It’s the final Round 18 of the Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 regular season from 9-11 May, and although lots is known, teams are still vying for crucial table positions before the post-season commences.
We know which teams have qualified for the three-week elimination playoff series in D1, and who will be involved in the post-season promotion/relegation series. This weekend, top of the table Kobelco Kobe Steelers face third-placed Kubota Spears in a crucial game to determine the top three seeds.
The playoff series in Division One begins with two quarterfinals on May 23-24, wherein 3rd plays 6th, and 4th plays 5th.
The Division 2 top three placings are still up for grabs, and only the top two will have a shot at trying to earn promotion to D1 via the Replacement Battle.
The D3 title was wrapped up for the second year by SkyActivs Hiroshima as was the second place, and they know who they will face from D2 in their two-leg matches seeking promotion.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Division 1 – Round 18 Japan Rugby League One
Saturday May 9
Saitama Wild Knights vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo; at Saitama, 2.30pm
With the shock loss last weekend to the bottom of the table Urayasu D-Rocks, you would think there would be no complacency in this final round. Especially as the Wild Knights thumped this weekend’s opposition 46-0 on the opening day of the season, and they know the maths to secure a top-two spot.
Tied on points with Kubota Spears in second, but with a superior points difference, the Wild Knights know a win will ensure they finish second on the table (a bonus point win if Kubota achieves the same), and coach Atsushi Kanazawa will want to get the job done in his first season and is sure to be leaning on experienced Robbie Deans in the background.
The defending champions, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, only secured a top-six playoff spot last week but have had a poor and unpredictable season overall. They will also be without All Black fly-half Richie Mo’unga for the match.
Todd Blackadder’s side will be hoping for a massive change of fortune as they defend their title, and they could damage the Wild Knights’ chances of avoiding the first round of the playoffs if they defeat them. However, the Wild Knights have lost just once at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in the League One era.
Shizuoka BlueRevs vs Yokohama Canon Eagles; at Shizuoka, 2.30pm
Both teams are safe in D1, but neither side will be competing for the title either. Shizuoka BlueRevs’ final opportunity was lost last weekend, but a win here could still see them finish as high as 7th, which would be the club’s second-best finish of the League One era.
Captain Kwagga Smith starts with the menacing midfield featuring Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra.
The visiting Eagles came out on top last week to ensure they don’t play the Replacement matches, and a press conference with the departing Faf De Klerk was held as it was his last home game for the club. He played 41 times across his five seasons in League One.
Springbok and club teammate, as well as club captain, Jesse Kriel, has been in excellent form and will look to end on a high before he joins the national side. He starts with De Klerk on the bench.
The Eagles have won five of their last seven matches this season as coach Leon MacDonald ends his first season in Japan with many lessons learned.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Mie Honda Heat vs Toyota Verblitz; at Mie, 5.10pm
Both sides have lost out in their late charges to try and claim a playoff spot, but have also both avoided the relegation battle.
The hosts, Kieran Crowley’s Mie Honda Heat, are in 10th, and the visiting Verblitz are 7th, but the sides are only separated by three log points, so there is still everything to play for. Mie Honda Heat confirmed mid-week that as many as 16 players will depart the club at the end of the season, and they come into the final game of the season looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat. They are starting stars such as Pablo Matera and Franco Mostert (who were not listed among the 16 players set to leave).
For the visiting Toyota Vervlitz, the match at Suzuka Gardens is the last one for Director of Rugby Steve Hansen, who has confirmed he is finishing up after six years of service in Japan. He has selected the likes of Mark Telea to start, while Aaron Smith is among the reserves.
Sunday May 10
Kubota Spears vs Kobelco Kobe Steelers; at Tokyo (Edoriku), 2.30pm
Photo Credit – JRLO
Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers won a tight contest last week, to see them return to the top of the Division, but they have a massive game on their hands as they travel to face Frans Ludeke’s Kubota Spears at Spears Edoriku Field – a venue the Spears have yet to lose in 25 attempts by visiting sides.
If the All-Black-bound Head Coach can oversee a win, it will ensure two weekends off before their first playoff game.
Personal accolades shouldn’t matter, but Brodie Retallick now has 17 tries and is one short of equalling the regular-season try record across all JRLO divisions, which is the 18 scored by Sungoliath winger Seiya Ozaki.
For the Kubota Spears, they announced a glut of players who will be leaving after the season, including several senior, experienced players, and it could be their final home for the likes of Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley and South African-born Brave Blossoms’ backrower Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, so they will want that win.
Tokyo Sungoliath vs BlackRams Tokyo; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.30pm
Sungoliaths’ win in Round 17 ensures they snapped a 5-game losing streak, and both teams in this contest are heading to the playoffs.
Tokyo Sungoliath occupy 4th with 44 points, and BlackRams Tokyo are one place below them with 41 points, so the victor this weekend will ensure they end up 4th in D1.
BlackRams Tokyo Head Coach Tabai Matson and captain TJ Perenara will be planning to come up with something and also end their own recent poor run of losses. But to be fair, they have already had their most successful season since League One was inaugurated.
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars vs Urayasu D-Rocks; at Kanagawa, 2.30pm
Photo Credit – JRLO
The surprising win for the visiting Urayasu D-Rocks last week meant they broke a 12-game losing streak, but they were already confirmed to end in the bottom two in the table. 4
The other side who will be fighting for D1 status preservation are the hosts this weekend, Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, so the winner of this fixture will determine 11th and 12th, and who plays the winner or second-placed side in D2.
The Dynaboars also confirmed 12 players will be departing at the end of the season but high-profile names such as Brad Weber and Lukhanyo Am were not included.
You can see all the fixtures and results on the JRLO website here.
Division Two
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners lost last week, and Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi’s win means it’s still all up for grabs this final weekend.
Third-place Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks are only 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. Skills Coach for the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, Will Genia, has confirmed he is also leaving at the end of the season.
The D2 Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves will be playing the SECOM Nuggets on 22 and 31 May in their Promotion/Relegation match, while the Hino Red Dolphins will face D3 winners SkyActivs Hiroshima.
The Hino Red Dolphins have won 1 game all season, and the D3 champions are yet to lose.
Photo Credit – JRLO
Saturday May 9
- Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex v Hino Red Dolphins; at Miyazaki, 1pm
- Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves v Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks; at Iwate, 1pm
Sunday May 10
- Hanazono Kintetsu Liners v Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi; at Osaka (Hanazono), 12pm
Monday May 11
- Monday May 11 Red Hurricanes Osaka v Green Rockets Tokatsu; at Osaka (Yanmar), 7pm
Division Three
The SkyActivs Hiroshima completed back-to-back Division Three titles last weekend.
Saturday May 9
- SkyActivs Hiroshima v SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS; at Hiroshima, 12pm
Sunday May 10
- Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions v Kurita Water Gush Akishima; at Hiroshima, 1pm
- Le RIRO Fukuoka v Yakult Levins Toda; at Fukuoka, 1pm
JRLO News
- Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 17 Review.
- Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 17 Preview.
- Lukhanyo Am – I Would Encourage Players To Come and Play in the Japan Rugby League One.
- Rassie Erasmus on the Good Relationships they have with the JRLO Clubs.
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