The Top League Championship is Japan's highest-level knockout tournament for rugby union clubs. Held annually, the leading teams from the Top League regular season qualify for the playoffs to decide the Cup title. From 2018 onward, the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship has doubled as the Top League Championship Cup. Previously, teams competed for the Lixil Cup, from 2014 to 2016,[1] and Microsoft Cup (prior to 2009).
| Sport | Rugby union football |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 2004 |
| Country | Japan |
| Holders | Suntory Sungoliath (5th title) (2018) |
| Most titles | Toshiba Brave Lupus & Suntory Sungoliath (5 titles each) |
| Website | www.top-league.jp |
The Top League competition is a Japanese industrial league that presently consists of sixteen teams, all owned by major companies.
Initially sponsored by Microsoft Japan, the knockout tournament was first contested by the top eight teams from the Top League in 2004. It was considered a separate competition to the Top League for the first three seasons but was officially integrated for the 2006–07 season. The number of teams was also cut to four to give a format of two semi-finals and a final, and from that time onward until the 2016–17 season the winner of the knockout cup was recognised as the Top League champion.
There were no title-play-offs in 2016–17, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stage won the Top League title.
Overall
editSummary totals for all Top League championships up to and including 2018:
| Team | Championships | Runners-up | Semi-final losses | Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Toshiba Brave Lupus | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Suntory Sungoliath | 5 | 3 | 2+ | 3 |
Panasonic Wild Knights1 | 4 | 5 | 3^ | 5 |
Kobelco Steelers | 1* | 0 | 5^ | 3 |
Yamaha Júbilo | 0 | 3 | 2+ | 0 |
Kubota Spears | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Toyota Verblitz | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
NEC Green Rockets | 0* | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Notes:
1 The Panasonic Wild Knights summary includes results for the Sanyo Wild Knights from 2003 to 2012.
* NEC won the 2004 Microsoft Cup but Kobe Steel was the Top League champion. These were separate competitions prior to 2007.
^ The 2004 Kobe Steel and Sanyo (Panasonic) semi-final appearances are included, although that cup was not part of the championship.
+ Yamaha was 3rd and Suntory 4th in the 2003–04 Top League championship, but these results are not counted as semi-final appearances.
Tournaments
editTeams listed are those that qualified from the Top League for the title play-offs in each season, or the top four teams where there were no play-offs. Results of the play-offs are written so that the score of the team in each row is mentioned first.
| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cup winner (knockout play-offs). |
Pos = Log Position, P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Diff = Points Difference, TB = Try Bonus Points, LB = Losing Bonus Points, SP = Starting Points for Group Stage, Pts = Log Points, Semi = Semi-final, Refs = References | ||
| † | Top League title winner. | ||
Suntory Sungoliath 12–8 Panasonic Wild Knights
Top League and All-Japan titles: 2017 onward
editThere were no title-play-offs in 2018, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stage was crowned the Top League title winner. However, the top three teams progressed to the All-Japan Championship.
The All-Japan Championship doubled as the Top League Champions Cup title from 2018 onward, with university teams excluded.
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Play-offs | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Semi | Final | |||||
| 2018 | 6 January to 13 January |
1 White | Panasonic Wild Knights | 63 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 580 | 142 | +438 | 11 | 0 | 17–11 | 8–12 | [2] |
| 1 Red | Suntory Sungoliath † | 55 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 450 | 180 | +270 | 7 | 0 | 49–7 | 12–8 | |||
| 2 White | Yamaha Júbilo | 46 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 440 | 232 | +208 | 8 | 2 | 7–49 | — | |||
| 2 Red | Toyota Verblitz | 46 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 394 | 288 | +106 | 4 | 2 | 11–17 | — | |||
| 2017 | 21 January to 29 January |
1 | Suntory Sungoliath † | 71 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 563 | 184 | +379 | 11 | 0 | 52–29 | 15–10 | [3] |
| 2 | Yamaha Júbilo | 67 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 580 | 208 | +372 | 11 | 0 | 24–36 | — | |||
| 3 | Panasonic Wild Knights | 62 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 579 | 268 | +311 | 9 | 1 | 36–24 | 10–15 | |||
| 4 | Kobelco Steelers | 48 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 473 | 328 | +145 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |||
Lixil Cup and Top League title: 2014 to 2016
editFrom the 2013–14 season, the Top League tournament was contested by sixteen teams. The top four teams from the league competition (or the top eight in 2016) advanced to the play-offs to compete for the Lixil Trophy and Top League Championship.
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Cup play-off results | Ref | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | SP | Qtr | Semi | Final | |||||
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January |
1A | Panasonic Wild Knights † | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 290 | 137 | 153 | 5 | 0 | – | 48–6 | 42–10 | 27–26 | [4] |
| 1B | Yamaha Jubilo | 29 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 226 | 140 | 86 | 5 | 0 | – | 27–6 | 22–34 | — | |||
| 2A | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 253 | 100 | 153 | 4 | 0 | – | 29–17 | 34–22 | 26–27 | |||
| 2B | Kobelco Steelers | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 235 | 137 | 98 | 5 | 2 | – | 42–10 | 10–42 | — | |||
| 3A | Kintetsu Liners | 23 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 193 | -4 | 3 | 0 | – | 10–42 | — | — | |||
| 3B | Toyota Verblitz | 26 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 203 | 125 | 78 | 5 | 1 | – | 17–29 | — | — | |||
| 4A | NTT Com Shining Arcs | 22 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 190 | 142 | 48 | 4 | 2 | – | 6–27 | — | — | |||
| 4B | Canon Eagles | 25 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 196 | 142 | 54 | 4 | 1 | – | 6-48 | — | — | |||
| 2015 | 24 January to 1 February |
1 | Kobelco Steelers | 29 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 242 | 113 | +129 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 12–41 | — | [5] |
| 2 | Panasonic Wild Knights† | 29 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 218 | 131 | +87 | 5 | 0 | 4 | — | 50–15 | 30–12 | |||
| 3 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 28 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 213 | 147 | +66 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — | 15–50 | — | |||
| 4 | Yamaha Júbilo | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 134 | +31 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | 41–12 | 12–30 | |||
| 2014 | 1 February to 9 February |
1 | Panasonic Wild Knights† | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 105 | 119 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 55–15 | 45–22 | [6] |
| 2 | Suntory Sungoliath | 32 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 261 | 169 | 92 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 27–19 | 22–45 | |||
| 3 | Kobelco Steelers | 24 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 223 | 194 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | 19–27 | — | |||
| 4 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 23 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 181 | 151 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 15–55 | — | |||
| Competition rules | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match * 4, 3, 2, or 1 starting points in the group stage for 1st through 4th respectively in the pool stage (seasons 2014–15 and 2015–16 only) Classification: |
Play-offs and Top League title: 2010 to 2013
editThis section needs expansion with: results for 2010 to 2013. You can help by adding to it. (January 2015) |
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 | |||
Microsoft Cup and Top League title: 2007 to 2009
editFor the 2006–07 season the tournament was expanded to fourteen teams and the Top League and Microsoft Cup competitions were combined. Only the top four teams on the regular season table progressed to title play-offs and the winner of the knockout competition was awarded both the Microsoft Cup and the Top League title.
Video referee (TMO) decisions were introduced for the 2009 Cup series. The naming rights partnership with Microsoft for the knockout competition ended after the 2009 Cup final.
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Play-off results | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Semi | Final | |||||
| 2009 | 17 February to 24 February |
1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 59 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 563 | 211 | +352 | 11 | 0 | 26–7 | 17–6 | [7] |
| 2 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 58 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 584 | 197 | +387 | 10 | 0 | 32–22 | 6–17 | |||
| 3 | Suntory Sungoliath | 51 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 482 | 298 | +184 | 10 | 1 | 22–32 | — | |||
| 4 | Kobelco Steelers | 43 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 358 | 300 | +58 | 5 | 2 | 6–27 | — | |||
| 2008 | 17 February to 24 February |
1 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 63 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 593 | 170 | +423 | 11 | 0 | 25–21 | 10–14 | [8] |
| 2 | Suntory Sungoliath† | 53 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 453 | 229 | +224 | 10 | 1 | 33–10 | 14–10 | |||
| 3 | Toyota Verblitz | 50 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 452 | 269 | +183 | 9 | 3 | 10–33 | — | |||
| 4 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 47 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 398 | 263 | +135 | 5 | 2 | 21–25 | — | |||
| 2007 | 28 January to 4 February |
1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 60 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 502 | 234 | 268 | 11 | 1 | 38–35 | 14–13 | [9] |
| 2 | Suntory Sungoliath | 56 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 545 | 161 | 384 | 10 | 2 | 40–39 | 13–14 | |||
| 3 | Yamaha Jubilo | 48 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 379 | 306 | 73 | 5 | 1 | 39–40 | — | |||
| 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 47 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 448 | 267 | 181 | 8 | 3 | 35–38 | — | |||
| Competition rules | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match Classification: |
Top League, separate Microsoft Cup: 2004 to 2006
editFor the first three seasons the competition format was a single round-robin tournament contested by twelve teams, with the team finishing top of the table winning the Top League title. The Microsoft Cup was a separate knockout competition for the top eight teams in the league.
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Play-off results | Ref | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Qtr | Semi | Final | |||||
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February |
1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 46 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 406 | 193 | 213 | 10 | 0 | 38–7 | 23–10 | 33–18 | [10] |
| 2 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 42 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 416 | 276 | 140 | 6 | 0 | 24–40 | — | — | |||
| 3 | NEC Green Rockets | 41 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 270 | 136 | 134 | 4 | 1 | 17–12 | 10–23 | — | |||
| 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 37 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 431 | 263 | 168 | 6 | 3 | 12–17 | — | — | |||
| 5 | Kobelco Steelers | 33 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 284 | 225 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 7–38 | — | — | |||
| 6 | Suntory Sungoliath | 32 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 308 | 241 | 67 | 6 | 2 | 35–17 | 44–25 | 18–33 | |||
| 7 | Yamaha Jubilo | 28 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 328 | 211 | 117 | 4 | 4 | 17–35 | — | — | |||
| 8 | Kubota Spears | 23 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 324 | 297 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 40–24 | 25–44 | — | |||
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February |
1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 50 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 463 | 166 | 297 | 9 | 1 | 33–13 | 41–0 | 20–6α | [11] |
| 2 | Yamaha Jubilo | 45 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 380 | 218 | 162 | 8 | 1 | 38–33 | 33–33β | 6–20α | |||
| 3 | NEC Green Rockets | 44 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 407 | 253 | 154 | 7 | 1 | 16–51γ | — | — | |||
| 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 43 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 427 | 224 | 203 | 9 | 2 | 42–21 | 33–33β | — | |||
| 5 | Kobelco Steelers | 34 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 326 | 356 | -30 | 8 | 2 | 51–16γ | 0–41 | — | |||
| 6 | Kubota Spears | 27 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 277 | 334 | -57 | 6 | 1 | 33–38 | — | — | |||
| 7 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 24 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 346 | 296 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 21–41 | — | — | |||
| 8 | Suntory Sungoliath | 24 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 307 | 282 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 13–33 | — | — | |||
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February |
1 | Kobelco Steelersδ† | 47 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 439 | 286 | 153 | 11 | 0 | 35–27 | 10–34 | — | [12] |
| 2 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 44 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 503 | 283 | 220 | 9 | 1 | 39–10 | 36–34 | 19–24 | |||
| 3 | Yamaha Jubilo | 42 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 334 | 223 | 111 | 6 | 0 | 10–39 | — | — | |||
| 4 | Suntory Sungoliath | 42 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 408 | 265 | 143 | 9 | 1 | 5–32 | — | — | |||
| 5 | World Fighting Bull | 32 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 349 | 285 | 64 | 7 | 1 | 27–35 | — | — | |||
| 6 | NEC Green Rocketsδ | 30 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 411 | 274 | 137 | 6 | 0 | 32–5 | 34–10 | 24–19 | |||
| 7 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 24 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 319 | 331 | -12 | 6 | 0 | 39–32 | 34–36 | — | |||
| 8 | Kubota Spears | 22 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 262 | 362 | -100 | 4 | 2 | 32–39 | — | — | |||
| Competition rules | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match Classification: |
Notes:
^α Toshiba Brave Lupus won the Top League and Microsoft Cup double.[13]
^β The number of tries and goals being equal, the result was decided in favour of Yamaha over Toyota by a lottery at Hanazono after the game.
^γ Reigning Microsoft Cup holders the NEC Green Rockets were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.[14][15]
^δ In 2003–04, Kobe Steel won the Top League but NEC won the Microsoft Cup. The League and Cup were separate competitions prior to 2007.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Top League to introduce new officiating system this season". The Japan Times. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015.
- ^ "2017/18 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2016/17 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2015/16 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2014/15 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2013/14 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2008/09 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2007/08 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2006/07 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2005/06 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
- ^ "2004/05 Top League". The Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015.
- ^ "2003/04 Top League". The Rugby Archive.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Steelers upset Green Rockets in Microsoft Cup quarter final". The Japan Times. 24 January 2004. Archived from the original on 1 March 2005.
- ^ "Brave Lupus add name to rugby Cup". The Japan Times. 7 February 2005. Archived from the original on 1 March 2005.
- ^ "Official report of the 2005 final". JRFU. Archived from the original on 5 April 2005.
External links
edit- JRFU Official Site (in English)
- Top League Official Site (in Japanese)
- "Microsoft Cup" (in Japanese). MSN. 2007. Archived from the original on 6 March 2007.