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Round 14 of the JRLO Division 1 produced some massive scorelines, as seemed to be the theme in some of the world’s top club leagues this weekend, with results meaning that Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights have joined reigning premiers Toshiba Brave Lupus in the playoffs.
Round 14 of the JRLO Division 1 produced some massive scorelines, as seemed to be the theme in some of the world’s top club leagues this weekend, with results meaning that Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights have joined reigning premiers Toshiba Brave Lupus in the playoffs.
With four regular season games to go, Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights easily beat Toyota Verblitz 55-17 to pile the pressure on their poor season under Steve Hansen on Saturday (and their 9th straight loss to the Wild Knights), while Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay defeated Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo 42-14 on Sunday to clinch their play-off spots, but both were still outdone by Brave Lupus who steamrollered Kobelco Kobe Steelers 73-28 in Sunday’s 11-try rout.
The defending champions saw All Black Shannon Frizell score two tries in seven minutes to follow up from his ten-minute hattrick last week, and centre Yuto Mori scored 4 tries in the rout. Winger Jone Naikabula took his try tally for the season to 14 and leads the Division.
Former Wallaby coach Dave Rennie’s men were blown away and now find themself further away from the 4th spot as Shizuoka Blue Revs pulled away with another win this season, but below Kobe, they are six clear of sixth position on the standings.
Kubota’s six-try-to-two victory over the Black Rams will be a relief for Frans Ludeke and his team as they can look to rotate the squad in the remaining games with their play-off ticket booked. Malcolm Marx scored his 5th try in six matches in the win.
The Wild Knights victory means they continue to finish in the top-four of Japanese top-flight rugby since the 2010-11 season but they will pursue a top-two finish to ensure direct qualification into the semi-finals. Internationals Damien de Allende, Lood de Jager (2) and Marika Koroibete (2) fall found themselves on the scoresheet for Robbie Deans's side. A special mention to Wild Knights skipper Atushi Sakate and Verblitz scrumhalf Kaito Shigeno who both celebrated their 100th club match.
Israel Folau returned to action for the bottom side Urayasu D-Rocks but they still suffered a 12th defeat this season even with Samu Kerevi crossing twice for D-Rocks - meaning the relegation series looks likely as they went down 33-22 to the Yokohama Canon Eagles. The win snapped their four-game losing streak.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars lost to the Shizuoka BlueRevs 38-8 and the match saw Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse forced from the field with a leg injury. The victor's slipper Kwagga Smith was again on the scoresheet, with Fijian-born backrower Vueti Tupou scoring a brace.
Another big win over the weekend saw Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath trounce Mie Honda Heat 60-31. Wallaby backrower Sean McMahon scored a brace and Bok flyer Cheslin Kolbe made it tries in consecutive matches in the bonus-point victory that sees them sit 6th on the log.
Division One (Japan times shown)
Saturday 5 April 2025
Yokohama Canon Eagles 33-22 Urayasu D-Rocks; at Tokyo, 12pm
Shizuoka Blue Revs 38-8 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars; at Shizuoka, 2pm
Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 55-17 Toyota Verblitz; at Kumagaya, 2.30pm
Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath 60-31 Mie Honda Heat; at Osaka, 2.30pm
Sunday 6 April 2025
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo 14-42 Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay; at Tokyo, 2.30pm
Kobelco Kobe Steelers 28-73 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo; at Hyogo, 2.30pm