The new season in Japan saw plenty of tries, big crowds and the best Japanese and international talent on display over the opening weekend, which was highlighted by a big win over the defending champions in Division 1, several away wins across the divisions, and plenty of cards being dished out.
The new season in Japan saw plenty of tries, big crowds and the best Japanese and international talent on display over the opening weekend, which was highlighted by a big win over the defending champions in Division 1, several away wins across the divisions, and plenty of cards being dished out.
BlackRams Tokyo 15-29 Tokyo Sungoliath
TJ Perenara’s BlackRams Tokyo were one of several home sides which tasted defeat as they lost 29-15 to Tokyo Sungoliath. The hosts were only just ahead at the break 8-7, with each side scoring a try
BlackRams Tokyo pulled out to a 15-7 lead, but test-capped Sean McMahon and Cheslin Kolbe scored two of the four second-half tries for the victors, and Kolbe was awarded POTM.
Both Masashi Onishi and TJ Perenara were yellow-carded for the losers in the final ten minutes.
Urayasu D-Rocks 27-24 Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Urayasu D-Rocks made it two wins on the bounce over Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars and gave the club’s new Head Coach boss Graham Rowntree, a 27-24 winning start in the JRLO, but it came after the final hooter.
It did not start well for the visitors as Jose Seru was in the bin in the opening couple of minutes, but despite that, they pulled out to a 14-3 lead in the opening half an hour. They had to endure another period with a man down when Kyo Yoshida was sin-binned in the second period and a third with around five minutes to go as Pieter Scholtz became their third carded player.
The Dynaboars were holding on, and just ahead 24-20 with the clock in the red, but an 81st-minute try by the former Waikato winger Tana Tuhakaraina saw Urayasu D-Rocks claim a vital season-opening win, taking the lead for the first time with the winning try.
Toyota Verblitz 44-33 Mie Honda Heat
With two sides which struggled last term, it was the hosts who claimed a win on the opening day.
Verblitz were well in front 20-5, when Josh Dickson was yellow-carded after 32 minutes, and it ended 23-12 at the break.
Former World Player of the Year Pieter Steph du Toit was among the tryscorers in the 44-33 defeat of Mie Honda Heat, and he set up former Brave Blossoms flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda for a decisive try as he made a long-awaited return to rugby in the JLRO.
Kobelco Kobe Steelers 28-33 Kubota Spears
Former Bulls Coach, but now in Japan for a decade, Frans Ludeke's side were also winners away from home on the opening weekend, as Kubota Spears ran out 33-28 winners over Kobelco Kobe Steelers in front of over 20,000 people at Noevir Stadium.
Some of the big names were highlighted for contrasting reasons. Steelers' new All Black centre Anton Lienert Brown scored as Dave Rennie’s side had a slender 16-15 lead at the break. In the second half, Ieremia was dismissed 11 minutes into the second period for Kubota Spears, and New Zealand’s Player of the Year Ardie Savea was yellow-carded for dissent for Kobelco Kobe Steelers when the scores were tied 21-21.
Newly capped Brave Blossom Tyler Paul took the lead for his side with a converted score by Bernard Foley before Kubota Spears Brave Blossoms winger Haruto Kida scored the match-winner.
Yokohama Canon Eagles 27-39 Shizuoka BlueRevs
Last season's surprise package, the Shizuoka BlueRevs, continue their good form and came from three points down at halftime to score a 39-27 win over Yokohama Canon Eagles away from home, as Leon MacDonald (the new head coach at Yokohama Canon Eagles) had a loss on his debut in the JRLO
Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk both scored and the field before halftime, with an injury for the defeated home side. His opposite number, Shuntaro Kitamura, who scored 15 tries during his breakout season last campaign, was also among those who scored and was awarded Player of the Match (POTM)
There was a brace of tries from winger Malo Tuitama and one from the side’s new star signing centre Semi Radradra. South African inside centre Sylvian Mahuza also scored a couple in the second period to complete the win - a first for the BlueRevs over the Eagles away from home since 2018. The match also featured three yellow cards issued.
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 0-46 Saitama Wild Knights
Brave Blossoms fly-half Takuya Yamasawa ran the show in a POTM performance as Saitama Wild Knights thumped defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 46-0 demolition on the opening weekend of Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 season.
Although prone to injury, the Japanese player, with only 17 appearances across the last two seasons, displayed all of his talents and he slotted all 8 kicks and collected a haul of 26 points.
Surprisingly, Brave Lupus’s own star flyhalf, All Black Richie Mo’unga, was found wanting, and the two yellow cards to start the campaign piled on pressure. Mo’unga joked post-game that the last team he had been held scoreless in was at age-grade rugby.
A positive for the new season will be the 32,600 people in attendance in Tokyo on Sunday who saw the Wild Knights, this season not led by Robbie Deans, race away to a 33-0 halftime lead with former London Irish and Saracens fullback Tom Parton among the scorers in the first half. The new coaching setup of Head Coach Atsushi Kanazawa, and his ex-international assistants, Shota Horie and Berrick Barnes, will be looking to build on this impressive start.
Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi 14-41 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok kicked five from six in Hanazono Kintetsu Liners’ 40-14 win over reigning Division Two champions, Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, as they scored four tries in the opening half hour.
Captain and former All Black centre Peter Umaga Jensen was among those who scored as he faced twin brother Thomas on the opposition, with the brother one of two Shuttles players yellow carded towards the end of the game.
Green Rockets Tokatsu 31-14 RedHurricanes Osaka
Winger Teruya Gota scored the JRLO’s new season’s first hat-trick as his side ran out 31-14 winners and led from start to finish in the contest.
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks 28-17 Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves
Former Irish fly-half Billy Burns led his new side, Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, to a season-opening win over ex-Wallaby Toutai Kefu’s Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves 28-17.
The losing side had two yellows, but the Blue Sharks also had a player binned in an opening weekend plagued by sin-binnings
Hino Red Dolphins 22-25 Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex
Hino Red Dolphins had the advantage at the break, leading over the visitors 14-10 and even a red card for Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex Ray Tatafu could not stop them from staying in the fight. Kyungmun Wang scored the winning converted try with 8 minutes left.
Kurita Water Gush Akishima 27- 23 Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions 23
Kanagawa SkyActivs Hiroshima 40-26 SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS
Le RIRO Fukuoka 27-22 Yakult Levins Toda