Division Structure Confirmed for NTT Japan Rugby League One 2026-27 Season; Opening and Final Dates Announced
Japan Rugby League One is pleased to announce the division structure for the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2026-27 season, as well as the scheduled dates for the opening round and the Final.
A total of 27 teams will compete in the 2026-27 season. The division alignment is provided in the attached document.
The NTT Japan Rugby League One 2026-27 season will kick off on Saturday, 12 December 2026, with the Play-Off Tournament Final scheduled to be held on Sunday, 6 June 2027.
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, the conference system in Division 1 will be discontinued. The Division 1 Regular Season will therefore be played without conference divisions. Each Division 1 team will play 18 regular season matches, the same number as in the 2025-26 season.
Further details, including the match schedule, fixtures, and competition calendar, are scheduled to be announced in late July 2026 or later.
NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2026-27 Division Structure
＊The new team name and emblem for AZ-COM MARUWA MOMOTARO’S, set to join in the 2026–27 season, will be announced at a later date.
NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2026-27 Competition Format & Schedule
Category | Schedule | Competition Format |
DIVISION 1 （12 teams） | 13 December 2026 ~ 9 May 2027 | ＜Regular Season＞ 12 teams will each play 18 matches (108 matches in total) *Details of the fixture following the review of the conference system are due to be announced in late July or later |
22 May ~ 6 June 2027 | ＜Post Season/ Playoff Tournament＞ Playoff Tournament for the top 6 teams of the regular season (6 matches)） ※Top 2 teams participate from the semi-finals | |
DIVISION 2 | 13 December 2026 ~ 9 May 2027 | ＜Regular Season＞ 2 rounds of 8-team round-robin tournament (56 matches) |
DIVISION 3 （7 teams） | 12 December 2026 ~ 9 May 2027 | ＜Regular Season＞ 2 rounds of 7-team round-robin tournament (42 matches) |
Promotion/ Relegation | TBC | ＜Post Season/ P/R matches＞ Format to be announced in late July or later |
*Competition Schedule is subject to change
