Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Playoffs Round 1 Review

The NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 playoffs in the D1 Quarterfinals and Relegation/Promotion matches first leg fixtures saw some exciting matches as both Tokyo Sungoliath and Kubota Spears progressed into the semifinals in D1.

All Photo Credit JRLO

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 D1 teams (Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars & Urayasu D-Rocks) both won and took 20+ point advantages into the second leg against the top D2 sides (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi & Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks).

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

NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Playoffs 

NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 D1 semifinals take place 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 40-35 BlackRams Tokyo – Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Tokyo)

Photo Credit JRLO

The Tokyo Sungoliath defeated BlackRams Tokyo in one of the most exciting games of the season, with Cheslin Kolbe scoring 20 points in the 40-35 victory, which was secured in the 84th minute thanks to a try by Tokyo Sungoliath prop Yukio Morikawa.

It was also bittersweet news for his fans as he confirmed he will be leaving them and Japan after this season, but the focus for now will be on the semifinal in which they face Dave Rennie and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers next weekend.

TJ Perenara almost single-handedly dragged his team and motivated them to the unlikeliest of comebacks after they were blown away in the opening quarter as the Sungoliath raced out to a 17-0 lead and scored more than a point a minute. Kolbe scored the opening try as his side ran in three unanswered scores.

Former (Waikato) Chiefs flyhalf Kaleb Trask also claimed his 10th try of the season at the end of the half as they led 25-10 heading into the sheds after TJ Perenara had scored his side’s only try.

The second half was a different game, and the BlackRams came out firing and put huge pressure on the team in yellow. Taira Main scored twice, and a second for the captain, TJ Perenara, saw them close the gap to 27-25. A Masashi Onishi unconverted score and an Ichigo Nakakusu’s penalty in the 78th minute saw them take the lead.

Photo Credit JRLO

Perenara’s influence on the game and the match official, as well as his fiery approach, was something to admire. Players such as Liam Gill (14 tackles after 50 minutes) and a former Reds teammate, Isaac Lucas, both impressed for the BlacRams. 

The BlackRams thought they had pulled off the comeback win when they attempted a Ichigo Nakakusu penalty in the 80th minute, but the attempted kick was missed, and crucially failed to go dead. The ensuing minutes played (not sure they were warranted) were enough to see Sungoliath make their opponents pay, and they secured a win to march on to the semifinals.

It was the Sungoliath’s 20th win over the BlackRams in 21 encounters.

Sunday May 24

Kubota Spears 26-3 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Tokyo)

Photo Credit JRLO

Toshiba Brave Lupus’ champion status in JRLO D1 came to an end after they fell to Kubota Spears, who were deserved winners but made hard work of their dominance. It meant it was a losing farewell to Brave Lupus fly-half Richie Mo’unga, who heads back to NZ to play for the All Blacks.

Frans Ludeke’s Spears gained revenge for last year’s defeat in the championship game after battling through a tight opening half, which saw his side with a slight lead of 7-3 thanks to rookie scrumhalf Ippei Okada’s opportunistic try. They looked most dangerous with the ball in hand, and both Shaun Stevenson and Bernard Foley impressed among the backs.

They finally capitalised on the dominance in the second period when both Brave Blossoms winger Halatoa Vailea and captain Faulua Makisi scored – it was the skipper’s 12th try of the season, and he was imposing all game but looked to have picked up a knock on his shoulder. They will need all of him for the semifinal.

Photo Credit JRLO

There were questionable match official calls, but the Spears had such dominance at scrum time, and kept opting for tap and goes, which the Brave Lupus defended well. It might have been a blowout score and seen more players from Todd Blackadder’s side in the bin for repeat infringements at the scrum had the Spear opted for scrums 5m out from their opponents’ try line. Ludeke’s team tactics were confusing at times.

For the Brave Lupus, Mo’anga actually had a quiet game as his side was always on the back foot. The likes of Jone Naikabula tried to power past players, and he was solid in defence and attack. Captain Michael Leitch came off second best when he collided with his opposite captain and had to leave the field. Michael Stolberg was lucky to escape a yellow card for a high hit, too.

Spears’ South African-born outside centre Rikus Pretorius crossed for the final score a minute before the end of the game.

Saitama Wild Knights will take on the Kubota Spears in the semifinal – 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.

D1/D2 Relegation/Promotion JRLO Playoff Matches, Game 1

Saturday May 23

Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi (D2) 14-36 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars (D1) – Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium (Aichi)

In The Replacement Battles, the D2 champions Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi face an uphill battle after Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars defeated them 36-14.

Both Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am and All Black scrumhalf Brad Webber were among the try-scorers as the Dynaboars have more than likely secured their D1 status. 

The D2 side had a healthy 22-0 halftime lead, and Am’s try was the fourth his side had scored in the contest to lead 29-0 after 50 minutes. The Shuttles scored twice to reduce the deficit, with Chance Peni scoring his 14th this season.

Photo Credit JRLO

Shimizu Construction Koto Blue Sharks (D2) 15-37 Urayasu D-Rocks (D1) – Yumenoshima Stadium, Koto Ward, Tokyo

Division Two runners-up Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks are also going to need an almighty second leg to try and secure promotion after being beaten by a similar scoreline 37-15, by Urayasu D-Rocks.

The D1 side scored three tries in the final ten minutes to most likely put the two-game series to bed. Springbok backrower Jasper Wiese came off the bench to score twice as Graham Rowntree’s side overturned a 10-6 halftime deficit.

Genta Nishibata scored two tries for the defeated D2 side (to take his season tally to 12) as they were outscored four tries to two – the final try was scored in the 85th minute by Urayasu D-Rocks.

Photo Credit JRLO

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

D2/D3 Relegation/Promotion Match, Game 1

Friday May 22

Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves (D2) 19-17 Sayama Secom Rugguts (D3) – Iwagin Stadium (Iwate)

Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves take a slender two-point advantage into the second leg against D3 runners-up Sayama Secom Rugguts.

The D2 side was held scoreless in the second half in their 19-17 win in Iwate – they have never lost in seven Replacement Battle matches, and former Tonga coach Toutai Kefu will hope to keep that record intact next weekend.

His side led at the break, scoring three tries, but Rugguts Shota Kutsuna pulled one back before being yellow-carded. The Sayama Secom Rugguts scored a converted try and a penalty in the second period in addition to shutting out their opponents.

Photo Credit JRLO

Saturday May 23

Hino Red Dolphins (D2) 20-17 Mazda Skyactivs Hiroshima (D3) – AGF Field (Tokyo)

Hino Red Dolphins, with just one win under their belts all season, scored a late 70th-minute penalty goal by centre Tony Alofipo to edge the Division Three champions SkyActivs Hiroshima – it was just the second loss for the D3 side all year, but it is two losses in a row.

It couldn’t have started worse for the Skyactivs as Clynton Knox was yellow-carded early and Hino Red Dolphins scored two tries before Jackson Pugh made it 10-5 at the break (his 7th try this season).

He added his 8th after the break, and the Red Dolphins retook the lead with a Kyosuke Horie try. A second yellow but an additional try for the D3 champions saw them square it up before the 70th-minute penalty saw Hino Red Dolphins edge ahead.

The second round of the Replacement Battles will be played on the weekend of May 30-31, alongside the Division One semi-finals.

Photo Credit JRLO

Next Fixtures – JRLO

D1 Semifinals:

• Saturday May 30 (1) Kobelco Kobe Steelers v (4) Tokyo Sungoliath; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 12.05pm 
• Sunday May 31 (2) Saitama Wild Knights v (3) Kubota Spears; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.05pm 

Replacement Battles:

Saturday May 30

• SkyActivs Hiroshima v Hino Red Dolphins; at Hiroshima, 1pm 
• Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars v Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi; at Kanagawa, 1pm 
• Urayasu D-Rocks v Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks; at Tokyo (Yumenoshima), 2.30pm

Sunday May 31 

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

JRLO News 2026

• Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Playoffs Round 1 Preview.
• Will Genia Leaves Japan Set on a Coaching Journey.
• Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 Round 18 Review.
• Lukhanyo Am – I Would Encourage Players To Come and Play in the Japan Rugby League One.