2006 Top League Challenge Series

Rugby union competition in Japan 2006 Top League Challenge Series Japan 15 – 28 January 2006 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 1 IBM Big Blue Coca-Cola West Red Sparks IBM Big Blue 6 2005 2007 The 2006 Top League Challenge Series was the 2006 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2006–07 season. The competition was contested from 15 to 28 January 2006. Coca-Cola West Red Sparks and IBM Big Blue won promotion to the 2006–07 Top League, while Honda Heat, Kintetsu Liners, Kyuden Voltex and NTT Communications Shining Arcs progressed to the promotion play-offs. Competition rules and information The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2. The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2006–07 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the three Challenge 2 teams qualified to the promotion play-offs. Qualification The teams qualified to the Challenge 1 and Challenge 2 series through the 2005 regional leagues. Top West League The final standings for the 2005 Top West League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=98&Stagione=2005/06 West Regional Top League 2005/06 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2005 Top West League standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Kintetsu Liners (R) 7 7 0 0 448 106 +342 7 0 35 2 Honda Heat 7 6 0 1 470 83 +387 6 1 31 3 Toyota Industries Shuttles 7 5 0 2 487 141 +346 6 1 27 4 Osaka Police 7 4 0 3 286 206 +80 3 1 20 5 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 7 3 0 4 299 208 +91 3 1 16 6 Chubu Electric Power 7 2 0 5 188 309 −121 3 0 11 7 Mitsubishi Red Evolutions 7 1 0 6 105 580 −475 0 0 4 8 Unitika Phoenix 7 0 0 7 66 716 −650 0 0 0 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. (R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. Kintetsu Liners qualified for Challenge 1. Honda Heat qualified for Challenge 2. Top East League The final standings for the 2005 Top East League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=99&Stagione=2005/06 East Regional Top League 2005/06 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2005 Top East League (East) standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 IBM Big Blue (R) 9 9 0 0 487 99 +388 9 0 45 2 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 9 8 0 1 341 129 +212 7 0 39 3 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 9 6 0 3 237 174 +63 5 1 30 4 Kurita Water 9 6 0 3 268 211 +57 4 1 29 5 Tokyo Gas 9 6 0 3 280 243 +37 5 0 29 6 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 9 3 0 6 192 254 −62 4 1 17 7 Shimizu Blue Sharks 9 2 1 6 145 303 −158 2 2 14 8 Kamaishi Seawaves 9 2 1 6 161 296 −135 1 0 11 9 JAL Wings 9 1 0 8 144 360 −216 2 1 7 10 Insurance Meiji Life Yasuda 9 1 0 8 96 282 −186 2 1 7 2005 Top East League (North) standings 1 Akita Northern Bullets 6 6 0 0 420 83 +337 6 0 30 2 Funaoka SDF Wild Boars 6 3 0 3 207 148 +59 4 0 16 3 North Force 6 2 0 4 116 329 −213 2 0 10 4 NTT Burns 6 1 0 5 130 313 −183 2 1 7 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. (R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. IBM Big Blue qualified for Challenge 1. NTT Communications Shining Arcs qualified for Challenge 2 after a play-off series involving them, Akita Northern Bullets and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars. The following matches were played: Round 1 30 December 2005 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 55–0 Akita Northern Bullets Round 2 7 January 2006 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 10–28 NTT Communications Shining Arcs The Top East League (East) and Top East League (North) merged for 2006; Akita Northern Bullets joined the merged Top East League, while Funaoka SDF Wild Boars, North Force and NTT Burns joined lower leagues. Top Kyūshū League The final standings for the 2005 Top Kyūshū League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=100&Stagione=2005/06 Kyushu Regional Top League 2005/06 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2005 Top Kyūshū League First Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Kyuden Voltex 6 6 0 0 453 56 +397 5 0 29 2 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 6 5 0 1 432 74 +358 5 0 25 3 Mazda Blue Zoomers 6 4 0 2 299 112 +187 5 1 22 4 Chugoku Electric Power 6 3 0 3 183 253 −70 3 0 15 5 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 6 2 0 4 121 347 −226 2 0 10 6 Mitsubishi Mizushima 6 1 0 5 76 363 −287 2 1 7 7 JR Kyūshū Thunders 6 0 0 6 66 425 −359 0 1 1 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. Coca-Cola West Red Sparks, Kyuden Voltex and Mazda Blue Zoomers qualified to the Second Phase. 2005 Top Kyūshū League Second Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 2 2 0 0 98 26 +72 1 0 9 2 Kyuden Voltex 2 1 0 1 54 49 +5 1 1 6 3 Mazda Blue Zoomers 2 0 0 2 36 113 −77 1 0 1 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. Fukuoka Sanix Blues qualified for Challenge 1. Coca-Cola West Red Sparks qualified for Challenge 2. Challenge 1 Standings The final standings for the 2006 Top League Challenge 1 were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2005/06 Top League Challenge 2005/06 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2006 Top League Challenge 1 standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 2 2 0 0 36 29 +7 0 0 8 2 IBM Big Blue 2 1 0 1 56 21 +35 1 1 6 3 Kintetsu Liners 2 0 0 2 12 54 −42 0 1 1 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. Coca-Cola West Red Sparks and IBM Big Blue won promotion to the 2006–07 Top League. Kintetsu Liners progressed to the promotion play-offs. Matches The following matches were played in the 2006 Top League Challenge 1: 15 January 2006 IBM Big Blue 39–0 Kintetsu Liners 21 January 2006 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 21–17 IBM Big Blue 28 January 2006 Kintetsu Liners 12–15 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks Challenge 2 Standings The final standings for the 2006 Top League Challenge 2 were: 2006 Top League Challenge 2 standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Honda Heat 2 2 0 0 103 57 +46 2 0 10 2 Kyuden Voltex 2 1 0 1 57 54 +3 2 0 6 3 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 2 0 0 2 46 95 −49 1 0 1 Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. Honda Heat, Kyuden Voltex and NTT Communications Shining Arcs progressed to the promotion play-offs. Matches The following matches were played in the 2006 Top League Challenge 2: 15 January 2006 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 31–64 Honda Heat 22 January 2006 Kyuden Voltex 31–15 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 28 January 2006 Honda Heat 39–26 Kyuden Voltex See also 2005–06 Top League Top League Challenge Series References 2006 Challenge Category:2005–06 in Japanese rugby union Category:2006 rugby union tournaments for clubs