2016–17 Top League Captain Yutaka Nagare of Suntory, the 2016–17 winners.
Countries Japan Date 26 August 2016 – 14 January 2017 Champions Suntory Sungoliath Runners-up Yamaha Júbilo Relegated Honda Heat Matches played 120 Attendance 584,640 (average 4,872 per match) Top point scorer Kosei Ono (187)Top try scorer Takaaki Nakazuru (17)
The 2016–17 Top League is the 14th season of Japan 's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League . It kicked off on 26 August 2016 and the final round of league matches were played on 14 January 2017.[1]
Teams [ ]
The only change to the make-up of the league was the Challenge One winner Munakata Sanix Blues replacing NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes .[2]
Team
Region
Coach
Captain
Canon Eagles
Machida, Tokyo , Kantō
Yusuke Niwai
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Fukuoka , Kyushu
Honda Heat
Suzuka, Mie
Kintetsu Liners
Higashiosaka, Osaka , Kansai
Kobelco Steelers
Kobe , Kansai
Jim McKay
Daiki Hashimoto
Kubota Spears
Abiko, Chiba , Kantō
Frans Ludeke
Harumichi Tatekawa
Munakata Sanix Blues
Munakata, Fukuoka , Kyushu
NEC Green Rockets
Abiko, Chiba , Kantō
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
Yutaka Nagare
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Fuchū, Tokyo , Kantō
Teppei Tomioka
Michael Leitch
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Aichi , Mizuho
Toyota Verblitz
Toyota, Aichi , Tokai
Taiyo Ando
Yamaha Júbilo
Iwata, Shizuoka , Tokai
Takeshi Hino
Competition [ ]
The regular season saw all 16 teams competing in a round-robin style tournament where they played each team in the league once.[3]
Unlike previous seasons, there were no title-play-offs, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stages was crowned the champion. The top three teams progressed to the 54th All Japan Rugby Football Championship .
Standings [ ]
Top League - League Stage
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
1
Suntory Sungoliath
15
15
0
0
563
184
+379
11
0
71
2
Yamaha Júbilo
15
14
0
1
580
208
+372
11
0
67
3
Panasonic Wild Knights
15
13
0
2
579
268
+311
9
1
62
4
Kobelco Steelers
15
10
0
5
473
328
+145
7
1
48
5
NTT Com Shining Arcs
15
9
0
6
336
292
+44
4
1
41
6
Ricoh Black Rams
15
8
0
7
390
362
+28
4
4
40
7
Canon Eagles
15
8
0
7
379
336
+43
2
3
37
8
Toyota Verblitz
15
7
0
8
353
332
+21
4
4
36
9
Toshiba Brave Lupus
15
6
0
9
351
381
−30
4
6
34
10
NEC Green Rockets
15
6
1
8
337
401
−64
3
2
31
11
Munakata Sanix Blues
15
7
0
8
280
481
−201
0
1
29
12
Kubota Spears
15
6
1
8
271
387
−116
1
1
28
13
Kintetsu Liners
15
3
0
12
268
417
−149
0
6
18
14
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
15
3
0
12
239
478
−239
2
3
17
15
Toyota Industries Shuttles
15
3
0
12
292
539
−247
1
3
16
16
Honda Heat
15
1
0
14
274
571
−297
0
3
7
Updated: 15 January 2017 Source: itsrugby.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 March 2017)
• Teams 1 to 3 (Green background) advance to the 54th All Japan Rugby Football Championship .
• Teams 13 to 15 (Blue background) go on to the 2016–17 Top League relegation play-offs .
• Team 16 (Red background) will be automatically relegated to the 2017 Top Challenge League.
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
Honda Heat were relegated to the new second-tier Top Challenge League.
Matches [ ]
The following matches were played during the 2016–17 Top League competition:[4]
Round 1 [ ]
26 August 2016
Suntory Sungoliath
14–13
Kintetsu Liners
Yamaha Stadium
show
19:30
Try: Nishikawa 72'Pen: Ono (3) 25', 27', 64'
Try: 49'Con: (1) 49'Pen: (2) 7', 47'
Attendance: 4,077 Referee: Akihisa Aso
27 August 2016
Honda Heat
22–33
Munakata Sanix Blues
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
16:30
Try: 6' 24' Lemeki 37' 73'Con: (1) 6'
Try: 9', 43' Robins 15' 47'Con: (2) 43', 47'Pen: (1) 1' Taulagi (2) 58', 66'
Attendance: 2,136 Referee: Taku Otsuki
27 August 2016
Toyota Verblitz
39–18
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
19:00
Try: Yates 4', 11', 25' 47' Penalty Try 64' 72'Con: (3) 47', 64', 72'Drop: Robinson 69'
Try: Engelbrecht 53' 77'Con: Sakai (1) 53'Pen: Greene (1) 30' (1) 51'
Attendance: 5,794 Referee: Shinya Kato
Round 2 [ ]
2 September 2016
Canon Eagles
16–35
Yamaha Júbilo
Machida Athletic Stadium
show
19:00
Try: 50'Con: Roos (1) 50'Pen: Roos (3) 25', 33', 53'
Try: Penalty Try 10' Yatomi 50' Hino 39', 43'Con: van den Heever (3) 10', 15', 43'Pen: van den Heever (3) 38', 48', 62'
Attendance: 1,159
3 September 2016
Munakata Sanix Blues
41–38
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium
show
16:30
Try: 9' Everingham 33', 43', 59' Hesketh 72'Con: Taulagi (1) 9' (1) 59'Pen: Taulagi (2) 22', 27' (2) 62', 79'
Try: 3' 16' 40' Engelbrecht 63'Con: Greene (3) 3', 40', 63'Pen: Greene (4) 24', 29', 53', 55'
Attendance: 1,695 Referee: Tadataka Yoshiura
Round 3 [ ]
9 September 2016
NTT Com Shining Arcs
33–15
NEC Green Rockets
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
19:30
Try: 16' Karauria-Henry 27' 32'Con: Ogura (3) 16', 27', 32'Pen: Ogura (4) 3', 32', 47', 67'
Try: Tamura 5' 37'Con: Tamura (1) 37'Pen: Tamura (1) 14'
Attendance: 6,376 Referee: Akihisa Aso
10 September 2016
Suntory Sungoliath
23–17
Ricoh Black Rams
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
19:00
Try: Nakamura 32' 69'Con: Ono (2) 32', 69'Pen: Ono (3) 11', 40', 57'
Try: Ellison 7' Matsuhashi 13'Con: Nanai-Williams (2) 7', 13'Pen: Nanai-Williams (1) 80'
Attendance: 5,167 Referee: Taku Otsuki
10 September 2016
Toshiba Brave Lupus
21–19
Canon Eagles
International Stadium Yokohama
show
18:00
Try: 4' Toyoshima 73'Con: Ogawa (1) 4'Pen: Ogawa (3) 39', 58', 79'
Try: 63'Con: Roos (1) 63'Pen: Roos (3) 40', 50', 70'Drop: Roos (1) 29'
Attendance: 11,223 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
10 September 2016
Kintetsu Liners
20–32
Panasonic Wild Knights
Osaka Expo '70 Stadium
show
19:00
Try: 43' 80'Con: (1) 43' (1) 80'Pen: (2) 12', 15'
Try: 5' Tupou 24' Moriya 62' Naiyaravoro 68'Con: Barnes (3) 5', 24', 62'Pen: Barnes (2) 29', 33'
Attendance: 8,343
10 September 2016
Honda Heat
30–32
Toyota Verblitz
Suzuka Sports Garden
show
19:00
Try: Ioane 19', 37' Lemeki 70' Motomura 75'Con: Lemeki (3) 37', 75'Pen: (2) 28', 54'
Try: Yates 14' 50' 58' 81'Con: (2) 50', 58' Lucas (1) 81'Pen: (1) 24' Lucas (1) 68'
Attendance: 3,793 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
Round 4 [ ]
16 September 2016
Canon Eagles
20–25
Ricoh Black Rams
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
19:30
Try: 38' 42'Con: (2) 38', 42'Pen: (2) 2', 7'
Try: 9' 58' Matsuhashi 73'Con: (2) 9', 58'Pen: (2) 18', 46'
Attendance: 8,234 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
17 September 2016
NEC Green Rockets
23–7
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
16:30
Try: 20' 31'Con: Tamura (2) 20', 31'Pen: Tamura (3) 17', 52', 56'
Try: Greene 7'Con: Greene (1) 7'
Attendance: 7,691 Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi
17 September 2016
NTT Com Shining Arcs
18–3
Kintetsu Liners
Yurtec Stadium Sendai
show
14:00
Try: 34' 54'Con: Ogura (1) 34'Pen: Ogura (2) 13', 20'
Pen: (1) 3'
Attendance: 2,024
17 September 2016
Kubota Spears
18–15
Honda Heat
Osaka Expo '70 Stadium
show
19:00
Try: 30' 66'Con: Fouché (1) 66'Pen: Fouché (2) 53', 71'
Try: 8' Lemeki 74'Con: (1) 74'Pen: Lemeki (1) 43'
Attendance: 4,278 Referee: Taku Otsuki
17 September 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
40–6
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Yamaha Stadium
show
18:00
Try: Yatomi 16', 40', 67' Hino 24' 55' 76'Con: van den Heever (1) 16' (4) 24', 55', 67', 76'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 21', 51'
Attendance: 7,629 Referee: Akihisa Aso
17 September 2016
Toyota Verblitz
7–27
Kobelco Steelers
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
19:00
Try: 76'Con: Lucas (1) 76'
Try: 13' Yamanaka 20' 51' 54'Con: Rei (2) 20', 51'Pen: Rei (1) 37'
Attendance: 4,645 Referee: Shinya Kato
Round 5 [ ]
1 October 2016
Kubota Spears
20–29
Kintetsu Liners
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Tatekawa 41' Goya 49'Con: Fouché (2) 41', 49'Pen: Fouché (2) 9', 45'
Try: 25' 31' 60' 72'Con: (3) 31', 60', 72'Pen: (1) 20'
Attendance: 3,891 Referee: Go Matsumoto
1 October 2016
Kobelco Steelers
41–5
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Osaka Expo '70 Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Rei 7', 52' 10' 14' 24', 64' Taniguchi 77'Con: Rei (3) 14', 24', 77'
Try: 72'
Attendance: 3,343 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
1 October 2016
Honda Heat
14–42
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium
show
11:30
Try: 63' 68'Con: (2) 63', 68'
Try: 1' 4', 25' 27' Tupou 56' 71'Con: (6) 1', 4', 25', 27', 56', 71'
Attendance: 1,786 Referee: Shinya Kato
1 October 2016
NEC Green Rockets
22–17
Toyota Verblitz
Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 12' 15' 74'Con: Tamura (2) 12', 74'Pen: Tamura (1) 79'
Try: Hikosaka 6' 61'Con: Robibson (2) 6', 61'Pen: Robinson (1) 51'
Attendance: 2,942 Referee: Rui Shimizu
2 October 2016
Suntory Sungoliath
37–22
Canon Eagles
Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 11' Matsushima 43' Nakazuru 45', 77'Con: Ono (4) 11', 43', 45', 77'Pen: Ono (3) 25', 35', 73'
Try: Niwai 1' Bennetts 37' 69'Con: Roos (2) 1', 37'Drop: Roos (1) 29'
Attendance: 2,212
Round 6 [ ]
8 October 2016
Panasonic Wild Knights
51–26
NEC Green Rockets
Kumagaya Athletic Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Yamasawa 10' Yatabe 27' Kitagawa 47' 60' Fujita 78' Heenan 80'Con: Yamasawa (6) 10', 27', 47', 60', 78', 80'Pen: Yamasawa (3) 22', 40', 55'
Try: 3' Higginbotham 41', 65' Payne 79'Con: Tamura (3) 41', 65', 79'
Attendance: 3,373 Referee: Taku Otsuki
9 October 2016
Toshiba Brave Lupus
31–12
Honda Heat
Iwaki Green Stadium
show
13:00
Attendance: 3,013 Referee: Tadataka Yoshiura
9 October 2016
NTT Com Shining Arcs
17–14
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Tottori Athletics Stadium
show
13:00
Attendance: 1,308 Referee: Go Matsumoto
9 October 2016
Kubota Spears
0–53
Yamaha Júbilo
Konoike Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Attendance: 2,371 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
Round 7 [ ]
15 October 2016
NEC Green Rockets
14–33
Suntory Sungoliath
Kashiwanoha Park Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 65' Tamura 71'Con: Tamura (2) 65', 71'
Try: Ah Wong 8' 18' 32' Matsushima 48' Tui 80'Con: Ono (3) 8', 18', 48' Nakamura (1) 80'
Attendance: 4,088 Referee: Akihisa Aso
15 October 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
47–25
Honda Heat
Yamaha Stadium
show
13:00
Try: van den Heever 4' 13' 34', 40', 45' Hino 68' Helu 73'Con: van den Heever (6) 4', 13', 34', 45', 68', 73'
Try: 63' Motomura 71' Lemeki 76'Con: (2) 63', 76'Pen: (2) 20', 26'
Attendance: 5,025 Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (NZL )
15 October 2016
Kintetsu Liners
24–31
Ricoh Black Rams
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 23' 35' Kim 34'Con: (3) 23', 34', 35'Pen: (1) 10'
Try: Matsuhashi 19' 57' 62' 75' Lotoahea 80'Con: Nanai-Williams (1) 19' 57', 75'
Attendance: 5,233 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
15 October 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
27–22
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Kariya Municipal Athletic Park
show
14:00
Try: Engelbrecht 11' Gerrard 22' 80'Con: Greene (3) 11', 22', 80'Pen: Greene (2) 38', 42'
Try: Toyoshima 19' Mikami 55' Tamura 75'Con: Tamura (2) 55', 75'Pen: Tamura (1) 67'
Attendance: 3,899 Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka
16 October 2016
Canon Eagles
25–44
Kobelco Steelers
Oita Bank Dome
show
13:00
Try: 26' Bond 43' Onozawa 78'Con: (1) 26' (1) 78'Pen: (2) 10', 21'
Try: Anderson 4', 33', 80' 12' Ellis 25' Fourie 54'Con: Rei (4) 2', 25', 54', 80'Pen: Rei (2) 8', 23'
Attendance: 10,514 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Round 8 [ ]
22 October 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
15–52
Suntory Sungoliath
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
11:45
Try: Gerrard 23' Engelbrecht 25'Con: Greene (1) 35'Pen: Greene (1) 3'
Try: 4', 9', 44', 52' Nakamura 20', 56' 48' Tui 76'Con: Ono (6) 9', 20', 48', 52', 56', 76'
Attendance: 3,787 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
22 October 2016
Honda Heat
24–37
Kobelco Steelers
Suzuka Sports Garden
show
14:00
Try: 36' Lemeki 62' 75'Con: (2) 36', 62' Lemeki (1) 75'Pen: (1) 34'
Try: 11' Hashimoto 14' Ellis 30' Yamashita 43' Kizu 54'Con: Rei (3) 11', 14', 43'Pen: Rei (2) 22', 65'
Attendance: 3,363 Referee: Shinya Kato
22 October 2016
Canon Eagles
16–29
Panasonic Wild Knights
Machida Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 24'Con: Roos (1) 24'Pen: Roos (2) 2', 49' (1) 79'
Try: Naiyaravoro 29', 51', 56' Hasegawa 80'Con: Yamasawa (3) 51', 56', 80'Pen: Yamasawa (1) 6'
Attendance: 2,691 Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi
23 October 2016
NEC Green Rockets
15–15
Kubota Spears
Niigata City Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Tamura 10', 15'Con: Tamura (1) 10'Pen: Tamura (1) 40'
Try: 67' 79'Con: (1) 67'Pen: (1) 42'
Attendance: 2,055 Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (NZL)
23 October 2016
Ricoh Black Rams
33–28
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 5' 20', 59', 80' Lotoahea 71'Con: (5) 7', 60', 72', 81'
Try: Jane 38' Leitch 48' Mori 61' Toyoshima 65'Con: Ogawa (1) 40', 49', 63', 66'
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Round 9 [ ]
29 October 2016
NTT Com Shining Arcs
34–29
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Ogura 4' 17' 46', 71'Con: Ogura (4) 5', 18', 47', 72'Pen: Ogura (1) 14'Drop: Ogura (1) 40'
Try: Yamamoto 1' Watanabe 65' Ogawa 75', 81'Con: Ogawa (3) 2', 65', 76'Pen: Ogawa (1) 34'
Attendance: 3,429
29 October 2016
Ricoh Black Rams
16–20
Toyota Verblitz
Iwate Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Lotoahea 80'Con: Bourke (1) 80'Pen: (3) 27', 44', 62'
Try: Robinson 5' Palu 32' Yates 75'Con: (1) 33'Pen: (1) 8'
Attendance: 3,797
30 October 2016
Panasonic Wild Knights
60–7
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Ota Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Moriya 21', 40' Hasegawa 28' Heenan 36', 49' 44' Yamada 61', 70' Uchida 67'Con: Yamasawa (3) 21', 36', 40' Moriya (3) 49', 67', 70'Pen: Yamasawa (1) 17'
Try: 47'Con: Greene (1) 47'
Attendance: 3,320 Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka
30 October 2016
Kintetsu Liners
20–36
Honda Heat
Konoike Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Thompson 19' Stolberg 63'Con: (2) 19', 63'Pen: (2) 8', 29'
Try: 14' Masaga 16' 75'Con: (3) 14', 16', 75'Pen: (5) 23', 32', 47', 58', 70'
Attendance: 2,695 Referee: Akihisa Aso
Round 10 [ ]
3 December 2016
Kintetsu Liners
31–38
NEC Green Rockets
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
11:45
Try: Taylor 35', 66' 72'Con: (2) 35', 66'Pen: (4) 7', 9', 40', 43'
Try: Goto 10', 25' 19' Higginbotham 23' 57' Payne 64'Con: Tamura (4) 10', 23', 25', 57'
Attendance: 4,550 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
3 December 2016
Suntory Sungoliath
29–5
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Ono 5' Tui 13', 43' Smith 40'Con: Ono (3) 5', 13', 43'Pen: Ono (1) 23'
Try: 59'
Attendance: 5,919 Referee: Akihisa Aso
3 December 2016
Toyota Verblitz
25–21
Canon Eagles
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 37' 41' Yates 76'Con: (2) 41', 76'Pen: (2) 2', 23'
Try: le Roux 7' 25' Roos 78'Con: (2) 7', 25' Roos (1) 78'
Attendance: 3,443 Referee: Taku Otsuki
3 December 2016
Honda Heat
10–34
Ricoh Black Rams
Shizuoka Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Ioane 46'Con: (1) 46'Pen: (1) 52'
Try: 9' 22' Lotoahea 36' 55' Nanai-Williams 80'Con: (3) 22', 36', 55'Pen: (1) 40'
Attendance: 3,898 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
3 December 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
63–7
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Shizuoka Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Sa'u 13' Hino 16' 18' 42', 46' 51' Piutau 52' Penalty Try 66' 80'Con: van den Heever (7) 13', 16', 18', 42', 46', 51', 52' (2) 66', 80'
Try: 70'Con: Greene (1) 70'
Attendance: 7,471
4 December 2016
Panasonic Wild Knights
34–25
Kubota Spears
Ota Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Uchida 19' Yamada 37' Kitagawa 54' Heenan 70'Con: Yamasawa (4) 20', 39', 56', 71'Pen: Yamasawa (2) 3', 66'
Try: 15' Osborne 42', 73'Con: (2) 43', 74'Pen: (2) 7', 28'
Attendance: 3,462 Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco )
Round 11 [ ]
10 December 2016
Ricoh Black Rams
18–21
Kubota Spears
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Matsuhashi 38' 58'Con: (1) 58'Pen: (2) 8', 62'
Try: 21' Osborne 33' Tatekawa 80'Con: (2) 21', 33' Tatekawa (1) 80'
Attendance: 5,585 Referee: Akihisa Aso
10 December 2016
Honda Heat
14–69
Panasonic Wild Knights
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
11:45
Try: Masaga 54' 62'Con: (2) 54', 62'
Try: Holani 7' Fukuoka 19', 47', 50', 58', 68', 75' Buckman 29', 64' Sakate 36' Yamasawa 38'Con: Yamasawa (3) 36', 38', 50' Barnes (4) 58', 64', 68', 75'
Attendance: 4,671 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
10 December 2016
Kintetsu Liners
10–17
Canon Eagles
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Taylor 62'Con: (1) 62'Pen: (1) 51'
Try: 22' Bond 73'Con: (1) 22' Roos 73'Pen: (1) 39'
Attendance: 6,188 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
11 December 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
33–19
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Ningineer Stadium
show
13:00
Try: Gerrard 8' 21' 44' 53' Greene 63'Con: Greene (4) 8', 22', 44', 55'
Try: 11' 66' Hano 73'Con: Ogura (2) 12', 66'
Attendance: 1,940 Referee: Tetsuhiko Kono
Round 12 [ ]
17 December 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
49–24
Honda Heat
Toyota Stadium
show
11:30
Try: 3' 42', 79' 46' Vatuvei 55' Kankowski 59' 77'Con: Greene (4) 56', 61', 78', 80'Pen: Greene (2) 27', 67'
Try: 32' Ioane 50' Motomura 74'Con: (2) 33', 51' (1) 75'Pen: (1) 20'
Attendance: 5,300 Referee: Shinya Kato
18 December 2016
Canon Eagles
45–21
NEC Green Rockets
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
11:30
Try: le Roux 7', 16' 13' 18' Bennetts 32' 70'Con: Roos (6) 8', 13', 17', 19', 33', 70'Pen: Roos (1) 40'
Try: 28' Goto 65', 71'Con: Tamura (3) 29', 65', 72'
Attendance: 6,708
18 December 2016
Munakata Sanix Blues
7–33
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Miyazaki Athletic Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 80'Con: Sweeney (1) 80'
Try: 7' 14' 34' 48' Mafi 68'Con: Jantjies (4) 8', 14', 49', 68'
Attendance: 2,590 Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka
Round 13 [ ]
24 December 2016
Toyota Industries Shuttles
14–41
Ricoh Black Rams
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
11:30
Try: 18' 48'Con: Greene (2) 18', 48'
Try: 2', 36' Bourke 29' Lotoahea 62' 73' 80'Con: (3) 29', 36', 62' Bourke (1) 80'Pen: (1) 21'
Attendance: 3,093 Referee: Takeshi Matsumoto
24 December 2016
Honda Heat
3–40
NTT Com Shining Arcs
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Pen: (1) 2'
Try: 10' Jantjies 17' Ogura 32' 48' Kin 55' 60'Con: Jantjies (3) 10', 17', 48' Ogura (2) 55', 60'
Attendance: 4,005 Referee: Takashi Otsuki
24 December 2016
Yamaha Júbilo
24–41
Suntory Sungoliath
Yamaha Stadium
show
13:00
Try: 4', 70' Penalty Try 37'Con: van den Heever (3) 4', 37', 70'Pen: van den Heever (1) 12'
Try: 15' Donald 32' Tui 40' Ishihara 52' 79'Con: Ono (5) 15', 32', 40', 52', 79'Pen: Ono (2) 49', 78'
Attendance: 10,574 Referee: Shuhei Kubo
24 December 2016
Coca-Cola Red Sparks
3–27
NEC Green Rockets
Level5 Stadium
show
11:30
Pen: Lafaele (1) 2'
Try: Goto 31' Murata 50' 59' 67'Con: Tamura (2) 31', 50'Pen: Tamura (1) 20'
Attendance: 5,814 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
25 December 2016
Kintetsu Liners
8–38
Kobelco Steelers
Kincho Stadium
show
14:00
Try: 50'Pen: (1) 35'
Try: 18' 31' Yamanaka 53' Yamashita 56' Imamura 76'Con: Yamanaka (5) 19', 31', 54', 58', 77'Pen: Yamanaka (1) 14'
Attendance: 4,545 Referee: Shinya Kato
Round 14 [ ]
7 January 2017
Toyota Verblitz
14–36
Panasonic Wild Knights
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Penalty Try 68' 80'Con: (2) 68', 80'
Try: Fukuoka 30', 60', 74' Horie 43' Pocock 48'Con: Moriya (4) 44', 49', 61', 75'Pen: Moriya (1) 40'
Attendance: 3,938 Referee: Kyosuke Toda
8 January 2017
Kubota Spears
23–16
Kobelco Steelers
Kincho Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Mapoe 26' Goya 59' 77'Con: (1) 60'Pen: (2) 40', 52'
Try: 11'Con: Yamanaka (1) 12'Pen: Yamanaka (3) 29', 36', 64'
Attendance: 3,348 Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara
8 January 2017
Yamaha Júbilo
26–12
Kintetsu Liners
Kincho Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Penalty Try 13', 71' Yatomi 49' 74'Con: van den Heever (3) 14', 51', 71'
Pen: (4) 23', 37', 40', 63'
Attendance: 4,579
Round 15 [ ]
14 January 2017
NTT Com Shining Arcs
27–17
Kubota Spears
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
11:30
Try: 6' 21' Karauria-Henry 54' 61'Con: Ogura (2) 6', 61'Pen: Ogura (1) 37'
Try: Mapoe 11' 51'Con: (2) 11', 51'Pen: (1) 35'
Attendance: 8,506
14 January 2017
Toshiba Brave Lupus
14–15
Panasonic Wild Knights
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
show
14:00
Try: Penalty Try 18' Kahui 56'Con: Ogawa (2) 18', 56'
Pen: Moriya (5) 11', 16', 28', 39', 80'
Attendance: 12,423 Referee: Takashi Otsuki
14 January 2017
Munakata Sanix Blues
26–24
NEC Green Rockets
Level5 Stadium
show
11:30
Try: Robins 3', 48' Hesketh 13' 29'Con: (3) 3', 13', 48'
Try: 22' Payne 54' 64'Con: Tamura (3) 22', 54', 64'Pen: Tamura (1) 9'
Attendance: 1,974 Referee: Takeshi Matsumoto
Top League Challenge Series [ ]
Hino Red Dolphins , Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars progressed to the promotion play-offs .
Promotion/relegation play-offs [ ]
At the end of the season, there were three promotion/relegation play-offs for three places in the 2017–18 Top League . The teams ranked 13th, 14th and 15th in the Top League played off against the teams ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Top League Challenge 1 .
Coca-Cola Red Sparks , Kintetsu Liners and Toyota Industries Shuttles qualified from the Top League relegation play-off zone, while Hino Red Dolphins , Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars qualified from Challenge 1.
The following matches were played in the series:
References [ ]
show Japan Rugby League One
2022 teams
Division One Division Two Division Three
Former teams Seasons