Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Playoffs Round 2 Preview

The NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 season Division 1 semifinals and second legs of the Relegation/Promotion Matches take place this weekend from 30th to 31st May 2026.

The four Replacement Battles series are decided on the aggregate scores achieved by each side across two legs. In the second leg fixtures, D1 teams (Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars &  Urayasu D-Rocks) both have 20+ point advantages against the top D2 sides (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi & Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks).

The D2 teams (Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves & Hino Red Dolphins) had narrow wins over their D3 counterparts (SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS & SkyActivs Hiroshima).

In the D1 semifinals, Kobelco Kobe Steelers face Tokyo Sungoliath, and the Wild Knights are pitted against the Kubota Spears.

NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Playoff Tournament Semifinals

NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 D1 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 30

(1) Kobelco Kobe Steelers v (4) Tokyo Sungoliath; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 12.05pm 

With an extra week’s break, Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers should be primed but not complacent against the Tokyo Sungoliath, who left it very late in their win last week to reach the final four.

In the two encounters in the regular season, Kobe won both games. The first match was a 22-20 win thanks to an 80th-minute penalty goal by Brave Blossoms flyhalf Seungsin Lee (who starts this weekend), and they were comfortable 49-28 in the return fixture.  

Only 15 players have surpassed 100 tests for the All Blacks, and three of them – Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Ardie Savea – will appear in Saturday’s first semi-final, with Cane the only Sungoliath player of the three. 

Cane came off the bench last weekend as the Tokyo Sungoliath defeated BlackRams Tokyo in the 84th minute thanks to a try by Tokyo Sungoliath prop Yukio Morikawa. Springbok Cheslin Kolbe scored half of their points in the 40-35 win, but also announced he is leaving the club to rejoin the Stormers in Cape Town.

The former (Waikato) Chiefs fly-half Kaleb Trask scored his 10th try of the season last week and starts in a backline for the Sungoliath, which is dangerous with the ball in hand. Experienced scrum-half and captain Yutaka Nagare ensures they get quick ball for an uptempo game. 

Kobe starts their international stars such as captain Brodie Retallick (chasing an 18th try this season), flanker Ardie Savea and centre Anton Lienert-Brown.

Photo Credit – JRLO

Sunday May 31

(2) Saitama Wild Knights v (3) Kubota Spears; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.05pm 

Saitama Wild Knights will take on the Kubota Spears in the second semifinal, and it will be the fourth time in the five seasons in the JRLO that they will meet in the playoffs. Last season, the Spears won 28-24 in the semifinal, and when the Spears won their JRLO title, they also defeated the same opposition 17-15.

The Kubota Spears were always in control last week in their QF win, but now they must be far more ruthless against the dangerous Saitama Wild Knights this weekend, who, among their backs, have Springbok Damian de Allende and Wallaby Marika Koroibete.

Photo Credit – JRLO

The Kubuta pack was also great, winning scrum penalties and a near-perfect lineout success rate thanks to the likes of Springbok and World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx. Frans Ludeke’s Spears can also rely on experience from the in-form Shaun Stevenson and Bernard Foley, as well as Brave Blossoms winger Halatoa Vailea and captain Faulua Makisi, who were also impressive last weekend.

The Wild Knights, with Robbie Deans long-time assistant Atsushi Kanazawa as Head Coach, saw them only lose twice this season and finish second overall. They did defeat the Spears by two points earlier this season – the fourth time in the last seven meetings that four points or less had determined the outcome.

D1/D2 Relegation/Promotion Matches, Game 2

Saturday May 30

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars v Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi; at Kanagawa, 1pm 

Glen Delaney’s Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars should have done enough already last week in the first leg and have a 22-point advantage, but the Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi D2 champions can score a lot of points.

Chance Peni scored his 14th try of the season in defeat and is one of several players who can cause the Division 1 side problems. Other threats are Wallaby Noah Lolesio and centre Thomas Umaga Jensen.

For the Dynaboars, capped internationals Brad Weber. Lukhanyo Am and Charlie Lawrence all start among the backs. 

Urayasu D-Rocks v Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks; at Tokyo (Yumenoshima), 2.30pm 

The Division 1 Urayasu D-Rocks scored plenty of points late in the game in Leg #1 and have a 22-point advantage. Graham Rowntree’s side overturned a 10-6 halftime deficit to win, and like in the other playoff match, it’s tough to see the D2 side overcoming the points differential, but a win isn’t out of the question.

Springbok backrower Jasper Wiese came off the bench to score twice last week for the Urayasu D-Rocks, and Genta Nishibata also bagged a brace for the defeated D2 side.

You can see all the fixtures and results on the JRLO website here.

D2/D3 Relegation/Promotion Match, Game 2

Saturday May 30

SkyActivs Hiroshima v Hino Red Dolphins; at Hiroshima, 1pm

SkyActivs Hiroshima are the Division 3 champions and still very much in contention to try and earn promotion to Division 2. The Hino Red Dolphins have a three-point advantage thanks to a late penalty last weekend.

Jackson Pugh scored two tries last week for the SkyActivs, and the flanker starts again.

Sunday May 31st

SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS v Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves; at Tokyo (AGF Field), 2.30pm

SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS will need to win by more than two points if they want to earn promotion to Division 2, but it will also mean inflicting a first Replacement Battle defeat on Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves, who are yet to lose any of the seven they have been involved in.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu will want to see his Seawaves complete the job this weekend, but they will need to play a full 80 minutes. Last week, they failed to score in the second period.

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 2026

• Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Playoffs Round 1 Review.
• Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Playoffs Round 1 Preview.
• Will Genia Leaves Japan Set on a Coaching Journey.
• Lukhanyo Am – I Would Encourage Players To Come and Play in the Japan Rugby League One.