Top League 1351956 221883631 2008-06-26T14:51:52Z Historian 135781 /* Sixth season (2008-9) */ {{Infobox sports league |logo=TopLeaguelogo.gif |pixels=100px |sport=[[Rugby Union]] |founded=2003 |teams=14 |country={{JPN}} |champion=[[Suntory Sungoliath]] }} In an effort to drive up the overall standard and popularity within Japan of Japanese rugby and improve the results of the [[Japan national rugby union team]], the [[Japan Rugby Football Union]] created a new semi-professional 12-team league, called the '''Top League'''. The first season was 2003-4. From the 2006-7 season the league was expanded to include 14 teams like the [[Super 14]] and the [[Top 14]]. The chief architect of the league was [[Hiroaki Shukuzawa]] who strongly felt the urgency of improving Japanese domestic company rugby to a professional level which would allow Japan to compete more convincingly at Rugby World Cups. Many full-time foreign professionals (mainly from Australia and New Zealand) have played in the Top League, notably [[Tony Brown (rugby player)|Tony Brown]]. The league has a JRFU-appointed chairman and a commissioner. ==Major Developments and Rule Changes== *From the 2008-9 season, three foreign players will be allowed on the field at one time, one more than previously allowed. In addition to the three foreigners, one member of an Asian union, such as South Koreans [[Kim Kwang Mo]] ([[Sanyo Wild Knights]]) and [[Choi Ki Joon]] ([[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]]), will be allowed to take the field. From the 2009-10 season one of the three must have played for Japan or be eligible to do so. ([http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20080228TDY18309.htm Daily Yomiuri, February 28, 2008]) *From the 2007-8 season a timekeeping system independent of the referee was introduced. *From the 2006-7 season the league was expanded from 12 to 14 teams. ==Sixth season (2008-9)== '''Pre-season''' [[Kintetsu Liners]] returned to the league, and Yokogawa Denki were promoted for the first time (and renamed [[Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars]] in the off season). They replaced [[Ricoh Black Rams]] and [[Mitsubishi Dynaboars]]. '''Teams''' {|class = "wikitable" |- !Team !Region |- |[[Coca Cola West Red Sparks]] |[[Fukuoka prefecture|Fukuoka]], Kyushu |- |[[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]] |Fukuoka, Kyushu |- |[[IBM Big Blue]] |[[Chiba prefecture|Chiba]], Kanto |- |[[Kintetsu Liners]] |[[Hanazono rugby stadium|Hanazono]], Osaka |- |[[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]] |[[Hyogo prefecture|Hyogo]], Kansai |- |[[Kubota Spears]] |Chiba, Kanto |- |[[Kyuden Voltex]] |Fukuoka, Kyushu |- |[[NEC Green Rockets]] |Chiba, Kanto |- |[[Sanyo Wild Knights]] |[[Gunma prefecture|Gunma]], Kanto |- |[[Suntory Sungoliath]] |Tokyo, Kanto |- |[[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] |Tokyo, Kanto |- |[[Toyota Verblitz]] |[[Aichi prefecture|Aichi]], Tokai |- |[[Yamaha Jubilo]] |[[Shizuoka prefecture|Shizuoka]], Tokai |- |[http://www.yokogawa-rugby.com/ Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars] |Kanto |} ==Fifth season (2007-8)== ''For further details see [[2007-08 Top League]].'' '''Pre-season''' [[Kyuden Voltex]] and [[Mitsubishi Dynaboars]] joined the league for the first time. '''Teams''' There are 14 teams, given in alphabetical order with their geographical location by prefecture, as follows: [[Image:Sanix v Kyuden Top League Japan 2008.JPG|thumb|right|[[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]] v [[Kyuden Voltex]] at [[Global Arena]], Round 11, January 20, 2008]] {|class = "wikitable" |- !Team !Region |- |[[Coca Cola West Red Sparks]] |[[Fukuoka prefecture|Fukuoka]], Kyushu |- |[[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]] |Fukuoka, Kyushu |- |[[IBM Big Blue]] |[[Chiba prefecture|Chiba]], Kanto |- |[[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]] |[[Hyogo prefecture|Hyogo]], Kansai |- |[[Kubota Spears]] |Chiba, Kanto |- |[[Kyuden Voltex]] |Fukuoka, Kyushu |- |[[Mitsubishi Dynaboars]] |[[Kanagawa prefecture|Kanagawa]], Kanto |- |[[NEC Green Rockets]] |Chiba, Kanto |- |[[Ricoh Black Rams]] |[[Tokyo prefecture|Tokyo]], Kanto |- |[[Sanyo Wild Knights]] |[[Gunma prefecture|Gunma]], Kanto |- |[[Suntory Sungoliath]] |Tokyo, Kanto |- |[[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] |Tokyo, Kanto |- |[[Toyota Verblitz]] |[[Aichi prefecture|Aichi]], Tokai |- |[[Yamaha Jubilo]] |[[Shizuoka prefecture|Shizuoka]], Tokai |} '''Post-season''' The top four teams (Sanyo, Suntory, Toyota and Toshiba) played in the fifth [[Microsoft Cup]] to decide the league champion. [[Suntory Sungoliath]] beat [[Sanyo Wild Knights]] 14-10 in the final on February 24, 2008 to become the 2007-08 League Champions. [[Mitsubishi Dynaboars]] (14th) and [[Ricoh Black Rams]] (13th) were automatically relegated. ==Fourth season (2006-7) == '''Pre-season''' The number of teams was increased from 12 to 14. Coca Cola became the second Kyushu-based team in the Top League. IBM returned to the league. '''Teams''' [[Coca Cola West Red Sparks]]<br> [[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]]<br> [[IBM Big Blue]]<br> [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]]<br> [[Kubota Spears]]<br> [[NEC Green Rockets]]<br> [[Ricoh Black Rams]]<br> [[Sanyo Wild Knights]]<br> [[Secom Rugguts]]<br> [[Suntory Sungoliath]]<br> [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]]<br> [[Toyota Verblitz]]<br> [[World Fighting Bull]]<br> [[Yamaha Jubilo]]<br> '''Post-season''' The top four teams in the league played in the [[Microsoft Cup]] which was officially integrated into the league from this season as the "Top League Play-off Tournament Microsoft Cup". The cup was won by [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] which also won the [[All-Japan Rugby Football Championship|All-Japan Championship]]. Secom and World (13th and 14th) were automatically relegated, to be replaced by [[Kyuden Voltex]], the third team from Kyushu to enter the league, and [[Mitsubishi Dynaboars]] from Kanto. ==Third season (2005-6)== '''Pre-season''' After the play-offs (see [[Top_League#Top_League_Challenge_series_.282005.29|Top Challenge series]] below for details) the twelve teams were as follows. Secom and Sanix returned after a season out of the league, replacing Kintetsu and IBM. '''Teams''' [[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]]<br> [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]]<br> [[Kubota Spears]]<br> [[NEC Green Rockets]]<br> [[Ricoh Black Rams]]<br> [[Sanyo Wild Knights]]<br> [[Secom Rugguts]]<br> [[Suntory Sungoliath]]<br> [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]]<br> [[Toyota Verblitz]]<br> [[World Fighting Bull]]<br> [[Yamaha Jubilo]]<br> '''Post-season''' The top eight teams played in the [[Microsoft Cup]]. [[Coca Cola West Japan]] (now Coca Cola Red Sparks) gained promotion to the League at the end of the season. IBM returned to the league. ==Second season (2004-5)== '''Pre-season''' IBM and Toyota gained promotion. '''Teams''' [[Kintetsu Liners]]<br> [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]]<br> [[Kubota Spears]]<br> [[NEC Green Rockets]]<br> [[Nihon IBM Big Blue]]<br> [[Ricoh Black Rams]]<br> [[Sanyo Wild Knights]]<br> [[Suntory Sungoliath]]<br> [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]]<br> [[Toyota Verblitz]]<br> [[World Fighting Bull]]<br> [[Yamaha Jubilo]] '''Post-season''' The top eight teams played in the inaugural [[Microsoft Cup]]. The eleventh and twelfth teams (Kintetsu and IBM) were automatically relegated, and the ninth and tenth placed teams (World and Ricoh) had to win play-offs to stay in the Top League, which they did. ==First season (2003-4)== The first season began with 12 teams. '''Teams''' [[Fukuoka Sanix Blues]]<br> [[Kintetsu Liners]]<br> [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]]<br> [[Kubota Spears]]<br> [[NEC Green Rockets]]<br> [[Ricoh Black Rams]]<br> [[Sanyo Wild Knights]]<br> [[Secom Rugguts]]<br> [[Suntory Sungoliath]]<br> [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]]<br> [[World Fighting Bull]]<br> [[Yamaha Jubilo]]<br> '''Post-season''' Secom and Sanix were relegated at the end of the season. IBM and Toyota were promoted. ==Top League Challenge series (2005)== ''(Note: The information below relates to the 2005 series. For details of the 2008 series see [[5th_annual_Top_League_%282007-8%29#Promotion_and_Relegation|here]].)'' The top-placed regional teams from East Japan, West Japan and Kyushu played each other in Top Challenge One. The top two were automatically promoted, replacing the 11th and 12th teams which were automatically relegated. The third-placed team played the 10th placed Top League team, with the winner of that game taking a Top League place. The second-placed regional teams played each other in Top Challenge Two for the right to play the 9th placed Top League team, with the winner taking a Top League place. This structure continues unchanged in 2008, except that there are now 14 teams (not 12) in the Top League. ===Top Challenge One=== 2005 January 16: Secom Rugguts 0 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 34 (Komazawa, Tokyo)<br> January 23: Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 41 Toyota Jido Shokki [Toyota Industries] 36 ([[Hakata no mori stadium|Hakata no Mori]], Fukuoka)<br> January 29: Toyota Jido Shokki 17 Secom Rugguts 24 (Mizuho Koen, Nagoya) So Sanix and Secom were promoted to the Top League for 2005-6. ===Top Challenge Two=== January 16: [[Mitsubishi Dynaboars|Mitsubishi Juko [Heavy Industries] Sagamihara]] 14 [[Coca Cola West Red Sparks|Coca Cola West Japan]] 62 (Komazawa, Tokyo)<br> January 23: Coca Cola West Japan 15 [[Honda Heat]] 28 (Hakata no Mori, Fukuoka)<br> January 29: Honda Heat 31 Mitsubishi Juko Sagamihara 54 (Mizuho Koen, Nagoya) So Honda Heat won the right to play [[World Fighting Bull]] for a place in the Top League 2005-6. (Honda Heat came top in Top Challenge Two because they gained a bonus point for the number of tries scored against Mitsubishi Juko Sagamihara.) ===Promotion/Relegation games (''Irekaesen'')=== February 13 Toyota Jido Shokki 7 Ricoh Black Rams 42<br> Honda Heat 0 World Fighting Bull 49 So Ricoh and World stayed in the Top League for the 2006-7 season. == Top League Champions== * 2003-4 [[Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers]] * 2004-5 [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] * 2005-6 [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] * 2006-7 [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] * 2007-8 [[Suntory Sungoliath]] == See also == * [[Microsoft Cup]] * [[Japan national rugby union team]] * [[Ruatangi Vatuvei]] - scored a record 18 tries in the 2004-5 season == External links== * [http://www.rugbyjapan.com/info/050207.htm Top League awards 2005] * [http://www.top-league.jp/team/index.jsp Team Profiles] (Japanese) * [http://www.top-league.jp/index.html Top League official site] (Japanese) * [http://www.jrfu-members.com/open/movie/index.html Top League video digest] {{Japan Rugby Top League‎}} {{Rugby union in Japan}} [[Category:Rugby union in Japan]] [[Category:Japanese rugby union competitions]] [[Category:Asian rugby union competitions]] [[Category:Rugby union competitions]] [[it:Top League]] [[ja:ジャパンラグビートップリーグ]] [[pt:Top League]]