 games) Centre, Japanese international (2006–13, 39 caps)
Itaru Taniguchi (2008–21, 148 games) Loose forward, Japanese international (2010–11, 10 caps)
Shoji Ito (2009–18, 104 games) Lock, Japanese international (2012–15, 36 caps)
Japanese players
Toshiyuki Hayashi
Ian Williams
Seiji Hirao
Yuya Saito
Kensuke Iwabuchi
Daisuke Ohata
Andrew Miller
Atsushi Oyagi
Kensuke Iwabuchi
Foreign players
Ardie Savea
Brodie Retallick
Andy Ellis
Dan Carter
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Aaron Cruden
Andries Bekker
Jacque Fourie
Ron Cribb
Dave Bickle
Mark Egan
Simon Wensley
Pierre Hola
Peter Grant
Thinus Delport
Ben Smith
Lukhanyo Am
Hayden Parker
Honours
Top League:
Champions: 2003–04, 2018–19
Japan Rugby League One:
Champions: 2025–26