Japan Rugby League One 2025–26: Week 1 to Week 6 — A Season Bursting with Drama Across All Divisions
- Chester Khangelani Mbekela
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
For rugby fans in Japan and around the world, the opening weeks of the 2025–26 NTT Japan Rugby League One season delivered excitement, upsets, powerful individual performances, and the early shaping of promotion and relegation battles across all three divisions. With Division 1 showcasing elite battles, Division 2 becoming a proving ground for rising clubs, and Division 3 promising future talent, this season’s first six rounds have already left a mark.
📊 Division 1: Power Clashes and Early Shifts
Week 1–3: Establishing Pace and Early Favorites
The opening weeks set the tone for Division 1. Although detailed individual scores for Week 1 and Week 2 are not widely published yet, one fixture stood out in Week 3: Kubota Spears put on an explosive performance in one of the most talked-about games of the opening phase. The Spears dismantled Tokyo Sungoliath, running out emphatically with a lopsided 79–20 victory. What made this win historic wasn’t just the margin — veteran Wallaby fly-half Bernard Foley torched defenses with a 29-point output, while All Black wing Shaun Stevenson crossed twice to underline his dangerous attacking threat.
This was more than just a big win — it was a statement. Kubota’s potent mix of experienced internationals and dynamic backs showed they aim for a title push. For fans, it was one of the biggest early results in recent League One history.
Week 4: Tight Battles and Tactical Battles
Continuing into Week 4, Division 1 delivered a thriller when Toyota Verblitz hosted Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo. In a clash marked by momentum swings, the Black Rams overturned a first-half deficit to triumph 37–29 in the second half. This comeback highlighted the importance of depth and mental resilience, key traits for teams with title aspirations.
Week 5–6: Close Calls and Unbeaten Runs
By Week 6, Saitama Wild Knights had emerged as the sole unbeaten force in Division 1. In a dramatic late-season match up, they edged Tokyo Sungoliath 31–30 in what many are already calling one of the classic early-season League One fixtures. The Wild Knights built an impressive lead but had to withstand late pressure — the kind of scenario that tests championship mettle. A standout figure in this encounter was Springbok back Damien de Allende, whose physical and tactical play was central to the Wild Knights’ performance.
Also in Round 6, defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo snapped Kubota Spears’ perfect streak with a tight 24–20 win — revenge of sorts after last year’s championship decider. This result injected life into the title race and underscored Toshiba’s pedigree as contenders even against a star-studded Kubota lineup.
Division 1 Early Standouts
Across the initial weeks, a few players have been consistently influencing match outcomes:
Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears) — Controlled games with kicking precision and leadership, especially in high-scoring wins.
Shaun Stevenson (Kubota Spears) — His tries provided a lethal edge to Kubota’s potent attack.
Damien de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights) — A physical and tactical anchor in midfield during tight clashes.
Veteran wings and centers like Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith continued to show star-quality touches, electrifying stadiums and causing defensive headaches.
What these performances tell us is that Division 1 remains a competition where experience and tactical nous combine to produce thrilling rugby week in, week out.
💪 Division 2: The Battleground for Promotion Aspirations
While Division 1 grabbed headlines, Division 2 began its own fierce competition for promotion and potential upward movement in the league pyramid.
Heart-Stopping Fights and Late Revenues
One of the best games of the early Division 2 campaign came in a near-classic duel between Green Rockets Tokatsu and Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex. Down to the final minutes, Kiwi veteran Orbyn Leger slotted a dramatic 81st-minute penalty to clinch a 21–19 victory — a moment that summed up Division 2’s unpredictability and competitive edge.
Games like this show that Division 2 isn’t simply a less flashy version of the top tier; it’s a pressure cooker where ambitious teams and seasoned campaigners vie relentlessly for every point. Every win here matters deeply, especially with promotion on the line.
Division 2 Takeaways
Matches are tightly contested — late kicks and late tries have defined outcomes.
Teams revolve around experienced import players balanced with rising Japanese talent building depth.
As we move deeper into the season, expect these Division 2 clubs to sharpen their strategies and push for places in the promotion playoffs.
🔥 Division 3: A Showcase of Emerging Talent and Future Stars
It may not receive the same global spotlight as Divisions 1 and 2, but Division 3 has provided some of the most eye-opening rugby of the opening six weeks — particularly in games that highlight offensive firepower.
Week 6 in Division 3 saw league leaders SkyActivs Hiroshima put on a scoring clinic, thrashing Yakult Levins Toda 66–24. This result didn’t just underline Hiroshima’s dominance; it showed a level of attacking rugby that suggests some Division 3 players could be ready to step up into higher levels soon.
In a division where talents make their first mark on professional rugby, moments like SkyActivs’ big win are meaningful. They demonstrate potential stars and core squads that could be shaping future Division 2 or even Division 1 rosters down the line.
📈 Fan Engagement and Atmosphere
Beyond the scores, attendance numbers through early rounds tell an interesting story about domestic interest. League One venues are drawing decent crowds — with several fixtures breaking five-figure attendance figures. In Round 4, for example, Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath’s home clash drew over 17,000 fans, while other matches saw healthy turnouts in the high single-digits and low double-digits thousands.
While some clubs experienced modest crowds, overall attendance suggests a robust, growing appetite for professional rugby across Japan’s major urban centres. League One’s blend of international stars and homegrown talent continues to foster engagement.
🏉 What We’ve Learned From Weeks 1–6
The first six rounds of the 2025–26 Japan Rugby League One season have already delivered:
1. A Tight Title Race in Division 1
Even unbeaten runs can end — as Kubota Spears’ loss to Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo showed — and strong teams like the Wild Knights are marking territory early.
2. Emerging Stars and Veterans Making Impact
From proven names like Foley and de Allende to Division 2 heroes like Leger, experienced players remain invaluable — but upcoming talent is starting to shine too.
3. Division 2 and Division 3 Are Brimming With Competitive Spirit
Whether it’s last-minute wins or high-scoring affairs, teams outside the top flight are building narratives worth following as the season progresses.
🏆 Looking Forward: Weeks 7 and Beyond
As the season moves past the halfway point of opening rounds, the stakes will only rise. Division 1 teams eye top positions for playoff advantage, Division 2 clubs fight towards promotion contention, and Division 3 sides aim to solidify their campaigns and nurture prospects. With bonus points, injuries, and tactical evolution still in play, the rest of the season promises to be compelling.
For rugby fans — whether in Japan or abroad — Japan Rugby League One’s early weeks have been anything but predictable, offering a blend of powerful runs, thrilling finishes, individual brilliance, and rising stars. Put simply: the 2025–26 season has arrived with a roar, and the world is watching. 🏉
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