Highlanders (rugby union) Highlanders (rugby union) The Highlanders (formerly the Otago Highlanders and currently known as the Pulse Energy Highlanders for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that helped found the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s. Their main ground through the 2011 Super Rugby season was Carisbrook in
Hanazono Rugby Stadium Hanazono Rugby Stadium The in Higashiosaka is the oldest dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. There is next to Hanazono Central Park (花園中央公園, hanazono chūō kōen). Owned by city of Higashiosaka, it opened in 1929 and has a capacity of 30,000. It is the stage for the annual National High School Rugby Tournament held every year at the end of December and has hosted important international, Top League games. Hanazono is the home of the Kintetsu Liners rugby union team. The stadium has been selected as one of the venues for 2019 Rugby World Cup (Japan) which will be the