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 first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia. On May 14, 2006 Daisuke Ohata broke the record for the most overall tries in test matches at Hanazono with a hat trick for Japan against Georgia. The previous record holder was David Campese. It hosted the J1 League game between Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus Eight was played there on May 8, 1999. 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