[5/20/2016] Rakuten Eagles to field a third team

May 20, 2016 at 8:50 am by Gen
Categories: NPB
Tags: Rakuten Eagles

The media learned on May 19 that the Rakuten Eagles are planning to put together a third team, separate from Ichi-gun and Ni-gun, made up mostly of young players (Ni-gun, Ikusei) that stay back at the Izumi training facilities in Sendai.

The new team is scheduled to play about thirty games a year against university, Industrial League, Independent League, and various club teams. Most of the games will take place at the main field located at the Izumi training facilities.

Source: Sanspo 5/20/2016, Sponichi 5/20/2016

[UPDATE @ 7:32pm]

The Eagles posted an official announcement about their new Ikusei team.

• the season will begin on May 24 (Tuesday)
• the team will play about thirty games against university, Industrial League, club, and Independent League teams
• most games will be played at the main field located at the Izumi training facilities
• games will not be open to the public
• the schedule will be released as it becomes available
• this is not a San-gun team

Source: Rakuten announcement