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2025–26 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1

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The 2025–26 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1 (Japanese: NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン2025–26), known as the NTT 2025–26 Japan Rugby League One for sponsorship reasons, was the fifth season of the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) and the 22nd season in top-flight Japanese rugby. The season began in December 2025 and concluded in June 2026 with teams placed in the Play-offs and Relegation play-offs rounding out the season.[1] The teams remained unchanged from the previous season (2024–25) as both teams in the relegation zone (Mie Honda Heat, Urayasu D-Rocks) defeated the top two Division 2 teams over two-legs.[2][3] Toshiba Brave Lupus were the defending champions, having won their seventh title last season 18–13 against the Kubota Spears.[4]

Countries Japan
Number of teams12
Date13 December 2025 – 7 June 2026
ChampionsKobe Steelers (2nd title)
Quick facts Countries, Number of teams ...
2025–26 Japan Rugby League One – D1
Kobe Steelers lifting the JRLO trophy after the final
Countries Japan
Number of teams12
Date13 December 2025 – 7 June 2026
ChampionsKobe Steelers (2nd title)
Runners-upKubota Spears
Matches played117
Tries scored994
(average 8.5 per match)
Top point scorerCheslin Kolbe, Tokyo Sungoliath (218)
Top try scorerBrodie Retallick, Kobe Steelers (17)
Official website
league-one.jp/en
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In May 2026, the two teams sitting in the relegation zone (Urayasu D-Rocks, Sagamihara DynaBoars) defeated their Division 2 opponents decisively to stay in the first division for 2026–27.[5]

On 7 June 2026, the Kobe Steelers defeated the Kubota Spears in the final 22–13 at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo in front of a crowd of more than 50,000.[6][7] It was the Steelers' third title in top-flight Japanese rugby, and their first since the inception of the JRLO in 2022.[8]

Format

The format will consist of a round-robin fixture, before entering into a knockout style play-off for the final four teams. It featured two conferences (A, B).[1] Teams in each conference played the teams in their respective conference twice (one at home, one away), and six matches against all the teams in the other conference, three being at home and three away.[1] Each team played a total of sixteen seasonal fixtures, plus additional play-off matches, including relegation play-offs.[1]

Teams, venues and personnel

Venues and stadia

The competition fixture list and venues for the season were announced on 31 July 2025.[9] Despite no 2025–26 Division 1 team being located on the island and prefecture of Hokkaido,[9] the Toshiba Brave Lupus hosted the Urayasu D-Rocks in Round 14 of the season at the Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido.[10] Similarly, no 2025–26 Division 1 team is located on the Southern Island of Kyushu, however Tokyo Sungoliath, the Sagamihara DynaBoars, Toyota Verblitz, and the Yokohama Canon Eagles all host one or two fixtures at various venues on the island throughout the season.

More information Black Rams Tokyo, Kobe Steelers ...
Black Rams Tokyo Kobe Steelers Kubota Spears Mie Honda Heat Sagamihara DynaBoars
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium[a] Noevir Stadium Kobe[b] Edogawa Stadium[c] Fukuda Denshi Arena[d] Mie Suzuka Sports Garden[e] Tochigi Green Stadium[f] Sagamihara Gion Stadium[g] Takebishi Stadium Kyoto[h] Nagasaki City Kakidomari Stadium[i]
Capacity: 20,010 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 30,132 Capacity: 6,950 Capacity: 19,781 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 18,025 Capacity: 15,300 Capacity: 20,588 Capacity: 16,000
Saitama Wild Knights
Shizuoka Blue Revs
Kumagaya Rugby Ground Yamaha Stadium
Capacity: 24,000 Capacity: 15,165
Urayasu D-Rocks Toshiba Brave Lupus
ZA Oripri Stadium[j] Todoroki Athletics Stadium[k]
Capacity: 14,051 Capacity: 26,232
Tokyo Sungoliath Toyota Verblitz Yokohama Canon Eagles Toshiba Brave Lupus Toshiba Brave Lupus, Tokyo Sungoliath, Saitama Wild Knights
JIT Recycle Ink Stadium[l] Egao Kenko Stadium[m] Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium[n] Toyota Stadium[o] Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu[p] NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium[q] Crasus Dome Oita[r] Sapporo Dome[s] Ajinomoto Stadium[t]
Capacity: 15,853 Capacity: 32,000 Capacity: 11,900 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 15,300 Capacity: 15,454 Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 42,065 Capacity: 49,970
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Personnel

More information Team, Coach ...
Team Coach Captain Kit manufacturer Owner
Black Rams Tokyo
リコーブラックラムズ東京		 Tabai Matson TJ Perenara[11] Adidas Ricoh
Kobe Steelers
コベルコ神戸スティーラーズ		 Dave Rennie
Adidas Kobelco
Kubota Spears
クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ		 Frans Ludeke Faulua Makisi[13] BLK Kubota
Mie Honda Heat
三重ホンダヒート		 Kieran Crowley Pablo Matera[14] BLK Honda
Sagamihara DynaBoars
三菱重工相模原ダイナボアーズ		 Glenn Delaney Kyo Yoshida[15] Canterbury Mitsubishi
Saitama Wild Knights
埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツ		 Atsushi Kanazawa[16] Atsushi Sakate[17] Under Armour Panasonic
Shizuoka Blue Revs
静岡ブルーレヴズ		 Yuichiro Fujii [ja] Kwagga Smith[18] BLK Yamaha Motor Company
Tokyo Sungoliath
東京サントリーサンゴリアス		 Kosei Ono Sam Cane[19] Adidas Suntory
Toshiba Brave Lupus
東芝ブレイブルーパス東京		 Todd Blackadder Michael Leitch Canterbury Toshiba
Toyota Verblitz
トヨタヴェルブリッツ		 Ian Foster Kazuki Himeno[20] Canterbury Toyota
Urayasu D-Rocks
浦安ディーロックス		 Graham Rowntree[21] Ryuji Fujimura [ja][22] Under Armour NTT
Yokohama Canon Eagles
横浜キヤノンイーグルス		 Leon MacDonald Jesse Kriel[23] Canterbury Canon Inc.
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International players

The Japan Rugby League One divides players into three category's based on their international eligibility to the Japan national team (Category A, Category B, Category C). Under "Category A", at least 17 members of a matchday squad must be Japan-qualified which includes foreign-born players who qualify based on residency grounds.[24] "Category B" is marked to internationally uncapped players who could potentially qualify for Japan in the future.[24] And "Category C" allows three internationally test-capped players to be in the matchday squad.[24][25] Overall, a combined total of six "Category B" and "Category C" players can be named in a matchday squad.[24]

The Japan Rugby League One's "Category C" player quota for 2025–26:[26][27]

More information Club, Player 1 ...
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Ref.
Black Rams Tokyo Paddy Ryan Liam Gill TJ Perenara [26][27][28]
Kobe Steelers Brodie Retallick Ardie Savea Anton Lienert-Brown [26][27][29][30]
Kubota Spears Malcolm Marx Bernard Foley Shaun Stevenson [26][27][31]
Mie Honda Heat Tevita Ikanivere Franco Mostert Pablo Matera [26][27][32]
Sagamihara DynaBoars Jackson Hemopo Lukhanyo Am N/a [27][33]
Saitama Wild Knights Lood de Jager Damian de Allende Marika Koroibete [26][27]
Shizuoka Blue Revs Kwagga Smith Semi Radradra Charles Piutau [26][27][34]
Tokyo Sungoliath Sean McMahon Sam Cane Cheslin Kolbe [26][27]
Toshiba Brave Lupus Shannon Frizell Richie Mo'unga Seta Tamanivalu [26][27][35]
Toyota Verblitz Pieter-Steph du Toit Aaron Smith Mark Tele'a [26][27][36]
Urayasu D-Rocks Jasper Wiese Samu Kerevi Israel Folau [26][27][37]
Yokohama Canon Eagles Dino Lamb Faf de Klerk Jesse Kriel [26][27][38]
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Ladder

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Kobe Steelers (C) 18 16 0 2 750 456 +294 112 81 10 1 75 Qualification to semi-finals
2 Saitama Wild Knights 18 16 0 2 664 336 +328 93 65 9 1 74
3 Kubota Spears 18 14 0 4 709 357 +352 102 70 11 3 70 Qualification to quarter-finals
4 Tokyo Sungoliath 18 9 0 9 625 538 +87 87 60 6 6 48
5 Black Rams Tokyo 18 9 0 9 502 551 −49 66 60 4 1 41
6 Toshiba Brave Lupus 18 8 0 10 478 628 −150 72 66 4 3 39
7 Shizuoka Blue Revs 18 7 0 11 579 617 −38 86 56 4 4 36
8 Mie Honda Heat 18 7 0 11 475 611 −136 71 53 2 4 34
9 Toyota Verblitz 18 7 0 11 541 585 −44 77 63 3 2 33
10 Yokohama Canon Eagles 18 6 0 12 454 597 −143 65 47 2 4 30
11 Urayasu D-Rocks (O) 18 5 0 13 421 711 −290 58 49 0 0 20 Qualification to relegation play-offs
12 Sagamihara DynaBoars (O) 18 4 0 14 425 636 −211 63 52 0 4 20
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Source: League One[39]
(C) Champion; (O) Relegation play-off winner

Fixtures

The season fixtures were released on 31 July 2025.[9][10]

More information Home \ Away, BRT ...
Home \ Away BRT KS STB MH SDB SWK SBR TSG BLT TV UDR YE
Black Rams Tokyo — 19–40 8–52 32–28 33–7 6–13 37–33 15–29 28–40 41–19
Kobe Steelers 67–21 — 28–33 24–19 61–10 40–24 60–45 49–28 49–29 29–38
Kubota Spears 50–28 19–24 — 54–21 26–10 30–32 79–20 51–7 39–10 48–14
Mie Honda Heat 5–49 23–28 21–45 — 26–21 24–17 44–38 38–26 32–23 26–31
Sagamihara DynaBoars 24–33 44–34 — 3–33 41–45 35–32 26–45 29–31 22–29 17–10
Saitama Wild Knights 31–7 66–19 57–19 — 37–22 31–30 45–0 26–20 37–19 42–15
Shizuoka Blue Revs 20–41 19–42 47–36 24–34 — 24–57 22–26 43–19 21–34 42–15
Tokyo Sungoliath 39–22 20–22 22–27 30–15 15–34 34–36 — 60–21 43–25 54–22
Toshiba Brave Lupus 14–33 33–34 24–20 22–24 47–22 0–46 35–29 — 40–24 26–50
Toyota Verblitz 29–37 24–38 24–7 44–33 24–34 38–54 52–21 — 59–19 14–20
Urayasu D-Rocks 19–78 35–59 17–43 27–24 27–24 26–49 19–41 27–38 — 28–22
Yokohama Canon Eagles 31–53 32–38 10–28 31–22 21–50 27–39 19–41 27–33 33–15 —
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Source: League One[40]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion/Relegation play-offs

The relegation play-offs were scheduled for May 2026.[1]

Overview

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(D1) Sagamihara DynaBoars 88–42 Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi (D2) 14–36 52–28
(D1) Urayasu D-Rocks 94–34 Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks (D2) 15–37 57–19
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Matches

DynaBoars v Shuttles Aichi

23 May 2026
14:30 JST (UTC+09)
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi14–36Sagamihara DynaBoars
Try: Yumoto 60' c
Peni 66' c
Con: Lolesio (1/1) 61', 66'		ReportTry: Mikaele-Tu'u (2) 6' c, 41' m
Weber 19' c
Am 50' c
Yoshida 69' c
Con: Vaega (2/2) 7', 20'
Vailea (2/3) 51', 70'
Pen: Vaega (1/1) 12'
Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Nagoya
Attendance: 5,060[41]
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
30 May 2026
13:00 JST (UTC+09)
Sagamihara DynaBoars52–28Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi
Try: Vailea (2) 19' c, 70' c
Koizumi 24' c
Shota (2) 31' c, 40' c
Mikaele-Tu'u 73' c
Vaega 77' c
Con: Vaega (6/6) 20', 24', 32', 40+1', 71', 74'
Hemopo (1/1) 78'
Pen: Vaega (1/1) 51'		ReportTry: Peni 9' c
Takashima 13' c
Yumoto 28' c
Manu 35' c
Con: Lolesio (4/4) 10', 14', 29', 36'
Ogino Athletics Park Athletic Field, Atsugi
Attendance: 1,795[42]
Referee: Jun'ichi Sekiya

Sagamihara DynaBoars won 88–42 on aggregate.

D-Rocks v Blue Sharks

23 May 2026
14:30 JST (UTC+09)
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks15–37Urayasu D-Rocks
Try: Nishibata (2) 3' c, 66' m
Con: Burns (1/2) 3'
Pen: Burns (1/1) 36'		ReportTry: Wiese (2) 55' c, 72' c
Laulala 77' c
Iinuma 85' c
Con: Tamura (1/1) 56'
Black (3/3) 72', 77', 86'
Pen: Tamura (3/3) 7', 40', 46'
Yumenoshima Stadium, Kōtō
Attendance: 3,709[43]
Referee: Ibuki Tezuka
30 May 2026
14:30 JST (UTC+09)
Urayasu D-Rocks57–19Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks
Try: Ishii (4) 10' c, 25' c, 34' c, 69' m
Wiese 19' c
Yamanaka 29' c
Omoto 42' m
Iinuma (2) 58' c, 61' m
Con: Black (6/8) 11', 20', 26', 30', 35', 59'
Kim (0/1)		ReportTry: Goddard 22' c
Bailey 39' m
Vailanu 66' c
Con: Burns (2/3) 22', 67'
Yumenoshima Stadium, Kōtō
Attendance: 3,501[44]
Referee: Masaki Kondo

Urayasu D-Rocks won 94–34 on aggregate.

Play-offs

The season play-offs were scheduled for May and June 2026.[1]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
23 May – Aoyama
 
 
Tokyo Sungoliath40
 
30 May – Aoyama
 
Black Rams Tokyo35
 
Kobe Steelers69
 
 
Tokyo Sungoliath23
 
 
7 June – Aoyama
 
 
Kobe Steelers22
 
 
Kubota Spears13
 
 
31 May – Aoyama
 
 
Saitama Wild Knights24
 
24 May – Aoyama
 
Kubota Spears26 Third place match
 
Kubota Spears26
 
6 June – Tokyo
 
Toshiba Brave Lupus3
 
Tokyo Sungoliath19
 
 
Saitama Wild Knights26
 

Quarter-finals

23 May 2026
14:30 JST (UTC+09)
Tokyo Sungoliath40–35Black Rams Tokyo
Try: Kolbe 3' m
Ozaki 8' m
Takeuchi 14' c
Trask 39' c
Morikawa 84' c
Con: Kolbe (3/5) 15', 39', 84'
Pen: Kolbe (3/3) 31', 54', 70'		ReportTry: Perenara (2) 26' c, 67' c
Taira (2) 49' m, 63' m
Onishi 71' m
Con: Nakakusu (2/5) 27', 68'
Pen: Nakakusu (2/3) 35', 78'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama
Attendance: 11,484[45]
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
24 May 2026
14:30 JST (UTC+09)
Kubota Spears26–3Toshiba Brave Lupus
Try: Okada 15' c
Vailea 43' c
Makisi 51' m
Pretorius 79' c
Con: Foley (2/3) 16', 44'
Stevenson (1/1) 80'		ReportPen: Matsunaga (1/1) 4'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama
Attendance: 12,579[46]
Referee: Koki Yamaguchi

Semi-finals

30 May 2026
12:05 JST (UTC+09)
Kobe Steelers69–23Tokyo Sungoliath
Try: Ueda 6' m
Uenobo 21' m
Raratubua 32' c
Savea (2) 39' c, 68' c
Kamimura 43' m
Seung-sin 47' c
Cowley-Tuioti 53' c
Burua 73' c
Funaki (2) 77' m, 80+2' c
Con: Seung-sin (4/7) 33', 40', 48', 54'
Gatland (3/4) 69', 74', 80+3'		ReportTry: Hammond 25' c
Nakano 79' c
Con: Kolbe (2/2) 26', 80'
Pen: Kolbe (3/3) 9', 18', 35'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama
Attendance: 15,412[47]
Referee: Yamauchi Koki
31 May 2026
14:05 JST (UTC+09)
Saitama Wild Knights24–26Kubota Spears
Try: Cornelsen 17' c
Marks 61' m
Kihara 78' m
Saito 79' c
Con: Yamasawa (1/2) 18'
Takeyama (0/1)
Saito (1/1) 79'
Pen: Yamasawa (0/1)		ReportTry: Vailea 36' c
Kida 56' c
Con: Foley (2/2) 37', 57'
Pen: Stevenson (3/3) 10', 69', 71'
Foley (1/2) 50'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama
Attendance: 18,695[48]
Referee: Takehito Namekawa

Third place match

6 June 2026
13:30 JST (UTC+09)
Tokyo Sungoliath19–26Saitama Wild Knights
Try: Matsushima 18' c
Ozaki (2) 53' m, 74' c
Con: Trask (2/2) 19', 75'
Nakamura (0/1)		ReportTry: Koyama 41' c
Shimane 45' c
Naramoto 50' m
Marks 56' c
Con: Naramoto (3/4) 42', 46', 57'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Aoyama
Attendance: 14,280[49]
Referee: Ibuki Tezuka

Final

7 June 2026
15:05 JST (UTC+09)
Kobe Steelers22–13Kubota Spears
Try: Burua 29' c
Con: Seung-sin (1/1) 30'
Pen: Seung-sin (5/5) 19', 40', 43', 52', 80'		ReportTry: Tamefusa 25' c
Con: Foley (1/1) 26'
Pen: Foley (2/2) 16', 22'
Stevenson (0/1)
Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
Attendance: 50,451[50]
Referee: Katsuki Furuse[51]
Kobe Steelers
Kubota Spears
FB15 Shunsuke Uenobo
RW14 Kazuma Ueda
OC13 Anton Lienert-Brown
IC12 Tali Ioasadownward-facing red arrow 19'
LW11 Inoke Burua
FH10 Lee Seung-sin
SH9 Itsuki Kamimura
N88 Waisake Raratubuadownward-facing red arrow 69'
OF7 Ardie Savea
BF6 Tiennan Costley
RL5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
LL4 Brodie Retallick (c)
TP3 Hiroshi Yamashitadownward-facing red arrow 40'
HK2 Ash Dixondownward-facing red arrow 59'
LP1 Shigure Takaodownward-facing red arrow 59'
Substitutes:
HK16 Kenta Matsuokaupward-facing green arrow 59'
PR17 Sho Maedaupward-facing green arrow 59'
PR18 Koo Ji-wonupward-facing green arrow 40'
LK19 Naohiro Kotaki
LF20 Solomone Funakiupward-facing green arrow 69'
SH21 Daiki Nakajima
FH22 Bryn Gatlandupward-facing green arrow 69'
CE23 Michael Littleupward-facing green arrow 19'downward-facing red arrow 69'
Coach:
Dave Rennie
FB15 Shaun Stevenson
RW14 Koga Nezuka
OC13 Rikus Pretorius
IC12 Yūya Hirosedownward-facing red arrow 58'
LW11 Haruto Kida
FH10 Bernard Foleydownward-facing red arrow 80'
SH9 Ippei Okadadownward-facing red arrow 69'
N88 Faulua Makisi (c)
OF7 Takeo Suenaga
BF6 Akira Ieremiadownward-facing red arrow 64'
RL5 David Bulbring
LL4 Merwe Olivierdownward-facing red arrow 64'
TP3 Keijiro Tamefusadownward-facing red arrow 52'
HK2 Hayate Eradownward-facing red arrow 69'
LP1 Yota Kamimoridownward-facing red arrow 69'
Substitutes:
HK16 Rikuto Fukudaupward-facing green arrow 69'
PR17 Kazuki Katoupward-facing green arrow 69'
PR18 Opeti Heluupward-facing green arrow 52'
LK19 David Van Zeelandupward-facing green arrow 64'
LF20 Lappies Labuschagnéupward-facing green arrow 64'
SH21 Bryn Hallupward-facing green arrow 69'
FH22 Atsushi Oshikawaupward-facing green arrow 80'
FB23 Halatoa Vaileaupward-facing green arrow 58'
Coach:
Frans Ludeke

Man of the Match:
Brodie Retallick (Kobe Steelers)[8]
Assistant referees:[51]
Takehito Namekawa
Koki Yamauchi
Television match official:[51]
Tasuku Kawahara

TMO review for a try in the final.

Statistics

As of 7 June 2026.[52][u]
More information Pos., Player ...
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Notes

  1. [a]
    Rounds 5, 7, 9, 11, 12
  2. [b]
    Round 1
  3. [c]
    Rounds 5, 7, 9, 13
  4. [d]
    Round 2
  5. [e]
    Rounds 2, 4, 9, 18
  6. [f]
    Rounds 6, 7, 11, 14
  7. [g]
    Rounds 2, 3, 6, 8
  8. [h]
    Round 10
  9. [i]
    Round 14
  10. [j]
    Round 1
  11. [k]
    Round 4
  12. [l]
    Round 5
  13. [m]
    Round 15
  14. [n]
    Rounds 7, 9, 11
  15. [o]
    Round 1
  16. [p]
    Round 4
  17. [q]
    Rounds 5, 6
  18. [r]
    Rounds 10, 15
  19. [s]
    Round 14
  20. [t]
    Rounds 1, 2, 4
  21. [u]
    Try and point-scoring statistics do not include points accumulated in the promotion and relegation play-offs.

References

External links

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