The NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 season moves into the all-important Relegation/Promotion Matches first leg fixtures this weekend, with games starting on Friday, 22nd May, as well as the playoff series in Division One quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals kick off on May 23 when Cheslin Kolbe’s Sungoliath take on TJ Perenara’s BlackRams Tokyo, with the second elimination match on Sunday pits 2025 defending champion Tokyo Brave Lupus against the side they beat in the 2024-25 decider, the Kubota Spears.
The four Replacement Battles series are decided on the aggregate scores achieved by each side across two legs, with one match played at home and one away.
The fixtures see the top two finishers from Division Two challenge the bottom two from D1, while the seventh and eighth placed sides from D2 face the top two from Division Three.
NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Playoffs
NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Playoff Tournament, which will be awarded to the top 6 teams in the Division 1 league, have been determined based on the results of the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Division 1 Round 1 matches held on Sunday, May 10th.
The playoff tournament will be held as follows: the quarterfinals on May 23rd (Sat) and 24th (Sun), the semifinals on May 30th (Sat) and 31st (Sun) at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, the third-place match on June 6th (Sat) at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, and the final on June 7th (Sun) at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium).
Saturday May 23
Tokyo Sungoliath vs BlackRams Tokyo – Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Tokyo) KO 14:30
The Division One quarter finals kick off on Saturday when the Sam Cane-led Tokyo Sungoliath, featuring the league’s leading individual point-scorer Cheslin Kolbe, take on the TJ Perenara-captained BlackRams Tokyo.
The side broke their run of five consecutive defeats towards the end of the regular season, and Head Coach Kosei Ono and skipper Sam Cane (starting on the bench) are confident heading into their second quarterfinal in as many seasons.
Sungoliath had beaten the Tabai Matson-coached BlackRams twice during the regular season and finished fourth in the final standings. They picked up twelve bonus points, and six of those were for losing by seven points or less. They also scored 21 more tries than their opposition across the season.
Kolbe has had a standout season. The Springbok wing scored the most points in the Division, and made more carry metres with the ball (1356) than anyone else and the most clean breaks (23). It is not a team relying on a single threat. Left wing Taiga Ozaki scored 8 times this season, and centre Shogo Nakano has six tries to his name.
Aside from the influential Perenara, Australian-born fullback Isaac Lucas has scored 9 tries this campaign and led the D1 carries (222) and 4th-most carry metres. Right wing Taira Main has six tries, and flyhalf Ichigo Nakakusu only finished with one less point this season than Kolbe (184).
The BlackRams were one place below them on the log in fifth, despite both sides winning nine games. This number of wins was a record for the BlackRams, who are debuting in the league’s finals series.
In the head-to-head stats, the game very much favours the side wearing yellow. Sungoliath has beaten the BlackRams 19 times in the previous 20 matches.
Sunday May 24
Kubota Spears vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Tokyo) KO 14:30
Sunday’s second quarterfinal is a replay of last year’s championship game with Malcolm Marx and the Kubota Spears, who finished third in the regular season, tackling the side that beat them in the last competition decider, Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Amazingly, the last time the Toshiba side registered a win was two months ago. They ended the regular season with a 45-0 drubbing at the hands of the Saitama Wild Knights. Head Coach Todd Blackadder had rested flyhalf Richie Mo’unga, but it really seems unlikely the pair of Kiwis can achieve three titles in as many attempts this season.
Frans Ludeke’s Spears have scored 30 more tries and 200 more points this season than the Brave Lupus.
In last season’s final, the Brave Lupus beat the Spears 18-13, which was their first loss in six playoff matches. They are by far the better form side and will be seeking revenge, but this is knockout rugby. Their fly-half also departs after this season, although his retirement seems to have been reportedly prematurely. Wallaby Bernard Foley will finish at Kubota when the season ends, but he hopes it won’t be this weekend.
The table-leading Kobelco Kobe Steelers and the second-placed Saitama Wild Knights await the weekend’s winners in the next round (semifinals).
JRLO D1/D2 Relegation/Promotion Matches, Game 1
Saturday May 23
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi (D2) vs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars (D1) – Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium (Aichi) 14:30 KO
Wallaby fly-half Noah Lolesio will be trying to lead the Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, Division 2 champions, to reverse last season’s agonising five-point defeat on aggregate against the D-Rocks, when they tackle a Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars outfit who have lost their last six matches.
The former (ACT) Brumbies fly-half has played only 10 matches in his debut season in JRLO, and scored 153 points – the second most in D2.
The backline is a real threat with Thomas Umaga Jensen, Chance Peni (13 tries and the most meters made in D2 with 1,034 as well as the most clean breaks, 25), and Josua Kerevi all starting, but they are up against a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars backline that features All Black Brad Weber, Matt Vaega, Brave Blossom Charlie Lawrence and Springbok Lukhanyo Am.
Shuttles’ number 8, Isileli Manu, has 8 tries this season and the most carries in D1 (202), and left wing Raia Takashima has 11 tries – there are threats across the park.
Dynaboars Head Coach Glenn Delaney will need all of his experience to get his side up for these matches to retain Division 1 status.
Shimizu Construction Koto Blue Sharks (D2) vs Urayasu D-Rocks (D1) – Yumenoshima Stadium, Koto Ward, Tokyo 14:30 KO
The Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks’ bonus point victory in the final round saw them edge the Kintetsu Liners in the final round. They face a daunting task in this first game, even if the Urayasu D-Rocks had a poor season themselves.
English Urayasu D-Rocks Head Coach Graham Rowntree can call on the likes of ex-Wallaby midfielders Samu Kerevi (2nd most carries in D1 and 3rd most defenders beaten) and Springbok backrower Jasper Wiese (4th most carries) is on the bench. They also come into the matches on the back of a rare season win, after dispatching Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars in the final regular season D1 match.
The D1 side is captained by Ryuji Fujimura, who are without Israel Folau, the former Wallaby leaves after this season.
The Blue Sharks will be relying on Irish international Billy Burns, who scored the 4th most points in D2 (97) and are captained by prop Sanshiro Nomura. Right-wing Genta Nishibata featured across a lot of the leading stats – he scored 10 tries, most metres for the team, and was tied second in clean breaks in D2.
Flank Sione Talitui notched up 6 tries and also led the tackle completion in the Division (169).
You can see all the fixtures and results on the JRLO website here.
JRLO D2/D3 Relegation/Promotion Match, Game 1
Friday May 22
Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves (D2) vs Sayama Secom Rugguts (D3) – Iwagin Stadium (Iwate) KO 19:00
The Replacement Battles start on Friday night when Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves host SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS of Division Three.
The Seawaves, who are coached by ex-Wallaby backrower and former Tonga coach Toutai Kefu, are Replacement Battle specialists and have won all three series they have featured in.
Their captain, flank Ryota Kono, has 7 tries this campaign, with centre Gerdus Vanderwalt scoring one try less. Number 8 Sam Henwood has made the third most carries and completed tackles in D2 (175 & 158) and is in the top ten for offloads and defenders beaten.
For the Sayama Secom Rugguts, who are coached by former NZ & Japan 7’s international Scott Pierce, were runners-up in D3 and secured a massive end-of-regular-season win over the Division champions, centre Daniel Waite was the Division’s top points scorer by a huge margin. Fullback Chase Tiatia scored 9 tries and the second most metres (1,002) and the most offloads, and captain and number 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas had one less try, but also the third most carries and 2nd most offloads.
Saturday May 23
Hino Red Dolphins (D2) vs Mazda Skyactivs Hiroshima (D3) – AGF Field (Tokyo) 13:00
Division Three champions SkyActivs Hiroshima are travelling to Hino Red Dolphins for the away tie in their two-legged clash.
The D3 champions lost only one game all season, and Hino has won just once, but the Division Two side has prevailed in each of the five most recent encounters between the pair.
The host’s captain, Shun Nakashika, was the side’s leading tackler and beat the most defenders.
For SkyActivs Hiroshima, they had two of the D3 top points scorers: Issen Kano starts on the bench, but lock Andrew Davidson starts and has 17 tries this season! Flank Jackson Pugh scored 6 tries and made the most carries (201) and the 3rd most metres & defenders beaten.
The second round of the Replacement Battles will be played on the weekend of May 30-31, alongside the Division One semi-finals.
How To Watch the Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Playoffs
The JRLO has signed a number of streaming and partner deals, but the D1 Quarterfinals are also listed to be played on RugbyPassTV (depending on your region).
JRLO News 2o26
- Will Genia Leaves Japan Set on a Coaching Journey.
- Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 18 Review.
- Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 18 Preview.
- Lukhanyo Am – I Would Encourage Players To Come and Play in the Japan Rugby League One.
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