Division One

Kobelco Kobe Steelers have made the Japan Rugby League One playoffs, qualifying for the end of season championship series for the first time since their 2018 title success after they put the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars to the sword during yesterday’s 59-33 win at Osaka.

Sagamihara had upset Kobe 34-26 when the sides met in January, rocketing to a 27-point lead before the Steelers mounted a belated response, but the home side made sure there would be no repeat, scoring four first half tries to establish a 24-7 advantage.

The pressure continued in the second period, with Kobe adding three tries in the first 18 minutes after halftime, before the defensive intensity went out of the game as the side’s shared five tries in the final quarter.

The last time Kobe made the semi-finals, they were guided by current coach Dave Rennie’s former assistant at the Chiefs, Wayne Smith, who had All Blacks Dan Carter and Andy Ellis on the playing roster.

That trio would have admired the speed and accuracy the ‘class of 25’ displayed in the opening hour, with the quality of the play at times almost exceeding the gorgeous sunny conditions, as Kobe produced a level of speed and precision in their ball transfer that the Dynaboars simply couldn't live with.

Brought in to move the club forward after the lean years since 2018, it’s taken just two seasons for the former Chiefs, Glasgow and Wallaby boss to steer Kobe into the elimination series where they will chase the club’s third Japanese title since they won the inaugural nationwide Top League in 2003.

Kobelco Kobe Steelers advance in the Japan Rugby League One 2024-25 playoff tournament. Photo shows flyhalf Bryn Gatland

Fifth plays fourth on the first weekend of the elimination series and Kobe’s likely opponent, Shizuoka BlueRevs, continue to shape ominously after rallying from 21-0 behind to down Yokohama Canon Eagles 38-28 in an error-strewn but at times exhilarating exhibition today.

Shizuoka impatience allied to Yokohama’s speed on the ball and rush defence allowed the visitors to gain control in the opening half-an-hour, but a try by BlueRevs hooker Takeshi Hino saw the momentum decisively swing, as the home side scored 31 unanswered points.

This included another length of the field try from first season winger Valynce Te Whare – his second in those circumstances for the campaign – with the ex-rugby league man’s pace and power having proved a handful for opposing defences since his arrival in Japan.

Trailing by three but desperate for a win, the Eagles continued to press, turning down kickable penalty opportunities in their quest, but were ultimately foiled by another long-range try, with BlueRevs backrower Shuntaro Kitamura running 95 metres to score from a ruck turnover during a frantic final Yokohama attack.

With the try denying Yokohama a bonus point, the seventh-placed Eagles are now six points behind Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, with their chances of reaching a third consecutive playoff fading.

Sungoliath strengthened their hand after this afternoon’s priceless 45-28 win over Toyota Verblitz, being led by two tries from ex-All Blacks skipper Sam Cane.

Both came during a competitive first half before Suntory moved away after the break, bagging three tries in the opening 15 minutes of the second period to put a dagger through Toyota’s hopes.

While Steve Hansen’s side rallied in the later stages, Sungoliath wouldn’t be denied, with their seven-try-to-three victory placing them in the box seat to round out the playoffs makeup.

Winning the match against Toyota Verblitz was crucial to secure the final spot in the playoff tournament. Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane contributed to the team's victory by scoring two tries

Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay haven’t lost at Spears Edoriku field for 23 matches but at halftime yesterday, 11th- placed Mie Honda Heat were sniffing one of the upsets of the season, having absorbed all that the home side could throw at them and come out of it 13-10 ahead.

Enter Spears hooker Malcolm Marx.

Having helped set up the opening try of the game for Wallaby Bernard Foley, the Springbok hooker also had a hand in his side’s second, before adding his own name to the scoresheet twice in three minutes.

The 32-year-old’s first try came off a cute play at the front of a lineout, the second as the result of a forward rumble close to the goal-line, a situation from which Marx is usually deadly.

By the time Marx had finished his handiwork, having taken his personal try tally for the season to nine, the Spears were 27-13 ahead, and the game was as good as done.

It was to Honda’s credit that they did not capitulate, conceding just two further tries while scoring one themselves, but the 39-20 defeat leaves Kieran Crowley’s men facing a sudden death contest against Verblitz on Sunday, with a loss ending their chances of avoiding having to defend Division One status in The Replacement Battle.

The bonus-point win allowed the Spears to retain their second-placed position on the standings, although they too face a sudden-death-like game on Saturday against Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.

Should the Spears win, they would almost be guaranteed a top two finish, and a bye in the first weekend of the playoffs.

The Wild Knights had to withstand some second half brilliance from TJ Perenara to maintain their lead on the standings, holding on to win 27-21 after the All Black scrumhalf scored two quickfire tries to liven up the contest.

Having lost just once at Kumagaya since League One began, the home side were cruising when backrower Hayata Taniyama scored his maiden try for the club shortly after halftime to extend their advantage to 17 points.

Perenara’s first strike in the 58th minute, when he exposed some lax Wild Knights goal line defence, completely changed the game’s momentum, with the pressure ratcheted up further when he scored again seven minutes later, to close the score to 24-21.

While the upset wasn’t to be, with the Wild Knights steadying to control most of the game’s final minutes – adding a Kyohei Yamasawa penalty after the final siren to complete the scoring – the late goal didn’t deny the Black Rams an all- important bonus point.

This keeps their playoffs hopes alive heading into Saturday’s must win game against Sungoliath.

An outcome that had long appeared certain was confirmed on Friday night after Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo fully exploited some fragile defence to post nine tries – including five unanswered in 25 minutes after halftime – to swamp Urayasu D- Rocks 61-19, ticketing a place in the end-of-season Replacement Battle for Greig Laidlaw’s embattled side.

Not even a massive performance throughout the season from Wallaby midfielder Samu Kerevi – who scored the ninth try of his last eight appearances against Brave Lupus, while being denied another by the TMO – has been able to save Urayasu from the relegation series.

Last year’s Division Two champions will face off against one of Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu or Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, across two legs in The Replacement Battle to determine their status for next season.

It is not unfamiliar territory: D-Rocks beat Kintetsu to win promotion last term, having lost to the same side at the same stage a year before.

Assuming the goal-kicking duties in the absence of the league’s leading point scorer Takuro Matsunaga, Richie Mo’unga scored 21 points in his side’s 13th win of the season, as well as playing a lead role in several of the victor’s tries, one of which was his 10th try of the season.

Only seven players have crossed the goal-line on more occasions than the All Black flyhalf.

Sayama Secom Rugguts have conceded the advantage to Mazda SkyActivs Hiroshima in the race for the Division Three title after a 78th minute try by Shun Sawamura allowed Yakult Levins Toda to snatch a breathtaking 50-47 win in today’s clash at Kanagawa.

The try was the second of two the 27-year-old winger scored in the final five minutes to recover the game for the visitors after the second-placed Rugguts looked to have finally put down their resistance by drawing ahead 40-29 entering the final 15 minutes.

The two sides shared 15 tries, with Rugguts flyhalf Daniel Waite scoring twice amongst a 22-point haul, while his Toda counterpart Nick Evemy also bagged a double as he collected 16 points.

Divisions Two and Three

Sayama would have assumed top position in the section with a win, but the missed opportunity could prove costly, with the SkyActivs ahead on differentials with a game in hand.

Kurita Water Gush Akishima left it late to record their ninth win of the season, scoring in the 80th minute to edge Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions 38-34 in Hiroshima.

Red Regulions winger Kentaro Iwanaga scored twice to take his tally for the season to 12, which is second on the standings behind the Rugguts Chase Tiatia.

Toda’s win has brought them level with the Hiroshima-based outfit on the point’s table with their respective finishing order set to be decided on the final weekend when the Red Regulions face SkyActivs in the season’s third city derby.