Following a break for most teams in Division 1 of the JRLO, this weekend sees all the teams return to action in Round 11 - and as we approach the Cherry Blossom season, several fixtures over the coming weeks have a festival celebration theme.
Following a break for most teams in Division 1 of the JRLO, this weekend sees all the teams return to action in Round 11 - and as we approach the Cherry Blossom season, several fixtures over the coming weeks have a festival celebration theme.
There are some highly anticipated games in Round 11; top of the log Kubota Spears take on the team they leapfrogged, Saitama Wild Knights, while the Fuchu Derby is the fixture between western Tokyo rivals, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Tokyo Sungoliath.
There are also matches in Divisions 2 and 3, and a special mention to the clubs this week who are remembering the tragic tsunami and earthquake which took place on March 11, 2011 which caused the deaths of an estimated 20,000 lives across the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures
The annual Memorial match in Iwate prefecture for the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, sees the home side Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves playing RedHurricanes Osaka.
Division 1
Saturday March 14
Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights - Tokyo (Chichibu), 12pm
A massive game in the JRLO and especially in the context of this season, the hosts Kubota Spears, were winners of the 2022-23 title, and losing finalists last year, while the visiting Saitama Wild Knights have been champions of Japan six times, winners of the inaugural JRLO, and have been finalists in three of the four completed competitions.
The stats for the team which was coached by Robbie Deans for so many years but is now coached by Atsushi Kanazawa, sees them with only 10 defeats from 84 matches since the JRLO’s inauguration five years ago.
Kubota’s first win over this weekend's opponents in 18 attempts since 2003 was in that 2023 Final and since then they defeated them in last season’s semifinal.
The two teams are separated on the championship standings by three points, with both having won nine of their 10 games to date and all eyes will be on the international and local talent on display at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.
Mie Honda Heat vs Yokohama Canon Eagles - Tochigi, 1pm
Franco Mostert-skippered Honda will be hoping for a positive result over the bottom placed Yokohama Canon Eagles, as they themselves look to stay clear of the relegation series places.
The Eagles also welcome back Springbok Faf de Klerk. The scrumhalf suffered a leg injury on the opening day of the season and he has been linked with several clubs in Europe and South Africa for after this season. However Bok teammate and regular captain Jesse Kriel is absent with Billy Harmon leading the team this weekend.
BlackRams Tokyo vs Shizuoka BlueRevs - Tokyo (Komazawa), 1pm
BlackRams Tokyo are having a great season so far and sit between Sungoliath and Brave Lupus on the point’s table in fifth which they hope to maintain when they host Shizuoka BlueRevs who are not having as impressive a season as last year and have lost their last four games.
TJ Perenara starts and captains the BlackRams and Isaac Lucas starts at fullback.
There is stacked international talent in the visiting team, and Charles Piutau returns after missing the last two-games, and will captain the side, but Springbok Kwagga Smith will miss the fixture. They are also without Valynce te Whare for the remainder of the season.
The hosts have teamed up to celebrate the match with a bread festival on the matchday.
Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars - Hyogo, 2.30pm
Dave Rennie will be in charge of his first game with the Kobe Steelers since announcing he would leave them at the end of the season to lead the All Blacks. The Dynaboars didn't have a break last weekend but made the most of it by defeating the Sungoliath.
Captain Brodie Retallick leads the try charts and starts, alongside Kiwis Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Dynaboars Head Coach Glenn Delaney has rung the changes though and made as many as eight changes for this weekend’s match and try scorer last weekend, Lukhanyo Am is absent from the matchday 23.
If Kobe win, and Kubota lose their match this weekend, Dave Rennie’s side could end the day on top of the standings in Division 1.
Sunday March 15
Toyota Verblitz vs Urayasu D-Rocks - Aichi, 2.05pm
Graham Rowntree-coached Urayasu D-Rocks have had a tough time of late and they travel to Toyota Verblitz who is an unknown entity this season pulling off some good results in a season in which they have otherwise struggled again.
This change of fortune is reflected in the table, as Urayasu were 10 points above Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz two rounds ago, but now they trail them by three log points. Verblitz have won their past two games - against Brave Lupus and Sagamihara Dynaboars.
Tokyo Sungoliath vs Toshiba Brave Lupus - Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.30pm
Todd Blackadder's side has now suffered four consecutive losses, and they travel to a Tokyo Sungoliath side which suffered a surprise defeat last weekend and will be looking to bounce back
The Fuchu Derby between the western Tokyo rivals, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Tokyo Sungoliath, clubs that have collectively won the nationwide Japanese league 12 times since 2003, comes at a key time this season.
Fourth-placed Sungoliath have lost to each of the teams ranked above them, and both sides are in the top six in the Division and Sungoliath will be looking for a first derby win in three years.
Saturday March 14
Kyushudenryoku Kyuden Voltex vs Hanazono Kintetsu Liners - Fukuoka, 2.30pm
The first loss of the season for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners was just the second time they hadn't scored 40 points this season too and after some of the international players tasted their first defeat on Japanese soil, hosts Kyushudenryoku Kyuden Voltex will be wary of their visit.
Manie Libbok and Peter Umaga Jensen both start for the Liners, and Keisuke Yamazoe captains the 7th-placed Voltex.
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks vs Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi - Tokyo (Yumenoshima), 2.30pm
The Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks are third on the log, and the team on second are visiting them this weekend for the match in Tokyo, with an advantage of 3 log points.
Noah Lolesio will look to steer the visitors to a win at flyhalf and he has dangerous players to release outside of him, including Chance Peni and Josua Kerevi.
Billy Burns starts in the number ten jersey for Blue Sharks in one of several individual battles in this clash.
Sunday March 15
Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves vs Red Hurricanes Osaka - Iwate, 1pm
This game takes place at the Reconstruction Stadium in Kamaishi and the hosts on the 11th March recognised the 1000 lives lost in Kamaishi City caused by the tsunami (Great East Japan Earthquake) that struck on March 11, 2011. They said, “To protect lives for the future, we hereby pledge, as a unanimous citizen, to pass on to future generations.”
The 15th anniversary of the devastating 2011 earthquake and follow up tsunami which struck the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on March 11 of that year, claimed an estimated 20,000 lives and caused widespread damage in Kamaishi and throughout the three prefectures.
The Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves beat the RedHurricanes 35-24 last time out and will look to continue enjoying their best ever season in League One. The three wins under coach Toutai Kefu, is a seasonal best, and they beat the log leaders last weekend.
Division Three
Sunday March 15
Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions vs Kurita Water Gush Akishima - Hiroshima, 1pm
The hosts suffered a big defeat to the undefeated log leaders the last time they played and are bottom of the Division with just one win this season, while 4th on the log Kurita Water Gush Akishima themselves scored a big win and ran up 55 points against LeRIRO Fukuoka in their previous game.
