Round 17 of the Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 season continues to show how unpredictable this season has been, as the bottom of Division 1 side defeated the league leaders, and we saw changes in the top 3.
We also now know which teams have qualified for the three-week elimination playoff series, and who will be involved in the post-season promotion/relegation series.
Division 2 saw a change at the top with one round to go, and Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi have reached the playoffs, with the Shuttles now at the top after the Liners lost for the second consecutive week. The Hanazono Kintetsu Liners face the Shuttles in the final round and need points to ensure they finish in the top two.
The D3 title was wrapped up for the second year by SkyActivs Hiroshima
Division 1 Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 17
Friday May 1
Photo Credit – JRLO
Urayasu D-Rocks 27-24 Saitama Wild Knights; at Tokyo (Chichibu)
Not many would have seen this result coming. Perhaps the Saitama Wild Knights were complacent heading to face Urayasu D-Rocks (we did say in our preview they could ill afford to be). Still, the hosts’ win will give them ample confidence ahead of the Replacement Battle matches, which they already knew before this weekend they would be competing in.
It was also a fond farewell for some players in front of their ‘home fans’, as Hendrik Tui said thank you to Prince Chichibu Stadium for the last time.
120-kilogram former Melbourne Rebels backrower Tamati Ioane was the POTM, while teammate Miu Austin Moriyama made his debut for the club and what a game to do it in as Graham Rowntree’s men came out on top.
The visitors were 12-0 up within ten minutes, thanks to two early tries, but the D-Rocks replied with three tries before the break to lead 17-12. Tamati Ioane scored his second try in the second half to extend the lead, but a second score for Juan Wilson midway through the half put the Wild Knights back in front 24-22. In the 82nd minute, a penalty kick came off the bar, bounced back in play, and Siosifa Lisala pounced to score the winner after the hooter.
The win means they broke a 12-game losing streak, and the Saitama Wild Knights dropped to second on the log, tied on points with Kubota Spears heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Saturday May 2
Toyota Verblitz 38-54 Tokyo Sungoliath; at Aichi (Paloma Mizuho)
The Toyota Verblitz charge up the ladder, and a chase for the final playoff spot was put to an end as Tokyo Sungoliath defeated them in a high-scoring contest.
We said in the preview that the Tokyo Sungoliath needed a momentum shift heading into the playoffs, as they had lost five in a row before this win – it also means they did the double over Steve Hansen’s men this season.
The opening quarter saw each team score, and Sungoliath received a yellow card, but the visitors went into the break ahead 26-12 with Sam Cane scoring one of the team’s four tries. The points continued to flow in the second period, and Tevita Tatafu scored twice for the victors.
Mark Telea also scored twice in the final ten minutes as his Verlblitz side piled on 19 points in the final six minutes of the lost contest.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 35-29 Shizuoka BlueRevs; at Tokyo (Chichibu)
The win for the defending champions, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, saw them do enough to reach the playoffs and debut the Shizuoka BlueRevs for a second consecutive year of reaching the top six. It was also the 50th Brave Lupus cap for departing Richue Mo’anga.
It was the second time Todd Blackadder’s side had defeated the BlueRevs this season, but both games have been close.
The score was tied 22-all at halftime with both sides scoring three tries each. It took nearly half an hour into the second period for the next try as Taichi Mano scored for the Brave Lupus. A post-hooter try for BlueRevs Malo Tuitama was too late to impact the result.
Returning Brave Blossoms winger Jone Naikabula, who was starting for the first time after an injury-ruined season, and had scored 27 tries in 26 matches across Toshiba’s two title-winning campaigns, scored twice on his return.
The Brave Lupus final game is against the Wild Knights next weekend, and with playoffs confirmed, they could dent the Wild Knights’ hopes of a top-two finish.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Kobelco Kobe Steelers 24-19 Mie Honda Heat; at Osaka (Hanazono)
The win for Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a tight contest was enough to see them go back to the top of the Division after the Wild Knights’ shock loss.
Kieran Crowley’s Mie Honda Heat were very much in this contest, but they will be satisfied overall to avoid the bottom two and to have been in the hunt for the playoffs until nearly the end of the regular season.
The first half saw five tries and two yellow cards, with the hosts ahead 17-14 – Inoke Burua
Scored two of this side’s three tries. Brodie Retallick scored again this season to take his tally to 17 – the regular-season try record across all JRLO divisions is the 18 scored by Sungoliath winger Seiya Ozaki.
The last points in the game were scored in the 55th minute by the Mie Honda Heat but they couldn’t add to their tally, and Kobe saw out the game.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Sunday May 3
BlackRams Tokyo 8-52 Kubota Spears; at Fukushima
The BackRams had a poor off-day, and the determined and clinical Kubota Spears took full advantage to grab all 5 log points with the big away win. It means they shipped 50+ points in both losses to Frans Ludeke’s side this season.
There have been two big and disappointing defeats for Tabai Matson over the past two weeks, and they will need to quickly reset and focus on the final game and the playoffs for which they have qualified.
The Kubota Spears scored 8 tries to one in the win – Halatoa Vailea scored twice – while Isaac Lucas was the sole try scorer for the BlackRams.
Yokohama Canon Eagles 31-22 Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars; at Tokyo (Chichibu)
An enthralling game that saw massive momentum shifts throughout, but the Eagles came out on top to ensure they avoid the Replacement matches, while defeat for the Dynaboars means they will need to fight for D1 survival and they have now lost 5 in a row.
The Kanagawa derby win was the Eagles’ fifth from their last seven fixtures, which have included the scalps of Kobe and Brave Lupus.
Jesse Kriel scored one of this side’s three early tries as they raced out to a 21-0 lead by the 12th minute before the Dynaboars fought back into the game and narrowed the lead to 21-17. There were three yellow cards in the match, and two of them were to the visitors.
With the game in the balance, substitutes gave the Canon Eagles the edge as they scored 10 quick points and ensured the win – Levi Aumua scoring the final try.
You can see all the fixtures and results on the JRLO website here.
Division Two
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners lost again, while Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi had a massive win, which means the latter sits on top of the table with one round left – they face each other in the final round.
Wallaby flyhalf Noah Lolosio scored 26 points to take his tally for the season to 139 from just nine games for Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
With third-place Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks also winning, they are 4 points behind the Liners in second, and if they win with a bonus point and the Liners don’t get any points, they could pip them into second place.
The top two spots in Division Two will secure their playoff spot to try to earn promotion.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Saturday May 2
- Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi 78-17 RedHurricanes Osaka; at Aichi (Wave)
- Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks 34-26 Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex; at Tokyo (Yumenoshima)
- Green Rockets Tokatsu 39-29 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners; at Chiba
- Hino Red Dolphins 35-22 Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves; at Gunma
Division Three
The SkyActivs Hiroshima completed back-to-back Division Three titles by winning again on the weekend.
Photo Credit – JRLO – SkyActivs Hiroshima D3 champions
Saturday May 2
- Kurita Water Gush Akishima 13-44 SkyActivs Hiroshima; at Kanagawa (Atsugi)
- SAYAMA SECOM Rugguts 31-31 Le RIRO Fukuoka; at Kanagawa (Ebina)
- Yakult Levins Toda 25-26 Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions; at Gunma (Shikishima)
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