Blockbuster start to new Japan Rugby League One Season !
-The champion TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO to tackle SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS in the season opener-
We are excited to announce the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 draw (hereafter, NTT LEAGUE ONE 2025-26), as shown in the attached sheet. Please note that the competiton schedule is subject to change.
NTT League One 2025-26 will kick off on Saturday, December 13 for each division, and exciting head-to-head matches await you from the opening game.
The opening game of DIVISION 1(D1), The League’s first two-time winner TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPAS TOKYO will take on SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS who finished at 4th place last season at AJINOMOTO Stadium in Tokyo on 14th December and the runner-up Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY will face KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS who gained their best ever 3rd place last season at Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, as some of the must-see matches.
As for DIVISION 2(D2), it kicks off with the match between the winner Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi and the 2nd HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS who both target to be promoted to the top division this season. The venue will be recently renewed Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium.
DIVISION 3(D3)’s new entrant from the last season SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTs ranked remarkable 2nd place– will host their opening game against the D3 winner MAZDA SKYACTIVS HIROSHIMA in Tochigi.
The tournament format for each division will remain unchanged from the 2024-25 season. D1 will consist of a league competition between two conferences and a playoff tournament involving six teams, with a total of 114 matches to determine the annual champion. The regular season will divide the 12 teams into two conferences, with each conference playing a home-and-away round-robin format (10 matches per team, with 5 home matches). Additionally, each team will play two home-and-away matches against two teams from the other conference (four matches per team, including two home matches), for a total of 108 matches.
The playoff tournament will feature the top six teams from the regular season, with a total of six matches from the quarter-finals to the final.
D2 will feature a two-round system with eight teams playing home and away matches (each team plays 14 matches, including seven home matches), totaling 56 matches. D3 will feature a three-round system with six teams playing home and away matches (each team plays 15 matches, including seven or eight home matches), totaling 45 matches.
Details regarding the yet-to-be-decided venue, kick-off time and broadcast schedule for each game will be announced on the official League One website as soon as they are decided. For ticket sales information, please check the official website of the host team (the team to the left of the matchup card), Ticket Rugby, etc.
NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2025-26 Competition Format & Schedule
*Competition Schedule is subject to change
【REF】Division 1 Conferences
*Conferences are assigned based on the rankings of NTT Japan Rugby League One 2024-25.
*Figures in parentheses() indicate the final ranking of NTT Japan Rugby League One 2024-25.
