2025–26 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1

2025–26 Japan Rugby League One – D1
Countries Japan
Number of teams12
Date13 December 2025 – 7 June 2026
Matches played117
Official website
league-one.jp/en

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, will be the fifth season of the Japan Rugby League One and the 22nd season in top-flight Japanese rugby. The season begins in December 2025 and ends 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 (Honda Heat, Urayasu D-Rocks) defeated the top two Division 2 teams over two-legs.[2][3]

Toshiba Brave Lupus are the defending champions, having won their seventh title last season 18–13 against the Kubota Spears.[4]

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.[5] Despite no 2025–26 Division 1 team being located on the island and prefecture of Hokkaido,[5] the Toshiba Brave Lupus hosted the Urayasu D-Rocks in Round 14 of the season at the Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido.[6] 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.

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

Personnel

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[7] 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[9] BLK Kubota
Mie Honda Heat
三重ホンダヒート 		Kieran Crowley Pablo Matera[10] BLK Honda
Sagamihara DynaBoars
三菱重工相模原ダイナボアーズ 		Glenn Delaney Kyo Yoshida[11] Canterbury Mitsubishi
Saitama Wild Knights
埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツ 		Atsushi Kanazawa[12] Atsushi Sakate[13] Under Armour Panasonic
Shizuoka Blue Revs
静岡ブルーレヴズ 		Yuichiro Fujii Kwagga Smith[14] BLK Yamaha Motor Company
Tokyo Sungoliath
東京サントリーサンゴリアス 		Kosei Ono Sam Cane[15] Adidas Suntory
Toshiba Brave Lupus
東芝ブレイブルーパス東京 		Todd Blackadder Takuro Matsunaga[13] Canterbury Toshiba
Toyota Verblitz
トヨタヴェルブリッツ 		Steve Hansen Kazuki Himeno[16] Canterbury Toyota
Urayasu D-Rocks
浦安ディーロックス 		Graham Rowntree[17] Yuzuki Sasaki[18] Under Armour NTT
Yokohama Canon Eagles
横浜キヤノンイーグルス 		Leon MacDonald Jesse Kriel[19] Canterbury Canon Inc.

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.[20] "Category B" is marked to internationally uncapped players who could potentially qualify for Japan in the future.[20] And "Category C" allows three internationally test-capped players to be in the matchday squad.[20][21] Overall, a combined total of six "Category B" and "Category C" players can be named in a matchday squad.[20]

The Japan Rugby League One's "Category C" player quota for 2025–26 is:[22][23]

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Ref.
Black Rams Tokyo Paddy Ryan Liam Gill TJ Perenara [22][23][24]
Kobe Steelers Brodie Retallick Ardie Savea Anton Lienert-Brown [22][23][25][26]
Kubota Spears Malcolm Marx Bernard Foley Shaun Stevenson [22][23][27]
Mie Honda Heat Tevita Ikanivere Franco Mostert Pablo Matera [22][23][28]
Sagamihara DynaBoars Jackson Hemopo Lukhanyo Am — [23][29]
Saitama Wild Knights Lood de Jager Damian de Allende Marika Koroibete [22][23]
Shizuoka Blue Revs Kwagga Smith Semi Radradra Charles Piutau [22][23][30]
Tokyo Sungoliath Sean McMahon Sam Cane Cheslin Kolbe [22][23]
Toshiba Brave Lupus Shannon Frizell Richie Mo'unga Seta Tamanivalu [22][23][31]
Toyota Verblitz Pieter-Steph du Toit Aaron Smith Mark Tele'a [22][23][32]
Urayasu D-Rocks Jasper Wiese Samu Kerevi Israel Folau [22][23][33]
Yokohama Canon Eagles Dino Lamb Faf de Klerk Jesse Kriel [22][23][34]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Saitama Wild Knights 1 1 0 0 46 0 +46 4 0 1 0 5 Advance to semi-finals
2 Tokyo Sungoliath 1 1 0 0 29 15 +14 5 2 1 0 5
3 Shizuoka Blue Revs 1 1 0 0 39 27 +12 6 3 1 0 5 Advance to quarter-finals
4 Toyota Verblitz 1 1 0 0 44 33 +11 6 5 0 0 4
5 Kubota Spears 1 1 0 0 33 28 +5 4 3 0 0 4
6 Urayasu D-Rocks 1 1 0 0 27 24 +3 3 3 0 0 4
7 Sagamihara DynaBoars 1 0 0 1 24 27 −3 3 3 0 1 1
8 Kobe Steelers 1 0 0 1 28 33 −5 3 4 0 1 1
9 Mie Honda Heat 1 0 0 1 33 44 −11 5 6 0 0 0
10 Yokohama Canon Eagles 1 0 0 1 27 39 −12 3 6 0 0 0
11 Black Rams Tokyo 1 0 0 1 15 29 −14 2 5 0 0 0 Advance to relegation play-offs
12 Toshiba Brave Lupus 1 0 0 1 0 46 −46 0 4 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2025. Source: league-one.jp
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Number of wins; 3) Point difference

Fixtures

The season fixtures were released on 31 July 2025.[5][6]

Home \ Away BRT KS STB MH SDB SWK SBR TSG BLT TV UDR YE
Black Rams Tokyo — 5 Apr '26 3 May '26 28 Dec '25 29 Mar '26 7 Feb '26 14 Mar '26 15–29 26 Apr '26 21 Feb '26
Kobe Steelers 17 Jan '26 — 28–33 3 May '26 14 Mar '26 21 Feb '26 7 Feb '26 26 Apr '26 28 Dec '25 20 Mar '26
Kubota Spears 20 Dec '25 10 May '26 — 26 Apr '26 21 Feb '26 14 Mar '26 27 Dec '25 28 Mar '26 17 Jan '26 7 Feb '26
Mie Honda Heat 17 Apr '26 21 Dec '25 11 Jan '26 — 22 Feb '26 4 Apr '26 7 Feb '26 9 May '26 24 Jan '26 14 Mar '26
Sagamihara DynaBoars 24 Jan '26 14 Feb '26 — 28 Dec '25 4 Apr '26 21 Mar '26 19 Apr '26 1 Mar '26 10 May '26 21 Dec '25
Saitama Wild Knights 21 Mar '26 28 Feb '26 25 Apr '26 — 10 Jan '26 24 Jan '26 9 May '26 14 Feb '26 21 Dec '25 4 Apr '26
Shizuoka Blue Revs 28 Mar '26 14 Feb '26 17 Jan '26 18 Apr '26 — 1 Mar '26 21 Dec '25 25 Jan '26 28 Dec '25 9 May '26
Tokyo Sungoliath 10 May '26 10 Jan '26 18 Apr '26 17 Jan '26 8 Feb '26 28 Mar '26 — 15 Mar '26 20 Dec '25 22 Feb '26
Toshiba Brave Lupus 28 Feb '26 15 Feb '26 24 Jan '26 22 Mar '26 10 Jan '26 0–46 2 May '26 — 5 Apr '26 25 Apr '26
Toyota Verblitz 10 Jan '26 18 Apr '26 4 Apr '26 44–33 22 Mar '26 2 May '26 21 Feb '26 — 15 Mar '26 7 Feb '26
Urayasu D-Rocks 1 Mar '26 22 Mar '26 29 Mar '26 27–24 1 May '26 24 Apr '26 15 Feb '26 17 Jan '26 — 10 Jan '26
Yokohama Canon Eagles 14 Feb '26 24 Jan '26 1 Mar '26 2 May '26 17 Jan '26 27–39 28 Dec '25 28 Mar '26 18 Apr '26 —
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2025. Source: league-one.jp
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion/Relegation play-offs

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

Play-offs

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

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Third-place Final
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes

  1. ^ Rounds 5, 7, 9, 11, 12
  2. ^ Round 1
  3. ^ Rounds 5, 7, 9, 13
  4. ^ Round 2
  5. ^ Rounds 2, 4, 9, 18
  6. ^ Rounds 6, 7, 11, 14
  7. ^ Rounds 2, 3, 6, 8
  8. ^ Round 10
  9. ^ Round 14
  10. ^ Round 1
  11. ^ Round 4
  12. ^ Round 5
  13. ^ Round 15
  14. ^ Rounds 7, 9, 11
  15. ^ Round 1
  16. ^ Round 4
  17. ^ Rounds 5, 6
  18. ^ Rounds 10, 15
  19. ^ Round 14
  20. ^ Rounds 1, 2, 4

References

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  2. ^ "三重Hでのラストダンス。走り抜いた"ミスターヒート"が残した『魂と感謝と残留』" [The last dance at Mie H. The 'Mr. Heat' who ran through the race left behind 'Soul, Gratitude and Remaining'.] (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025.
  3. ^ "【リーグワンD1/D2入替戦】浦安D-Rocksが逆転D1残留。豊田自動織機シャトルズ愛知との第2戦を27－21で制す。" [League One D1/D2 replacement match: Urayasu D-Rocks upset to stay in D1. They won the second game against Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi 27–21.]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 31 May 2025. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025.
  4. ^ "NTTリーグワン2024–25 プレーオフトーナメント決勝レポート（BL東京 18–13 S東京ベイ）" [NTT League One 2024–25 Play-off Tournament Final Report (BL Tokyo 18–13 S Tokyo Bay)]. league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One. 3 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン2025–26 大会日程決定のお知らせ" [NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025–26 Tournament Schedule Announced]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. 31 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "試合日程：ディビジョン１" [Match Schedule: Division 1] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  7. ^ "NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン 2025–26 ディビジョン1 第1節 カンファレンスB (2025D10101)" [NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Division 1, Round 1, Conference B (2025D10101)]. league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  8. ^ a b Matsuse, Manabu (26 May 2025). "NZ"レジェンド"、神戸のレタリックの矜持とはーラグビーリーグワン準決勝" [The pride of New Zealand "legend" Kobe's Retallick in the Rugby League One semi-final]. Yahoo Japan. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  9. ^ "NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン 2025–26 ディビジョン1 第1節 カンファレンスB (2025D10104)" [NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Division 1, Round 1, Conference B (2025D10104)]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  10. ^ "[三重H]悔しさは勝利への渇望の表れ。アルゼンチンの生きるレジェンドが感じたチームの変化" [[Mie H] Frustration is a sign of the desire to win. A living legend of Argentina feels the changes in the team]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  11. ^ "[相模原DB]「このチームで優勝したい」。クラブのDNAを体現する新キャプテンの決意" [[Sagamihara DB] "I want to win with this team." The new captain's determination to embody the club's DNA]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. 13 December 2025.
  12. ^ "埼玉パナソニックワイルドナイツが新体制発表。ロビー・ディーンズ監督の後任に金沢篤HCが就任。堀江翔太氏はFWコーチに。" [Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights announce new management structure. Atsushi Kanazawa appointed as head coach to succeed Robbie Deans. Shota Horie appointed as forward coach]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ^ a b "NTTジャパンラグビー リーグワン 2025–26 ディビジョン1 第1節 カンファレンスA (2025D10106)" [NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Division 1, Round 1, Conference A (2025D10106)]. league-one.jp (in Japanese). Japan Rugby League One. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  14. ^ "2025–26シーズンのキャプテンが決定" [Captains for the 2025-26 season have been decided]. shizuoka-bluerevs.com (in Japanese). Shizuoka Blue Revs. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. ^ "東京サントリーサンゴリアスの新キャプテン、FLサム・ケインが示すリーダーシップとリスペクト。" [The leadership and respect shown by Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath's new captain, FL Sam Cane.]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 5 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  16. ^ "【ラグビーリーグワン】トヨタ、三重破り白星発進　主将・姫野和樹が先制トライ＆ハドルでチーム鼓舞「自分たちから奪いにいくぞ」" [(Rugby League One) Toyota starts off with a win against Mie. Captain Kazuki Himeno scores the opening try and motivates the team in the huddle: "We're going to take it from ourselves!"]. Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  17. ^ Fissler, Neil (27 August 2025). "Graham Rowntree head coach appointment confirmed". RugbyPass. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  18. ^ @UrayasuDRocks (13 December 2025). "プレイヤー・オブ・ザ・マッチには #佐々木柚樹 選手が選ばれました🥇 ゲームキャプテンを務め、トライを奪う活躍も見せてくれた柚樹👏おめでとう🎊" (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "新キャプテン、ジェシー・クリエル［横浜キヤノンイーグルス／CTB］が語るチームメイトへの信頼。開幕戦へ「準備はできています」" [New captain Jesse Kriel (Yokohama Canon Eagles/Center) talks about his trust in his teammates and how "we're ready" for the opening game]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 10 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d Pickering, Mark (9 May 2025). "EXCLUSIVE – Japan Rugby set to unveil new player category system". rugbyjp.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025.
  21. ^ "RUGBY/ League One to increase playing time for 'Japanese'". The Asahi Shimbun. 9 May 2025. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "リーグワンカテゴリC選手一覧(2025)" [List of League One Category C players (2025)]. rugbydb.tokyo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 January 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "リーグワンカテゴリC選手一覧(2026)" [List of League One Category C players (2026)]. rugbydb.tokyo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 December 2025.
  24. ^ "All Black TJ Perenara agrees three-year deal to play in Japan". Rugby.com.au. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024.
  25. ^ Goile, Aaron (17 January 2023). "Brodie Retallick to re-join Japan club Kobelco Kobe Steelers after Rugby World Cup". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. That has indeed now been weighed up, and Stuff understands Retallick's Kobe deal will be a three-year one, through to the 2025–26 Japan Rugby League One season, and around the time of his 35th birthday.
  26. ^ "Ardie Savea to miss Super Rugby Pacific in 2026 for second Kobe sabbatical in Japan". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 17 June 2025. Archived from the original on 17 June 2025.
  27. ^ "クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ、B・フォーリー、M・マークスとの契約継続を発表。S・スティーブンソンも再合流確定。" [Kubota Spears Funabashi and Tokyo Bay announce the continuation of contracts with B. Foley and M. Marks; S. Stevenson is also confirmed to rejoin the team]. Rugby Republic (in Japanese). 2 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025.
  28. ^ Salalo-Baleiwai, Sereana (8 July 2025). "Ikanivere excited for Japan move". Fiji Sun.
  29. ^ Raisey, Josh (5 November 2025). "Springbok Lukhanyo Am leaves Sharks with immediate effect". RugbyPass.
  30. ^ Raisey, Josh (30 June 2025). "Semi Radradra to team up with Bok World Cup winner in Japan". RugbyPass. World Rugby. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025.
  31. ^ "All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga signs with Japanese club Toshiba on three-year deal from 2024". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023.
  32. ^ "All Blacks Aaron Smith's and Beauden Barrett's Japan moves confirmed". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
  33. ^ Butler, Lynn (1 July 2024). "Springbok No 8 puts pen to paper on new Japan deal". News24.
  34. ^ Lewis, Craig (8 April 2022). "REVEALED: Faf de Klerk's next destination after leaving Sale". The South African. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022.
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