2019 Top League Cup

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CountriesJapan
Date22 June – 10 August 2019
Runners-upKubota Spears
2019 Top League Cup
CountriesJapan
Date22 June – 10 August 2019
ChampionsKobelco Steelers
Runners-upKubota Spears
2020 

The 2019 Top League Cup was the second edition of the Top League Cup, a rugby union cup competition for Japan's Top League and Top Challenge League teams. This was the first time Top Challenge League teams played in the competition, after the 2018–19 featured Top League teams only.[1]

The 24 Top League and Top Challenge League teams were divided into four pools for the first stage of the competition, seeded as per their final positions in the 2018–19 season. Each pool consisted of a top seed that finished in the top four of the 2018–19 Top League, a second seed that finished between 5th and 8th, a third seed that finished between 9th and 12th, a fourth seed that finished between 13th and 16th, a fifth seed that finished in the top four of the 2018 Top Challenge League and a sixth seed that either finished between 5th and 8th, or was newly-promoted to the Top Challenge League. Each team played the five other teams in their pool once.

The four group winners qualified to the finals tournament semifinals, with the two semifinal winners progressing to the final.

Teams

The following teams took part in the 2019 Top League Cup competition:

Team Name Pool 2018–19 placing Region
Canon EaglesC12th (Top League) Machida, Tokyo, Kanto
Coca-Cola Red SparksC16th (Top League) Fukuoka, Kyushu
Hino Red DolphinsA14th (Top League) Hino, Tokyo Metropolis
Honda HeatA9th (Top League) Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
Kamaishi SeawavesC7th (Top Challenge League) Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture
Kintetsu LinersD3rd (Top Challenge League) Higashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai
Kobelco SteelersD1st (Top League) Kobe, Kansai
Kubota SpearsC7th (Top League) Abiko, Chiba, Kanto
Kurita Water GushA4th (Top Challenge League) Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kyuden VoltexB5th (Top Challenge League) Fukuoka, Kyushu
Mazda Blue ZoomersD6th (Top Challenge League) Fuchu, Hiroshima Prefecture
Mitsubishi DynaBoarsC2nd (Top Challenge League) Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture
Munakata Sanix BluesB14th (Top League) Munakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu
NEC Green RocketsD10th (Top League) Abiko, Chiba, Kanto
NTT Red HurricanesB1st (Top Challenge League) Osaka, Kansai
NTT Shining ArcsB5th (Top League) Chiba, Chiba, Kanto
Panasonic Wild KnightsA6th (Top League) Ota, Gunma, Kanto
Ricoh Black RamsD8th (Top League) Tokyo, Kanto
Shimizu Blue SharksAPromoted to Top Challenge League Chūō, Tokyo Metropolis
Suntory SungoliathA2nd (Top League) Fuchu, Tokyo, Kanto
Toshiba Brave LupusB11th (Top League) Fuchu, Tokyo, Kanto
Toyota Industries ShuttlesD15th (Top League) Aichi, Mizuho
Toyota VerblitzC4th (Top League) Toyota, Aichi, Tokai
Yamaha JúbiloB3rd (Top League) Iwata, Shizuoka, Tokai

Pool phase

Cup playoffs

References

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