2015–16 Top League

Rugby Competition Topleague15-16 Final.jpeg 300px Panasonic win the Lixil Cup for season 2015–16. Japan Japan 13 November 2015 – 24 January 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights (4th title) Toshiba Brave Lupus 115 JPN Ayumu Goromaru (83 pts) 2.5emYamaha Júbilo JPN Taiyo Ando (6 tries)2.5emToyota VerblitzJPN Shota Emi (6 tries)2.5emSuntory Sungoliath 2014–15 2016–17 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. 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. 3 Teams The only change to the make-up of the league was the Challenge One winner Honda Heat replacing Kyuden Voltex.14 February 2015 Top League trio retain status jrfu.org 1 July 2015 http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/component/k2/item/300-top-league-trio-retain-status dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150708045751/http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/component/k2/item/300-top-league-trio-retain-status 8 July 2015 TeamRegionCoachCaptainCanon EaglesMachida, Tokyo, Kantō JPN Yoji Nagatomo Coca-Cola Red SparksFukuoka, Kyushu JPN Tomohiro Yamaguchi JPN Kouta YamashitaHonda Heat Suzuka, Mie JPN Tomoaki Fujimoto Kintetsu LinersHigashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai JPN Ryusuke Maeda JPN Daiki ToyotaKobelco SteelersKobe, Kansai RSA Allister Coetzee JPN Daiki HashimotoKubota Spears Abiko, Chiba, Kantō AUS Toutai Kefu JPN Naomichi TatekawaNEC Green RocketsAbiko, Chiba, Kantō JPN Masao Amino JPN Sunao TakizawaNTT DoCoMo Red HurricanesOsaka, Kansai JPN Masahiro Shimoki NTT Com Shining ArcsChiba, Chiba, Kantō NZL Rob Penney JPN Yuya MizoguchiPanasonic Wild KnightsOta, Gunma, Kantō NZL Robbie Deans JPN Shota HorieRicoh Black RamsTokyo, Kantō AUS Damien Hill JPN Masahiro NoguchiSuntory SungoliathFuchū, Tokyo, Kantō AUS Andy Friend Toshiba Brave LupusFuchū, Tokyo, Kantō RSA Jimmy Stonehouse JPN Yoshikazu MoritaToyota Industries ShuttlesAichi, Mizuho JPN Masaya Niu JPN Tsuyoshi MatsuokaToyota Verblitz Toyota, Aichi, Tokai JPN Hiroshi Sugawara JPN Kojiro YoshidaYamaha JúbiloIwata, Shizuoka, Tokai JPN Takanobu Horikawa 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. 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. 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 Top League - Pre-season pool stagePool AClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 0Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.netPool BClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 0Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.netPool CClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 4Updated: 19 September 2016 Source: rugbyarchive.netPool DClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 4Updated: 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 35.5em Fourth bracket y y 13th–16th semifinals Thirteenth play-off Fifteenth play-off B4 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 24 D4 Toyota Shokki Shuttles 35 A4 Honda Heat 10 C4 Kubota Spears 40 W1 Toyota Shokki Shuttles 21 W2 Kubota Spears 17 L1 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 24 L2 Honda Heat 21 35.5em Third bracket y y 9th–12th semifinals Ninth play-off Eleventh play-off A3 NEC Green Rockets 20 C3 NTT Com Shining Arcs 28 B3 Yamaha Jubilo 24 D3 Canon Eagles 27 W3 NTT Com Shining Arcs 48 W4 Canon Eagles 25 L3 NEC Green Rockets 18 L4 Yamaha Jubilo 26 35.5em Second bracket y y 5th–8th semifinals Fifth play-off Seventh play-off B2 Kintetsu Liners 22 D2 Ricoh Black Rams 32 A2 Panasonic Wild Knights5th–8th semifinal * – C2 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes w/o W5 Ricoh Black Rams 17 W6 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 26 L5 Kintetsu Liners w/o L6 Panasonic Wild Knights7th place final † – Notes: 5th–8th semifinal * Panasonic forfeited their semifinal. NTT Docomo gained the walk over. 7th place final † Panasonic forfeited the 7th place final. Kintetsu gained the walk over. 35.5em First bracket y y 1st–4th semifinals Final Third play-off B1 Suntory Sungoliath 23 D1 Toshiba Brave Lupus 21 A1 Toyota Verblitz 14 C1 Kobelco Steelers 30 W7 Suntory Sungoliath 24 W8 Kobelco Steelers 27 L7 Toshiba Brave Lupus 13 L8 Toyota Verblitz 20 Regular season Standings Top League - Pool StagePool AClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 3Updated: 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 BClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 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 2Updated: 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 13 November 2015 19:00 Panasonic Wild Knights 38–5 Suntory Sungoliath Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 10,792 Mike Fraser (NZL) Yamada 6' c, 40' c Pietersen 51' Yu 67' c Barnes (2) 6', 40' Parker (1) 67' Barnes (4) 3', 11', 17', 33' Pisi 60' 14 November 2015 11:40 Ricoh Black Rams 12–39 NTT Com Shining Arcs Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 8,158 Hasegawa 19' c Kauhenga 64' Peters (1) 19' Miura 28' c Mafi 46' Ishibashi 50' c Mitsui 58' c Koizumi 77' c Jantjies (3) 28', 50' 58' Ogura (1) 77' Jantjies (2) 8', 35' 14 November 2015 14:00 Toshiba Brave Lupus 47–3 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 11,085 Leitch 7' c Kahui 31' c, 66' c Oshima 43' c Hirose 59' Kraska 69' Steyn (3) 7', 31', 43' Ogawa 66' Steyn (3) 12', 25', 49' Moriwaki (1) 23' 14 November 2015 11:40 Toyota Industries Shuttles 24–17 NEC Green Rockets Mizuho Rugby Stadium 5,320 Takada 26' c Vaka 29' c Vatuvei 42' c Hegarty (3) 26', 29', 42' Hegarty (1) 69' Owada 8' c Kamaike 32' c Norton-Knight (1) 8' Tamura 32' Norton-Knight (1) 40' 14 November 2015 14:00 Toyota Verblitz 11–18 Yamaha Júbilo Mizuho Rugby Stadium 8,676 Taniguchi 46' Monji (2) 26', 57' Tuiali'i 4' Yatomi 8' c Goromaru (1) 8' Goromaru (2) 15', 42' 14 November 2015 12:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 23–19 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 6,930 Kyosuke Toda Shigeno 19' Watanabe 35' Paea 43' c Sato (1) 43' Sato (1) 3' Pollard (1) 58' Katsuki 15' c Osajima 53' c Yamada 71' Fukuda (2) 15', 53' 14 November 2015 14:05 Kintetsu Liners 25–12 Honda Heat Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 8,774 Spies 11' Penalty Try 24' c Taufa 29' Kim 54' Shigemitsu (1) 24' Shigemitsu (1) 16' Lemeki 20' c Sogeta 63' Morita (1) 20' 15 November 2015 13:00 Kobelco Steelers 23–18 Canon Eagles Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium 7,863 Ellis 6' c Penalty Try 21' c Yamanaka (2) 6', 21' Yamanaka (3) 49', 61', 66' Bond 33' le Roux 67' c Mitomo (1) 67' Mitomo (2) 38', 42' Round 2 21 November 2015 11:30 Ricoh Black Rams 18–24 Honda Heat Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium 4,570 Kyosuke Toda Kauhenga 69' c Komatsu 79' Peter (1) 69' Peters (2) 9', 54' Kamada 3' c Moto 60' c Soqeta 65' c Morita (3) 3', 60', 65' Konishi 74' 21 November 2015 14:00 Canon Eagles 34–17 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium 5,039 Kikutani 24' c le Roux 40' c Hashino 49' c Fukui 76' c Mitomo (4) 24', 40', 49', 76' Mitomo (2) 31', 35' Iongi 61' c Park 80' c Pollard (2) 61', 80' Saiguchi (1) 3' 21 November 2015 11:40 Suntory Sungoliath 55–14 Kubota Spears Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium 5,247 Emi 17', 76' c Tui 23' c du Preez 30' c Nagatomo 46' Sasaki 58' c Nagare 61' c Takemoto 72' c Pisi (6) 23', 30', 58', 61', 72', 76' Pisi (1) 38' Otukolo 48' c Saunders 54' c Moriwaki (2) 48', 54' 21 November 2015 14:00 Panasonic Wild Knights 47–27 Kintetsu Liners Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium 7,278 Kitagawa 22' c, 42' c Sasakura 41' c Holani 54' c Pietersen 64' c Barnes (4) 22', 41', 42', 54' Parker (1) 64' Barnes (2) 1', 28' Parker (2) 68', 79' de Allende 18' c Spies 32' c Murashita 78' c Shigemitsu (3) 18', 32', 78' Shigemitsu (2) 13', 16' 21 November 2015 13:00 Yamaha Júbilo 43–0 Toyota Industries Shuttles Yamaha Stadium 9,051 Piutau 15' c, 76' c Ito 24' c Hino 35' c Potgieter 49' c Horie 61' Goromaru (5) 15', 24', 35', 49', 76' Goromaru (1) 39' 21 November 2015 14:00 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 18–35 Toyota Verblitz Level-5 Stadium 3,725 Tatsuya Matsuoka Toyota 61' c Yamashita 74' Fukuda (1) 61' Fukuda (2) 3', 31' Ando 7' c, 13' Taumoepeau 20' c Wada 32' Hikosaka 48' Monji (2) 7', 20' Monji (2) 68', 80' 21 November 2015 14:00 Toshiba Brave Lupus 13–37 NTT Com Shining Arcs Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium 4,911 Mike Fraser (NZL) Yamamoto 14' c Steyn (1) 14' Steyn (2) 31', 42' Tsuruya 20' c Mafi 51' c, 63' c Tsuruda 70' c Jantjies (2) 20', 51' Ogura (2) 63', 70' Jantjies (1) 13' Ogura (2) 57', 67' 22 November 2015 13:00 NEC Green Rockets 12–46 Kobelco Steelers Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium 7,980 Shinya Kato Tamura 23' c Usui 64' Tamura (1) 23' Bekker 4' Anderson 32' Shomen 37' c Kizu 51' c Yamashita 54' c Taniguchi 60' c Vakauta 78' Yamanaka (4) 37', 51' 54', 60' Yamanaka (1) 15' Round 3 28 November 2015 11:40 Suntory Sungoliath 19–25 Kintetsu Liners Mizuho Rugby Stadium 3, 055 Tomohiro Ogawa Ono 12' c Murata 39' c Tsukamoto 67' Ono (2) 12', 39' Kashimoto 4' c Spies 7' c Tanaka 30' Shigemitsu (2) 4', 7' Shigemitsu (2) 15', 71' 28 November 2015 14:00 Toyota Verblitz 45–21 Toyota Industries Shuttles Mizuho Rugby Stadium 6,449 Shuhei Kubo Ando 6' c Monji 21' c Robinson 33' c Mizuno 36' c Hikosaka 58' c Bothma 78' c Monji (6) 6', 21', 33', 36', 58', 78' Monji (1) 14' Hegarty 26' c Saunders 42' c Vaka 66' c Hegarty (3) 26', 42', 66' 28 November 2015 11:40 Honda Heat 10–41 Toshiba Brave Lupus Shizuoka Stadium 7,628 Tsuyoshi Matsumoto Ubutaka 30' Nakata 60' Yuhara 17' c, 26' Ogawa 45' c Kahui 52' c Steyn 70' Messam 77' c Steyn (4) 17', 45', 52', 77' Steyn (1) 8' 28 November 2015 14:00 Yamaha Júbilo 39–19 NEC Green Rockets Shizuoka Stadium 13,051 Mike Fraser Goromaru 15' c Havili 49' c Nakazono 62' c Hino 71', Potgieter 76' c Goromaru (4) 15', 49', 62', 76' Goromaru (2) 32', 37' Goto 12' Higginbotham 42' c Kamaike 67' c Tamura (2) 42', 67' 29 November 2015 11:40 Kubota Spears 9–34 NTT Com Shining Arcs Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium 5,244 Moriwaki (3) 26', 33', 51' Penalty Try 63' c Mafi 66' c Yamashita 77' c Jantjies 79' c Ogura (2) 63', 66' Jantjies (2) 77', 79' Ogura (2) 10', 44' 29 November 2015 14:00 Kobelco Steelers 24–25 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium 10,833 Penalty Try 54' c Sato 73' c Anderson 77' c Tanabe (3) 53', 73', 77' Yamanaka (1) 2' Watanabe 41' c Kriel 45' c Inoue 62' c Saiguchi (2) 45', 52' Saiguchi (2) 6', 16' 29 November 2015 13:00 Panasonic Wild Knights 59–28 Ricoh Black Rams Ota Athletic Stadium 5,756 Taizo Hirabayashi Kitagawa 6' c McCalman 11' c, 50' c Heenan 20' c Valu 59' c Nishiara 63' c Hayashi 66' c Nunomaki 76' c Miwa (8) 6', 11', 20', 50', 59', 63', 66', 76' Miwa (1) 34' Kauhenga 16' c, 73' c Tsujii 42' c Hoshino 80' c Foley (4) 16', 42', 73' 80' 29 November 2015 13:00 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 25–31 Canon Eagles Ōita Bank Dome 5,176 Kazuhito Taniguchi Wykes 5' Tsuiki 51' Fukuda (5) 6', 31', 38' 50', 56' Penalty Try 18' c le Roux 58' c Uematsu 68' c Suginaga 71' c Moriya (1) 18' Mitomo (3) 58', 68', 71' Moriya (1) 24' Round 4 5 December 2015 12:00 Ricoh Black Rams 7–52 Toshiba Brave Lupus Kumagaya Athletic Stadium 6,372 Yamamoto 60' c Foley (1) 60' Tokunaga 4' c Yamamoto 9' c Yuhara 15' Kajikawa 20' c, 47' c, 67' c Kahui 26' Kotaki 30' c Ogawa (5) 4', 9', 20', 30', 47' Steyn (1) 67' 5 December 2015 14:05 NTT Com Shining Arcs 28–35 Panasonic Wild Knights Kumagaya Athletic Stadium 10,009 Kyosuke Toda Jantjies 23' c Kikuchi 62' c Koizumi 77' Jantjies (1) 23' Ogura (1) 62' Jantjies (2) 2', 42' Ogura (1) 80' Kitagawa 34' c Holani 49' c Sasakura 58' Horie 65' c Barnes (3) 34', 49', 65' Barnes (3) 8', 15', 27' 5 December 2015 13:00 NEC Green Rockets 15–33 Canon Eagles Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium 1,852 Owada 27', 76' c Webb (1) 76' Webb (1) 25' Ives 2', 71' c Moriya 40' c Fukui 52' c Fujimoto 80' c Mitomo (4) 40', 52', 71', 80' 6 December 2015 11:40 Honda Heat 21–59 Suntory Sungoliath Umakana Yokana Stadium 14,133 Shuhei Kubo Soqeta 33' c Konishi 34' c Coetzee 53' c Morita (3) 33', 34', 53' Makabe 5' c Emi 12', 78' c Tui 15' c, 44' c Murata 19' Ono 50' c Tsukamoto 59' c Pisi 68' c Ono (7) 5', 15', 44', 50', 59', 68', 78' 6 December 2015 14:00 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 28–38 Yamaha Júbilo Umakana Yokana Stadium 18,005 Tomohiro Ogawa Yamamoto 12' c Sarugaku 32' c Matsuoka 55' c Suzuki 70' c Fukuda (4) 12', 32', 55', 70' Ohdo 5' c, 29' c Hino 18' c, 23' c Piutau 37' c Goromaru (5) 5', 18', 23', 29', 37' Otao (1) 74' 6 December 2015 12:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 14–36 Toyota Verblitz Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 8,975 Shinya Kato Saiguchi 22' c Paea 63' c Pollard (1) 22' Saiguchi (1) 63' Wada 2' c, 39' c, 50' Ando 12' c Sugimoto 46' c Monji (4) 2', 12', 39', 46' Monji (1) 20' 6 December 2015 14:05 Kubota Spears 17–40 Kintetsu Liners Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 11,404 Takahashi 68' c Tomonaga 73' c Tatekawa (1) 68' Takahashi (1) 73' Moriwaki (1) 22' Kim 7' c Tanaka 26' c, 75' Taufa 37' c, 49' c Tadanobu 54' c Shigemitsu (5) 7', 26', 37', 49', 54' 6 December 2015 13:00 Toyota Industries Shuttles 12–27 Kobelco Steelers Ningineer Stadium 3,370 Tatsuya Matsuoka So 15' c Yamashita 35' Yamashita (1) 15' Hashimoto 23' Anderson 42' Maekawa 46' c Fourie 57' c Yamanaka (2) 46', 57' Yamanaka (1) 63' Round 5 12 December 2015 11:40 NTT Com Shining Arcs 5–38 Suntory Sungoliath Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 16,025 Britz 53' Murata 6' c Aruga 28' c Burger 35' c Emi 40' c Pisi 79' c Ono (5) 6', 28', 35', 40', 79' Ono (1) 21' 12 December 2015 14:00 Toshiba Brave Lupus 17–17 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 20,138 Taizo Hirabayashi Yamamoto 26' c, 77' c Ogawa (1) 26' Steyn (1) 77' Steyn (1) 10' Kodama 4' c Penalty Try 61' c Barnes (2) 4', 61' Barnes (1) 40' 12 December 2015 12:00 Honda Heat 12–17 Kubota Spears Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 5,050 Nakata 20' c Konishi 29' Morita (1) 20' Otukolo 1' c Penalty Try 52' c Moriwaki (1) 1' Takahashi (1) 52' Talkahashi (1) 53' 12 December 2015 14:05 Kintetsu Liners 40–22 Ricoh Black Rams Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium 6,355 Toyoda 1', 72' c Taufa 13', 66' c Winterstein 42' c Shigemitsu (3) 42', 66', 72' Shigemitsu (3) 25', 40', 52' Hoshino 16' c Nanai-Williams 54' c Kauhenga 78' Foley (1) 16' Peters (1) 54' Foley (1) 7' 12 December 2015 13:00 Toyota Verblitz 34–3 NEC Green Rockets Toyota Stadium 7,352 Sam Grove-White (Sco) Thomas 50' c, 64' c Ando 58' c, 73' c Monji (4) 50', 58', 64', 73' Monji (2) 24', 43' Webb (1) 7' 12 December 2015 13:00 Yamaha Júbilo 41–20 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Yamaha Stadium 9,710 Tatsuya Matsuoka Horie 23' c Sa'u 46' c Yatomi 55' c Penalty Try 66' c Hino 69' Helo 74' Goromaru (4) 23', 46', 55', 66' Goromaru (1) 10' Sato 7' c Tsujii 80' c Saiguchi (1) 7' Pollard (1) 80' Saiguchi (1) 3' Paea (1) 40' 12 December 2015 13:00 Kobelco Steelers 47–24 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Misaki Park Stadium 7,381 Akihisa Kajiwara Taniguchi 8' c Shomen 27' c Ellis 30' c Wing 46' Maekawa 52' c Kizu 55' c Anderson 79' c Tanabe (6) 8', 27', 30', 52', 55', 79' Kuwazuru 9' c Kawaguchi 41' c Yamada 68' c Fukuda (1) 9' Lafaele (2) 41', 68' Fukuda (1) 34' 13 December 2015 13:00 Toyota Industries Shuttles 19–35 Canon Eagles Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium 2,160 Shuhei Kubo Asami 32' Matsui 56' c Penalty Try 79' c Hegarty (1) 56' Gerrard (1) 79' Hashino 41' c Thomson 44' c Moriya 51' c le Roux 64' c Suginaga 80' c Moriya (5) 41', 44', 51', 64', 80' Round 6 19 December 2015 11:40 NEC Green Rockets 20–12 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 5,963 Shigeno 14' c Goto 77' c Tamura (2) 14'. 77' Tamura (2) 56', 64' Bateman 3' c Toyota 70' Fukuda (1) 3' 19 December 2015 14:00 NTT Com Shining Arcs 29–15 Honda Heat Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 9,242 Akihisa Kajiwara Bin 9' c Mafi 56' c Mayahara 63' Jantjies 74' c Ogura (2) 9', 56' Jantjies (1) 74' Ogura (1) 2' Coetzee 39' c Ubutaka 48' Lemeki (1) 39' Konishi (1) 26' 19 December 2015 13:00 Canon Eagles 26–10 Toyota Verblitz Machida Athletic Stadium 2,670 Taku Otsuki Morita 38' c, 52' Fujichika 55' Harada (1) 38' Harada (3) 3', 9', 13' Thomas 34' c Monji (1) 34' Monji (1) 17' 19 December 2015 13:00 Yamaha Júbilo 14–43 Kobelco Steelers Yamaha Stadium 12,842 Shuhei Kubo Piutau 68' c Horie 77' c Goromaru (2) 68', 77' Anderson 16' c Ohashi 20', 41', 47', 57' c Ellis 36' c Minamihashi 73' c Yamanaka (3) 16'. 36', 57' Tanabe (1) 73' 20 December 2015 13:00 Kubota Spears 27–30 Panasonic Wild Knights Fukuda Denshi Arena 4,889 Sam Groves-White (Sco) Finau 2' c Miyata 9' c Saunders 40' c Moriwaki (3) 2', 9', 40' Moriwaki (2) 32', 43' McCalman 49' c Heenan 54' c Pietersen 67' c Barnes (3) 49', 54', 67' Miwa (3) 6', 13', 24' 20 December 2015 13:00 Suntory Sungoliath 37–20 Ricoh Black Rams Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium 3,899 Takashi Harada Tui 28' c, 62' Moriwaka 55' Emi 59' c Kakinaga 80' c Pisi (2) 28', 59' Ono (1) 80' Pisi (1) 34' Ono (1) 75' Hasegawa 16' c Bourke 66' c Foley (1) 16' Peters (1) 66' Foley (1) 39' Peters (1) 52' 20 December 2015 13:00 Kintetsu Liners 12–58 Toshiba Brave Lupus Konoike Athletic Stadium 6,156 Akihisa Aso Penalty Try 36' c Taylor 54' Tadanobu (1) 36' Kahui 5' c Yamamoto 13' Toyoshima 24', 41' Yuhara 28' c Steyn 31' c Kotaki 49' c Ogawa 69' c Ito 74' Ogawa (5) 5', 28', 31', 49', 69' Ogawa (1) 18' 20 December 2015 13:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 28–29 Toyota Industries Shuttles Miyazaki Athletic Stadium 3,975 Taizo Hirabayashi Hirase 8' c Ierome 54' c Shigeno 60' c Eto 63' Sato (1) 8' Pollard (3) 54', 60', 63' Takada 38' c Vatuvei 77' c Gerrard (2) 38', 77' Gerrard (5) 6', 18', 20', 51', 57' Round 7 26 December 2015 11:40 Canon Eagles 19–33 Yamaha Júbilo Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 22,843 Shinya Kato Harada 4' Hashino 14' c Usami 77' c Mitomo (1) 14' Harada (1) 77' Havili 11' c, 68' Ito 17' c Goromaru 43' Goromaru (2) 11', 17' Goromaru (3) 25', 47', 56' 26 December 2015 14:00 Suntory Sungoliath 14–25 Toshiba Brave Lupus Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium 25,164 Shuhei Kubo Ono 23' c Nagatomo 80' c Ono (1) 23' Pisi (1) 80' Oshima 8' c Penalty Try 18' c Masuda 36' Ogawa (2) 8', 18' Ogawa (2) 3', 32' 26 December 2015 11:40 Toyota Industries Shuttles 70–17 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Mizuho Rugby Stadium 3,277 Takashi Harada Vatuvei 18' c Vaka 33' c, 51' c Saunders 46' c, 60' c So 56' c Takada 64' Asami 68' c Takeuchi 73' c Gerrard (6) 18', 33', 45', 51', 56', 60' Hegarty (2) 68', 73' Gerrard (2) 40', 41' Hegarty (1) 80' Katsuki 10' c Tsuiki 79' c Lafaele (2) 10', 79' Lafaele (1) 31' 26 December 2015 14:00 Kintetsu Liners 20–18 NTT Com Shining Arcs Mizuho Rugby Stadium 4,275 Tadanobu 35' c, 70' c Shigemitsu (2) 35', 70' Shigemitsu (2) 17', 64' Suto 23' c Kin 28' Jantjies (1) 23' Jantjies (2) 38', 47' 26 December 2015 11:40 Kubota Spears 31–22 Ricoh Black Rams Kincho Stadium 2,539 Akihisa Aso Finau 36' c Miyata 45' c, 80' c Shibahara 51' c Moriwaki (3) 36', 45', 51' Takahashi (1) 80' Moriwaki (1) 6' Bourke 9' c Tsujii 13' c Hasegawa 20' Foley (2) 9', 13' Peters (1) 33' 26 December 2015 14:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 14–14 NEC Green Rockets Kincho Stadium 5,466 Kyosuke Toda Paea 9' c Kriel 77' c Pollard (1) 9' Paea (1) 77' Kamaike 46' Morita (3) 25', 36', 59' 26 December 2015 13:00 Panasonic Wild Knights 64–5 Honda Heat Ota Athletic Stadium 5,284 Taku Otsuki Yu 3' c Kodama 12' c Tanaka 17' c Hayashi 25' c, 72' Heenan 38' c McCalman 51' c, 60' c Parker 80' c Barnes (5) 3', 12', 17', 25', 38' Miwa (3) 51', 60', 80' Barnes (1) 7' Lemeki 67' 26 December 2015 13:00 Kobelco Steelers 25–32 Toyota Verblitz Misaki Park Stadium 9,159 Taizo Hirabayashi Maekawa (2) 39', 62' Wing 48' c Ohashi 65' Tanabe (1) 48' Yamanaka (1) 3' Yates 19' c Matsushita 25' c Wada 51' Hikosaka 75' c Monji (3) 19', 25', 75' Monji (2) 17', 72' Lower bracket play-offs section May 2016 215 Lower quarterfinals 9th to 12th bracket Ninth place Eleventh place 9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 4 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 20 Honda Heat 23 9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 1 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 7 Suntory Sungoliath 52 9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 2 Toyota Industries Shuttles 27 Ricoh Black Rams 17 9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 3 NEC Green Rockets 20 Kubota Spears 30 16 January 2016 – 14:05 – Match 8 Honda Heat Suntory Sungoliath 16 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 7 Toyota Industries Shuttles Kubota Spears 23 January 2016 – 14:00 Suntory Sungoliath 78 Toyota Industries Shuttles 14 23 January 2016 – 12:00 Honda Heat 45 Kubota Spears 38 215 13th to 16th bracket Thirteenth place Fifteenth place 16 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 5 Ricoh Black Rams NEC Green Rockets 16 January 2016 – 12:00 – Match 6 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Coca-Cola Red Sparks 23 January 2016 – 14:00 Ricoh Black Rams 27 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 22 23 January 2016 – 11:40 NEC Green Rockets 32 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 22 Lower quarterfinals Match 1 9 January 2016 11:40 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 7–52 Suntory Sungoliath Chichibunomiya Match 2 9 January 2016 14:00 Toyota Industries Shuttles 27–17 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Match 3 9 January 2016 11:40 NEC Green Rockets 20–30 Kubota Spears Komazawa Stadium Match 4 9 January 2016 14:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 20–23 Honda Heat Komazawa Stadium Play-offs 9th–12th and 13th–16th Match 5 16 January 2016 11:40 Ricoh Black Rams – NEC Green Rockets Match 6 16 January 2016 12:00 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes – Coca-Cola Red Sparks Match 7 16 January 2016 14:00 Toyota Industries Shuttles – Kubota Spears Match 8 16 January 2016 14:05 Honda Heat – Suntory Sungoliath Classification finals 15th place 23 January 2016 11:40 NEC Green Rockets 32–22 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 13th place 23 January 2016 14:00 Ricoh Black Rams 27–22 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 11th place 23 January 2016 12:00 Honda Heat 45–38 Kubota Spears 9th place 23 January 2016 14:05 Suntory Sungoliath 78–14 Toyota Industries Shuttles Title play-offs section May 2016 215 9 January 2016 – 13:00 – Match 4 Yamaha Júbilo 26 NTT Com Shining Arcs 7 9 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 1 Toyota Verblitz 17 Toshiba Brave Lupus 29 9 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 2 Kobelco Steelers 42 Kintetsu Liners 10 9 January 2016 – 13:00 – Match 3 Canon Eagles 6 Panasonic Wild Knights 46 16 January 2016 – 14:00 – Match 7 Yamaha Júbilo 22 Toshiba Brave Lupus 34 16 January 2016 – 14:05 – Match 8 Kobelco Steelers 10 Panasonic Wild Knights 42 24 January 2016 – 14:00 – Chichibunomiya Toshiba Brave Lupus 26 Panasonic Wild Knights 27 24 January 2016 – 11:40 – Chichibunomiya Kobelco Steelers 22 Yamaha Júbilo 26 215 5th to 8th bracket Fifth place Seventh place 16 January 2016 – 11:40 – Match 5 NTT Com Shining Arcs 21 Toyota Verblitz 32 16 January 2016 – 12:00 – Match 6 Kintetsu Liners 18 Canon Eagles 24 23 January 2016 – 14:00 Toyota Verblitz 48 Canon Eagles 17 23 January 2016 – 11:40 NTT Com Shining Arcs 17 Kintetsu Liners 22 Quarterfinals Match 1 9 January 2016 11:40 Toyota Verblitz 17–29 Toshiba Brave Lupus Mizuho Stadium Match 2 9 January 2016 14:00 Kobelco Steelers 42–10 Kintetsu Liners Mizuho Stadium Match 3 9 January 2016 13:00 Canon Eagles 6–46 Panasonic Wild Knights Kincho Stadium Match 4 9 January 2016 13:00 Yamaha Júbilo 26–7 NTT Com Shining Arcs Nippatsu Stadium Semifinals and play-offs 5th–8th Match 5 16 January 2016 11:40 NTT Com Shining Arcs 21–32 Toyota Verblitz Match 6 16 January 2016 12:00 Kintetsu Liners 18–24 Canon Eagles Match 7 – Semifinal 16 January 2016 14:00 Yamaha Júbilo 22–34 Toshiba Brave Lupus Match 8 – Semifinal 16 January 2016 14:05 Kobelco Steelers 10–42 Panasonic Wild Knights Classification finals 7th place 23 January 2016 11:40 Kintetsu Liners 22–17 NTT Com Shining Arcs 5th place 23 January 2016 14:00 Canon Eagles 17–48 Toyota Verblitz 3rd place 24 January 2016 11:40 Kobelco Steelers 22–26 Yamaha Júbilo Final collapsible expanded 24 January 2015 14:00 Toshiba Brave Lupus 26–27 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo 24,557 Team detailsTeam 1 FB 15 RW 14 OC 13IC 12 LW 11FH 10SH 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:JPN Team 2 FB 15 RW 14OC 13 IC 12 LW 11FH 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:JPN Touch judges: 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. 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. Top League Challenge Series 2015–16 Top League Challenge Series Kyuden Voltex, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars, Munakata Sanix Blues and Osaka Police progressed to the promotion play-offs. Promotion and relegation play-offs Results July 2015 End-of-season awards Results July 2015 Team of the season #WinnerTeam 1 JPN Keita Inagaki Panasonic Wild Knights 2 JPN Shota Horie Panasonic Wild Knights 3 JPN Takuma Asahara Toshiba Brave Lupus 4 RSA Andries Bekker Kobelco Steelers 5 AUS Daniel Heenan Panasonic Wild Knights 6 JPN Michael Leitch Canon Eagles 7 JPN Shokei Kin NTT Com Shining Arcs 8 JPN Amanaki Mafi NTT Com Shining Arcs 9 JPN Fumiaki Tanaka Panasonic Wild Knights 10 AUS Berrick Barnes Panasonic Wild Knights 11 JPN Shota Emi Suntory Sungoliath 12 NZL Richard Kahui Toshiba Brave Lupus 13 RSA JP Pietersen Panasonic Wild Knights 14 JPN Tomoki Kitagawa Panasonic Wild Knights 15 JPN Ayumu Goromaru Yamaha Júbilo References 2015 Japan Rugby Top League pre-season league Suntory 8 July 2015 http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/sungoliath/results/list/2015.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20150708025829/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2015/16 8 July 2015 2015 Japan - Pre Season League 2015/16 Rugby Archive 8 July 2015 http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2015/16 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150708025829/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2015%2F16 8 July 2015 29 May 2015 Top League Schedule 2015-16 Season Rugby News Japan 1 July 2015 http://rugbynewsjapan.com/news/top-league-schedule-2015-16-season-2/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080726/http://rugbynewsjapan.com/news/top-league-schedule-2015-16-season-2/ 4 March 2016 21 May 2015 The final of the All Japan Championship 31 January French Hinato Japon Rugby 7 July 2015 http://www.japonrugby.net/la-finale-du-all-japan-championship-2016-le-31-janvier.php live https://web.archive.org/web/20150706180934/http://www.japonrugby.net/la-finale-du-all-japan-championship-2016-le-31-janvier.php 6 July 2015 Category:Japan Rugby League One Top League Top League