2015–16 Top League Panasonic win the Lixil Cup for season 2015–16.
Countries Japan Date 13 November 2015 – 24 January 2016 Champions Panasonic Wild Knights (4th title)
Runners-up Toshiba Brave Lupus Matches played 115 Top point scorer Ayumu Goromaru (83 pts)
Yamaha Júbilo Top try scorer Taiyo Ando (6 tries)
Toyota Verblitz Shota Emi (6 tries)
Suntory Sungoliath
The 2015–16 Top League was the 13th season of Japan 's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League . It kicked off on 13 November 2015 and was completed on 24 January 2016.[1] The final was won by Panasonic Wild Knights defeating Toshiba Brave Lupus by 27–26.
A short pre-season competition was also played from 3 September to 10 October 2015 to provide each Top League team with five official matches before the regular season.[2] [3]
Teams [ ]
The only change to the make-up of the league was the Challenge One winner Honda Heat replacing Kyuden Voltex .[4]
Team
Region
Coach
Captain
Canon Eagles
Machida, Tokyo , Kantō
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Fukuoka , Kyushu
Honda Heat
Suzuka, Mie
Kintetsu Liners
Higashiosaka, Osaka , Kansai
Kobelco Steelers
Kobe , Kansai
Allister Coetzee
Daiki Hashimoto
Kubota Spears
Abiko, Chiba , Kantō
Toutai Kefu
NEC Green Rockets
Abiko, Chiba , Kantō
Masao Amino
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Osaka , Kansai
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Chiba, Chiba , Kantō
Rob Penney
Panasonic Wild Knights
Ota, Gunma , Kantō
Robbie Deans
Shota Horie
Ricoh Black Rams
Tokyo , Kantō
Damien Hill
Suntory Sungoliath
Fuchū, Tokyo , Kantō
Andy Friend
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Fuchū, Tokyo , Kantō
Jimmy Stonehouse
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Aichi , Mizuho
Toyota Verblitz
Toyota, Aichi , Tokai
Yamaha Júbilo
Iwata, Shizuoka , Tokai
Format [ ]
Owing to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Japan 's entry into the 2016 Super Rugby tournament , the 2015–16 Top League format was altered from the previous year.
Pre-season league
A pre-season competition was staged to provide each Top League team with five matches before the regular season. In the first stage, played from 3–19 September, the 16 teams were placed into 4 pools of 4 teams each and a round-robin was played within each pool.[2] [3]
For the second stage, played from 3–10 October, the top teams in each pool were bracketed together to determine the pre-season competition winner. Semifinals and a consolation final and final were played to decide positions 1 to 4. The second-ranked teams in each pool played off for positions 5 to 8, the third-ranked teams played off for positions 9 to 12, and the bottom teams from each pool played off for positions 13 to 16.[2] [3]
Regular season
For the Pool stage , the 16 teams were placed into 2 pools of 8 teams each and a round-robin was played within each of the pools. At the conclusion of the pool stage, the top 4 sides in each pool advanced to the title play-offs to determine the Top League champion and the final classification positions 1 to 8. Similarly, the bottom 4 sides in each pool went on to the lower bracket play-offs to determine the final classification positions 9 to 16.
Preseason [ ]
Standings [ ]
show Top League - Pre-season pool stage
Pool A
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Toyota Verblitz
3
3
0
0
91
46
+45
2
0
14
2
Panasonic Wild Knights
3
2
0
1
93
50
+43
2
1
11
3
NEC Green Rockets
3
1
0
2
59
85
−26
1
0
5
4
Honda Heat
3
0
0
3
38
100
−62
0
0
0
Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.net
Pool B
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Suntory Sungoliath
3
3
0
0
77
26
+41
1
0
13
2
Kintetsu Liners
3
2
0
1
111
46
+65
2
1
11
3
Yamaha Júbilo
3
1
0
2
62
78
−16
1
0
5
4
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
3
0
0
3
29
119
−90
0
0
0
Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.net
Pool C
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Kobelco Steelers
3
3
0
0
71
28
+43
0
0
12
2
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
3
1
0
2
40
44
−4
0
1
5
3
NTT Com Shining Arcs
3
1
0
2
39
46
−7
0
0
4
4
Kubota Spears
3
1
0
2
29
61
−32
0
0
4
Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.net
Pool D
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Toshiba Brave Lupus
3
3
0
0
74
53
+21
2
0
14
2
Ricoh Black Rams
3
2
0
1
70
73
−3
1
0
9
3
Canon Eagles
3
0
1
2
40
44
−4
0
2
4
4
Toyota Industries Shuttles
3
0
1
2
69
69
−14
1
1
4
Updated: 19 September 2015 Source: rugbyarchive.net
• Teams ranked 1 (Green background) qualify to semifinals.
• Teams ranked 2 (Blue background) qualify for 5th place semifinals.
• Teams ranked 3 (White background) qualify for 9th place semifinals.
• Teams ranked 4 (Yellow background) qualify for 13th place semifinals.
Source: rugbyarchive.net
Four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2). If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
• Difference between points for and against
• Total number of points for
• Number of matches won
• Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
• Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Preseason play-offs [ ]
Fourth bracket [ ]
13th–16th semifinals
Thirteenth play-off
B4
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
24
D4
Toyota Shokki Shuttles
35
W1
Toyota Shokki Shuttles
21
W2
Kubota Spears
17
A4
Honda Heat
10
C4
Kubota Spears
40
Fifteenth play-off
L1
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
24
L2
Honda Heat
21
Third bracket [ ]
9th–12th semifinals
Ninth play-off
A3
NEC Green Rockets
20
C3
NTT Com Shining Arcs
28
W3
NTT Com Shining Arcs
48
W4
Canon Eagles
25
B3
Yamaha Jubilo
24
D3
Canon Eagles
27
Eleventh play-off
L3
NEC Green Rockets
18
L4
Yamaha Jubilo
26
Second bracket [ ]
5th–8th semifinals
Fifth play-off
B2
Kintetsu Liners
22
D2
Ricoh Black Rams
32
W5
Ricoh Black Rams
17
W6
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
26
A2
Panasonic Wild Knights *
–
C2
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
w/o
Seventh play-off
L5
Kintetsu Liners
w/o
L6
Panasonic Wild Knights †
–
Notes:
^* Panasonic forfeited their semifinal. NTT Docomo gained the walk over.
^† Panasonic forfeited the 7th place final. Kintetsu gained the walk over.
First bracket [ ]
1st–4th semifinals
Final
B1
Suntory Sungoliath
23
D1
Toshiba Brave Lupus
21
W7
Suntory Sungoliath
24
W8
Kobelco Steelers
27
A1
Toyota Verblitz
14
C1
Kobelco Steelers
30
Third play-off
L7
Toshiba Brave Lupus
13
L8
Toyota Verblitz
20
Regular season [ ]
Standings [ ]
Top League - Pool Stage
Pool A
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Yamaha Júbilo
7
6
0
1
226
140
+86
5
0
29
2
Kobelco Steelers
7
5
0
2
235
137
+98
5
2
27
3
Toyota Verblitz
7
5
0
2
203
125
+78
5
1
26
4
Canon Eagles
7
5
0
2
196
142
+54
4
1
25
5
Toyota Industries Shuttles
7
3
0
4
175
212
-37
1
0
13
6
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
7
2
1
4
141
197
-56
1
1
12
7
NEC Green Rockets
7
1
1
5
100
202
-102
0
1
7
8
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
7
0
0
7
143
264
-121
1
2
3
Updated: 27 December 2015 Source: rugbyarchive.net
• Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) advance to the title play-offs .
• Teams 5 to 8 (Blue background) go on to the lower bracket play-offs .
Pool B
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Panasonic Wild Knights
7
6
1
0
290
137
+153
5
0
31
2
Toshiba Brave Lupus
7
5
1
1
253
100
+153
4
0
26
3
Kintetsu Liners
7
5
0
2
189
193
-4
3
0
23
4
NTT Com Shining Arcs
7
4
0
3
190
142
+48
4
2
22
5
Suntory Sungoliath
7
4
0
3
227
148
+79
4
1
21
6
Kubota Spears
7
2
0
5
118
240
-122
1
1
10
7
Honda Heat
7
1
0
6
99
253
-154
0
1
5
8
Ricoh Black Rams
7
0
0
7
129
282
-153
1
1
2
Updated: 27 December 2015 Source: rugbyarchive.net
• Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) advance to the title play-offs .
• Teams 5 to 8 (Blue background) go on to the lower bracket play-offs .
Source: rugbyarchive.net
Four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2). If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
• Difference between points for and against
• Total number of points for
• Number of matches won
• Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
• Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Pool stage [ ]
Round 1 [ ]
14 November 2015
Toyota Industries Shuttles
24–17
NEC Green Rockets
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
11:40
Try: 26' c Vaka 29' c Vatuvei 42' cCon: Hegarty (3) 26', 29', 42'Pen: Hegarty (1) 69'
Try: 8' c 32' cCon: Norton-Knight (1) 8' Tamura 32'Pen: Norton-Knight (1) 40'
Attendance: 5,320
14 November 2015
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
23–19
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
12:00
Try: 19' 35' Paea 43' cCon: (1) 43'Pen: (1) 3' Pollard (1) 58'
Try: 15' c 53' c 71'Con: (2) 15', 53'
Attendance: 6,930 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
14 November 2015
Kintetsu Liners
25–12
Honda Heat
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:05
Try: Spies 11' Penalty Try 24' c 29' Kim 54'Con: (1) 24'Pen: (1) 16'
Try: Lemeki 20' c 63'Con: (1) 20'
Attendance: 8,774
Round 2 [ ]
21 November 2015
Ricoh Black Rams
18–24
Honda Heat
Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Kauhenga 69' c 79'Con: (1) 69'Pen: (2) 9', 54'
Try: 3' c 60' c 65' cCon: (3) 3', 60', 65'Drop: 74'
Attendance: 4,570 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
21 November 2015
Canon Eagles
34–17
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Kikutani 24' c le Roux 40' c 49' c 76' cCon: (4) 24', 40', 49', 76'Pen: (2) 31', 35'
Try: 61' c 80' cCon: Pollard (2) 61', 80'Pen: (1) 3'
Attendance: 5,039
21 November 2015
Suntory Sungoliath
55–14
Kubota Spears
Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium
show
11:40
Try: Emi 17', 76' c Tui 23' c du Preez 30' c 46' Sasaki 58' c Nagare 61' c 72' cCon: Pisi (6) 23', 30', 58', 61', 72', 76'Pen: Pisi (1) 38'
Try: 48' c Saunders 54' cCon: (2) 48', 54'
Attendance: 5,247
21 November 2015
Panasonic Wild Knights
47–27
Kintetsu Liners
Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Kitagawa 22' c, 42' c Sasakura 41' c Holani 54' c Pietersen 64' cCon: Barnes (4) 22', 41', 42', 54' Parker (1) 64'Pen: Barnes (2) 1', 28' Parker (2) 68', 79'
Try: de Allende 18' c Spies 32' c 78' cCon: (3) 18', 32', 78'Pen: (2) 13', 16'
Attendance: 7,278
21 November 2015
Toshiba Brave Lupus
13–37
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 14' cCon: Steyn (1) 14'Pen: Steyn (2) 31', 42'
Try: 20' c Mafi 51' c, 63' c 70' cCon: Jantjies (2) 20', 51' Ogura (2) 63', 70'Pen: Jantjies (1) 13' (2) 57', 67'
Attendance: 4,911 Referee: Mike Fraser (NZL)
22 November 2015
NEC Green Rockets
12–46
Kobelco Steelers
Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Tamura 23' c 64'Con: Tamura (1) 23'
Try: Bekker 4' Anderson 32' 37' c Kizu 51' c Yamashita 54' c Taniguchi 60' c 78'Con: Yamanaka (4) 37', 51' 54', 60'Drop: Yamanaka (1) 15'
Attendance: 7,980 Referee: Shinya Kato
Round 3 [ ]
28 November 2015
Suntory Sungoliath
19–25
Kintetsu Liners
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
11:40
Try: Ono 12' c 39' c 67'Con: Ono (2) 12', 39'
Try: 4' c Spies 7' c 30'Con: (2) 4', 7'Pen: (2) 15', 71'
Attendance: 3, 055 Referee: Tomohiro Ogawa
28 November 2015
Toyota Verblitz
45–21
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Ando 6' c 21' c Robinson 33' c 36' c Hikosaka 58' c Bothma 78' cCon: (6) 6', 21', 33', 36', 58', 78'Pen: (1) 14'
Try: Hegarty 26' c 42' c Vaka 66' cCon: Hegarty (3) 26', 42', 66'
Attendance: 6,449 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
29 November 2015
Panasonic Wild Knights
59–28
Ricoh Black Rams
Ota Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Kitagawa 6' c McCalman 11' c, 50' c Heenan 20' c 59' c 63' c 66' c Nunomaki 76' cCon: (8) 6', 11', 20', 50', 59', 63', 66', 76'Pen: (1) 34'
Try: Kauhenga 16' c, 73' c 42' c 80' cCon: Foley (4) 16', 42', 73' 80'
Attendance: 5,756 Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi
29 November 2015
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
25–31
Canon Eagles
Ōita Bank Dome
show
13:00
Try: Wykes 5' 51'Pen: (5) 6', 31', 38' 50', 56'
Try: Penalty Try 18' c le Roux 58' c 68' c 71' cCon: (1) 18' (3) 58', 68', 71'Pen: (1) 24'
Attendance: 5,176 Referee: Kazuhito Taniguchi
Round 4 [ ]
5 December 2015
NEC Green Rockets
15–33
Canon Eagles
Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 27', 76' cCon: Webb (1) 76'Pen: Webb (1) 25'
Try: Ives 2', 71' c 40' c 52' c 80' cCon: (4) 40', 52', 71', 80'
Attendance: 1,852
6 December 2015
Honda Heat
21–59
Suntory Sungoliath
Umakana Yokana Stadium
show
11:40
Try: 33' c 34' c Coetzee 53' cCon: (3) 33', 34', 53'
Try: Makabe 5' c Emi 12', 78' c Tui 15' c, 44' c 19' Ono 50' c 59' c Pisi 68' cCon: Ono (7) 5', 15', 44', 50', 59', 68', 78'
Attendance: 14,133 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
6 December 2015
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
28–38
Yamaha Júbilo
Umakana Yokana Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 12' c 32' c 55' c 70' cCon: (4) 12', 32', 55', 70'
Try: 5' c, 29' c Hino 18' c, 23' c Piutau 37' cCon: Goromaru (5) 5', 18', 23', 29', 37'Drop: (1) 74'
Attendance: 18,005 Referee: Tomohiro Ogawa
6 December 2015
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
14–36
Toyota Verblitz
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
12:00
Try: 22' c Paea 63' cCon: Pollard (1) 22' (1) 63'
Try: 2' c, 39' c, 50' Ando 12' c 46' cCon: (4) 2', 12', 39', 46'Pen: (1) 20'
Attendance: 8,975 Referee: Shinya Kato
6 December 2015
Kubota Spears
17–40
Kintetsu Liners
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:05
Try: 68' c 73' cCon: Tatekawa (1) 68' (1) 73'Pen: (1) 22'
Try: Kim 7' c 26' c, 75' 37' c, 49' c 54' cCon: (5) 7', 26', 37', 49', 54'
Attendance: 11,404
Round 5 [ ]
12 December 2015
Honda Heat
12–17
Kubota Spears
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
12:00
Try: 20' c 29'Con: (1) 20'
Try: 1' c Penalty Try 52' cCon: (1) 1' (1) 52'Pen: (1) 53'
Attendance: 5,050
12 December 2015
Kintetsu Liners
40–22
Ricoh Black Rams
Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:05
Try: 1', 72' c 13', 66' c Winterstein 42' cCon: (3) 42', 66', 72'Pen: (3) 25', 40', 52'
Try: 16' c Nanai-Williams 54' c Kauhenga 78'Con: Foley (1) 16' (1) 54'Pen: Foley (1) 7'
Attendance: 6,355
12 December 2015
Toyota Verblitz
34–3
NEC Green Rockets
Toyota Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 50' c, 64' c Ando 58' c, 73' cCon: (4) 50', 58', 64', 73'Pen: (2) 24', 43'
Pen: Webb (1) 7'
Attendance: 7,352 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco )
13 December 2015
Toyota Industries Shuttles
19–35
Canon Eagles
Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 32' 56' c Penalty Try 79' cCon: Hegarty (1) 56' Gerrard (1) 79'
Try: 41' c Thomson 44' c 51' c le Roux 64' c 80' cCon: (5) 41', 44', 51', 64', 80'
Attendance: 2,160 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Round 6 [ ]
19 December 2015
Canon Eagles
26–10
Toyota Verblitz
Machida Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 38' c, 52' 55'Con: (1) 38'Pen: (3) 3', 9', 13'
Try: 34' cCon: (1) 34'Pen: (1) 17'
Attendance: 2,670 Referee: Taku Otsuki
20 December 2015
Kubota Spears
27–30
Panasonic Wild Knights
Fukuda Denshi Arena
show
13:00
Try: 2' c 9' c Saunders 40' cCon: (3) 2', 9', 40'Pen: (2) 32', 43'
Try: McCalman 49' c Heenan 54' c Pietersen 67' cCon: Barnes (3) 49', 54', 67'Pen: (3) 6', 13', 24'
Attendance: 4,889 Referee: Sam Groves-White (Sco )
20 December 2015
Suntory Sungoliath
37–20
Ricoh Black Rams
Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Tui 28' c, 62' 55' Emi 59' c Kakinaga 80' cCon: Pisi (2) 28', 59' Ono (1) 80'Pen: Pisi (1) 34' Ono (1) 75'
Try: 16' c Bourke 66' cCon: Foley (1) 16' (1) 66'Pen: Foley (1) 39' (1) 52'
Attendance: 3,899 Referee: Takashi Harada
20 December 2015
Kintetsu Liners
12–58
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Konoike Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Penalty Try 36' c Taylor 54'Con: (1) 36'
Try: Kahui 5' c 13' Toyoshima 24', 41' Yuhara 28' c Steyn 31' c Kotaki 49' c Ogawa 69' c 74'Con: Ogawa (5) 5', 28', 31', 49', 69'Pen: Ogawa (1) 18'
Attendance: 6,156 Referee: Akihisa Aso
20 December 2015
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
28–29
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Miyazaki Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 8' c 54' c 60' c Eto 63'Con: (1) 8' Pollard (3) 54', 60', 63'
Try: 38' c Vatuvei 77' cCon: Gerrard (2) 38', 77'Pen: Gerrard (5) 6', 18', 20', 51', 57'
Attendance: 3,975 Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi
Round 7 [ ]
26 December 2015
Suntory Sungoliath
14–25
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Ono 23' c 80' cCon: Ono (1) 23' Pisi (1) 80'
Try: 8' c Penalty Try 18' c 36'Con: Ogawa (2) 8', 18'Pen: Ogawa (2) 3', 32'
Attendance: 25,164 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
26 December 2015
Toyota Industries Shuttles
70–17
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
11:40
Try: Vatuvei 18' c Vaka 33' c, 51' c 46' c, 60' c 56' c 64' 68' c 73' cCon: Gerrard (6) 18', 33', 45', 51', 56', 60' Hegarty (2) 68', 73'Pen: Gerrard (2) 40', 41' Hegarty (1) 80'
Try: 10' c 79' cCon: Lafaele (2) 10', 79'Pen: Lafaele (1) 31'
Attendance: 3,277 Referee: Takashi Harada
26 December 2015
Kintetsu Liners
20–18
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 35' c, 70' cCon: (2) 35', 70'Pen: (2) 17', 64'
Try: 23' c 28'Con: Jantjies (1) 23'Pen: Jantjies (2) 38', 47'
Attendance: 4,275
26 December 2015
Kubota Spears
31–22
Ricoh Black Rams
Kincho Stadium
show
11:40
Try: 36' c 45' c, 80' c 51' cCon: (3) 36', 45', 51' (1) 80'Pen: (1) 6'
Try: Bourke 9' c 13' c 20'Con: Foley (2) 9', 13'Pen: (1) 33'
Attendance: 2,539 Referee: Akihisa Aso
26 December 2015
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
14–14
NEC Green Rockets
Kincho Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Paea 9' c Kriel 77' cCon: Pollard (1) 9' Paea (1) 77'
Try: 46'Pen: (3) 25', 36', 59'
Attendance: 5,466 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
26 December 2015
Panasonic Wild Knights
64–5
Honda Heat
Ota Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 3' c Kodama 12' c Tanaka 17' c 25' c, 72' Heenan 38' c McCalman 51' c, 60' c Parker 80' cCon: Barnes (5) 3', 12', 17', 25', 38' (3) 51', 60', 80'Pen: Barnes (1) 7'
Try: Lemeki 67'
Attendance: 5,284 Referee: Taku Otsuki
26 December 2015
Kobelco Steelers
25–32
Toyota Verblitz
Misaki Park Stadium
show
13:00
Try: (2) 39', 62' Wing 48' c 65'Con: (1) 48'Pen: Yamanaka (1) 3'
Try: Yates 19' c 25' c 51' Hikosaka 75' cCon: (3) 19', 25', 75'Pen: (2) 17', 72'
Attendance: 9,159 Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi
Lower bracket play-offs[ ]
This section needs to be updated . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2016 )
Lower quarterfinals 9th to 12th bracket Ninth place
9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 4
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
16 January 2016 – 14:05 – Match 8
Honda Heat
Winner Match 4
9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 1
Winner Match 1
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
23 January 2016 – 14:00
Suntory Sungoliath
Winner Match 8
9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 2
Winner Match 7
Toyota Industries Shuttles
16 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 7
Ricoh Black Rams
Winner Match 2
9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 3
Winner Match 3 Eleventh place
NEC Green Rockets
23 January 2016 – 12:00
Kubota Spears
Loser Match 8
Loser Match 7
13th to 16th bracket Thirteenth place
16 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 5
Loser Match 2
23 January 2016 – 14:00
Loser Match 3
Winner Match 5
16 January 2016 – 12:00 – Match 6
Winner Match 6
Loser Match 4
Loser Match 1
Fifteenth place
23 January 2016 – 11:40
Loser Match 5
Loser Match 6
Lower quarterfinals [ ]
Match 2
9 January 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
27–17
Ricoh Black Rams
Chichibunomiya
show
14:00
Play-offs 9th–12th and 13th–16th [ ]
Match 5
16 January 2016
Loser Match 2
–
Loser Match 3
show
11:40
Match 6
16 January 2016
Loser Match 4
–
Loser Match 1
show
12:00
Match 7
16 January 2016
Winner Match 2
–
Winner Match 3
show
14:00
Match 8
16 January 2016
Winner Match 4
–
Winner Match 1
show
14:05
Classification finals [ ]
15th place
23 January 2016
Loser Match 5
–
Loser Match 6
show
11:40
13th place
23 January 2016
Winner Match 5
–
Winner Match 6
show
14:00
11th place
23 January 2016
Loser Match 8
–
Loser Match 7
show
12:00
9th place
23 January 2016
Winner Match 8
–
Winner Match 7
show
14:05
Title play-offs[ ]
This section needs to be updated . Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2016 )
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
9 January 2016 – 13:00 – Match 4
Yamaha Júbilo 26
16 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 7
NTT Com Shining Arcs 7
Yamaha Júbilo 22
9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 1
Toshiba Brave Lupus 34
Toyota Verblitz 17
24 January 2016 – 14:00 – Chichibunomiya
Toshiba Brave Lupus 29
Toshiba Brave Lupus 26
9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 2
Panasonic Wild Knights 27
Kobelco Steelers 42
16 January 2016 – 14:05 – Match 8
Kintetsu Liners 10
Kobelco Steelers 10
9 January 2016 – 13:00 – Match 3
Panasonic Wild Knights 42
Third place
Canon Eagles 6
24 January 2016 – 11:40 – Chichibunomiya
Panasonic Wild Knights 46
Kobelco Steelers 22
Yamaha Júbilo 26
5th to 8th bracket Fifth place
16 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 5
NTT Com Shining Arcs 21
23 January 2016 – 14:00
Toyota Verblitz 32
Toyota Verblitz 48
16 January 2016 – 12:00 – Match 6
Canon Eagles 17
Kintetsu Liners 18
Canon Eagles 24
Seventh place
23 January 2016 – 11:40
NTT Com Shining Arcs 17
Kintetsu Liners 22
Quarterfinals [ ]
Match 2
9 January 2016
Kobelco Steelers
42–10
Kintetsu Liners
Mizuho Stadium
show
14:00
Match 3
9 January 2016
Canon Eagles
6–46
Panasonic Wild Knights
Kincho Stadium
show
13:00
Match 4
9 January 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
26–7
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Nippatsu Stadium
show
13:00
Semifinals and play-offs 5th–8th [ ]
Match 6
16 January 2016
Kintetsu Liners
18–24
Canon Eagles
show
12:00
Match 7 – Semifinal
16 January 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
22–34
Toshiba Brave Lupus
show
14:00
Match 8 – Semifinal
16 January 2016
Kobelco Steelers
10–42
Panasonic Wild Knights
show
14:05
Classification finals [ ]
7th place
23 January 2016
Kintetsu Liners
22–17
NTT Com Shining Arcs
show
11:40
Final [ ]
show Team details
Team 1
FB
15
RW
14
OC
13
IC
12
LW
11
FH
10
SH
9
N8
8
OF
7
BF
6
RL
5
LL
4
TP
3
HK
2
(c )
LP
1
Replacements:
HK
16
PR
17
PR
18
LK
19
FL
20
SH
21
CE
22
FB
23
Coach:
Team 2
FB
15
RW
14
OC
13
IC
12
LW
11
FH
10
SH
9
N8
8
OF
7
BF
6
RL
5
(c )
LL
4
TP
3
HK
2
LP
1
Replacements:
HK
16
PR
17
PR
18
FL
19
FL
20
SH
21
CE
22
FB
23
Coach:
All-Japan qualification [ ]
The 2016 All-Japan Rugby Football Championship took place as a one-off final match played between the respective winners of the Japanese Top League competition and the All-Japan University Rugby Championship . The match will be played at the Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo on 31 January 2016.[5]
The abbreviated format was chosen due to the busy schedule for Japanese Rugby which included the 2015 Rugby World Cup as well as Asian qualification for the 2016 Olympics and the introduction of a Japanese Super Rugby team.[5]
Top League Challenge Series [ ]
Kyuden Voltex , Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars , Munakata Sanix Blues and progressed to the promotion play-offs .
Promotion and relegation play-offs [ ]
This section needs expansion with: Results . You can help by . (July 2015 )
End-of-season awards [ ]
This section needs expansion with: Results . You can help by . (July 2015 )
Team of the season [ ]
References [ ]
show Japan Rugby League One
2022 teams
Division One Division Two Division Three
Former teams Seasons
show Governing body National teams
Competitions
International National Amateur Hosted events Defunct
Major figures Related articles