Round 2 of the Japan Rugby League One saw more than 200,000 fans attend matches across all three divisions, 211,098 to be precise, with one round left in 2025. There are now only three sides in the top flight without a loss, while the Kintetsu Liners kept their perfect record in Division 2.
Round 2 of the Japan Rugby League One saw more than 200,000 fans attend matches across all three divisions, 211,098 to be precise, with one round left in 2025. There are now only three sides in the top flight without a loss, while the Kintetsu Liners kept their perfect record in Division 2.
Kubota Spears 50-28 BlackRams Tokyo
Kubota Spears are one of three teams in JRLO Division 1 to be undefeated after two rounds and sit third on the table, while the BlackRams are one of three teams yet to record a win and are now bottom on the log.
Halatoa Vailea put in a MOTM performance as he and Faulua Makisi each scored a brace of tries, and the victors also had to overcome a yellow card for Tyler Paul.
Ichigo Nakakusu also got a double for the losers in the first half but they still trailed 13-26 at the break. Kubota scored three tries in the final 17 minutes to get the job done at home.
Tokyo Sungoliath 43-25 Toyota Verblitz
Tokyo Sungoliath’s impressive form against Toyota Verblitz extends to only one loss in 17 matches, and the side now tops the table in Division 1, with newly capped Brave Blossom Harry Hockings awarded the MOTM.
Cheslin Kolbe scored 17 points including two tries and picked up a yellow card in the win.
Another international was on the scoresheet as Aaron Smith scored for Toyota Verblitz but he could not prevent a loss for the team laden with talent.
Mie Honda Heat 23-28 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Kieran Crowley’s Mie Honda Heat side succumbed to a second straight loss, despite having a narrow lead at halftime 12-7 after the visitors Anton Lienert-Brown was sin-binned early in the game. Manu Vunipola scored all 12 points for his side before a late yellow for Janko Swanepoel just before the break and a second yellow for team mate Aseri Masivou allowed
Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers to turn the tide in the second period and a first win this season. Brodie Retallick was among his side’s try scorers in that match-winning half (he dotted down ten times last season), as Bryn Gatland converted all three tries. They had to dig deep late as their own Seungsin Lee was yellow-carded late.
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 17-10 Yokohama Canon Eagles
Canon Eagles Yusuke Niwai ran out for his 100th cap as his side lost a tight contest away from home but clawed their way back after the hosts had led 12-0 at the break, despite conceding a yellow.
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars won the Kanagawa derby thanks to two tries from Kota Iwamura, with Kyo Yoshida getting a third. They also had a red card late in the contest - Pieter Scholtz was sent off.
Saitama Wild Knights 37-19 Urayasu D-Rocks
Saitama Wild Knights sit second on the log after making it back-to-back wins to start this campaign and converted a 20-7 halftime lead into a decent sized win.
Saitama’s Head Coach Atsushi Kanazawa has two wins and this was a rare game in the JRLO so far this season which didn't see a card brandished. His side’s scorers included a hatrick of tries from Atsushi Sakate!
Former Wallabies Marika Koroibete (Wild Knights) and Samu Kerevi (Urayasu D-Rocks) were among the try-scorers.
Shizuoka BlueRevs 22-26 Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo overcame last week’s drubbing to get their title defence underway, and did so away from home against a dangerous team who beat them twice last season and with injury issues heading into the fixture.
The Shizuoka BlueRevs gave them a scare as they came down from 12-19 at the break to lead 22-19 before Todd Blackadder’s side clinched the win with a Seta Tamanivalu try converted by Richie Mounga - the fly half scored one in the first half himself and contributed 11 points.
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 40-10 Green Rockets Tokatsu
Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex 27-40 Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks
Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves 36-14 Hino Red Dolphins
RedHurricanes Osaka 6-49 Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners made it a perfect start to the season, and along with Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks are the only sides to now claim a perfect 2/2, with Billy Burns MOTM in the Sharks' win.
Wallaby backrower Toutai Kefu picked up his first win as Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves boss with a win over Hino Red Dolphins.
SkyActivs Hiroshima 57-7 Kurita Water Gush Akishima
Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions 10-18 Yakult Levins Toda
Le RIRO Fukuoka 20-33 SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS
JRLO Division 3 Champions SkyActivs Hiroshima heavily defeated Wycliff Palu’s Kurita Water Gush Akishima, and now are the only side who have yet to drop a game, albeit after only two rounds. A defeat for Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions at home sees them as the only side yet to register a win.
