Japan Rugby League One Round 7 returns after a short season break in Division 1. The top flight in Japan sees the weekend kick off with Ardie Savea's Kobelco Kobe Steelers and Kwagga Smith's Shizuoka BlueRevs locking horns, and concludes with Tokyo Sungoliath playing Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, and a couple of Springboks set to face off as Kolbe could line up against Lukhanyo Am.
Japan Rugby League One Round 7 returns after a short season break in Division 1. The top flight in Japan sees the weekend kick off with Ardie Savea's Kobelco Kobe Steelers and Kwagga Smith's Shizuoka BlueRevs locking horns, and concludes with Tokyo Sungoliath playing Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, and a couple of Springboks set to face off as Kolbe could line up against Lukhanyo Am.
There are also three matches in Division 2 and two in Division 3 this weekend.
In separate news, the JRLO confirmed four match officials from overseas will be inJapan between February and April 2026, and potentially referee in the JRLO: Morgan White (Hong Kong China Rugby), Ludovic Cayre (FFR), David Vosalevu (Fiji Rugby Union), and Marquise Goodwin (USA Rugby).
Division 1
Saturday February 7
Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Shizuoka BlueRevs; at Hyogo, 12pm
Shizuoka coach Yuichiro Fujii will be hoping his side can repeat the two victories they had over this weekend’s opponent in last season’s regular league fixtures but it is the Steelers who had the last laugh when they defeated the Shizuoka BlueRevs in the playoffs.
Shizuoka are back in the top six in the Division with back-to-back wins, Kobe have only lost once this season, and Dave Rennie’s men sit third on the log. Their five-match win streak is the best since they won 21 in succession between their 2018 title and the league’s resumption post-COVID in 2021.
For the visitors, Valynce Te Whare starts on the left wing, and he has already scored 4 times this season, and inside of him are Tongan-capped and captain Charles Piutau at 12 and Fijian Semi Radradra at outside centre. Kwagga Smith is among the reserves.
Kobe starts Seungsin Lee at fly-half (recently announced for another Brave Blossom camp call-up), with the usual starter Bryn Gatland on the bench. Ardie Savea starts at 7, and captain Brodie Retallick starts in the second row.
BlackRams Tokyo v Saitama Wild Knights; at Tokyo (Komazawa), 1pm
With 20 wins of the last 21 games between the teams, top of the Division, Saitama Wild Knights won't write off BlackRams Tokyo, but they will be expecting to keep their undefeated start to the season to continue when they travel on Saturday.
Inspired by All Black scrumhalf and club captain TJ Perenara, BlackRams Tokyo have won three of their past four JRLO matches. The last time they faced the Wild Knights, they narrowly lost 21-27 in which Perenara dotted down twice.
He starts at 9 again this weekend and will have to contend with the likes of Ben Gunter and Lachlan Boshier coming at him from the Wild Knight’s flanks. There is no Dylan Riley in the matchday squad for the visitors.
Mie Honda Heat v Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo; at Tochigi, 1pm
9th placed Mie Honda Heat host 4th placed and defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, and will be looking for a second win this season after securing their first win before the break.
Franco Mostert captains the hosts with Pablo Matera starting at 8, and that means it will be a combative return for Michael Leitch, who makes his first appearance of the season for Todd Blackadder’s side and captains the team at flank. Richie Mounga would be expected to pull the strings from fly-half, and newly selected for the Japan Senior Men’s camp, Rob Thompson, will be keen to impress from the centres.
Toyota Verblitz v Yokohama Canon Eagles; at Aichi, 2.30pm
The current 11th and 12th-ranked sides square up, with the Toyota’s coaches linked to an unlikely return to helm the All Blacks; both Ian Foster and Steve Hansen are in a potential relegation battle for a second consecutive season.
Verblitz won the opening game of the season, then lost Pieter Steph du Toit through injury and has lost their last five matches. They have not just been losing but have been leaking points at an average of 40 per game in those losses.
Canon Eagles also lost a Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok as Faf de Klerk was ruled out early and has been linked to clubs in France as he recovers. Their new Head Coach this season, Leon MacDonald, has tasted six straight defeats, even if some have been competitive losses with the side picking up several losing bonus points.
Both sides will be desperate, which could make for a scrappy game, and in the previous three of the last four matches, the result was decided by four points or less.
Kubota Spears v Urayasu D-Rocks; at Tokyo (Spears Edoriku Field), 2.30pm
Spears Edoriku Field is a happy hunting ground for the Kubota Spears, racking up 22 wins and no defeats, so the visiting Urayasu D-Rocks will know they have a tough task ahead of them this weekend.
Spears coach Frans Ludeke won't take the game for granted as his opposite man Graham Rowntree has yielded much better results for his side in his first season in Japan, and they were competitive against two of the top sides in the Division - the Wild Knights and Brave Lupus.
Malcolm Marx is on the bench for the hosts, and stalwart Bernard Foley starts at flyhalf, while Jasper Wiese starts at 8 for the visitors
Sunday February 8
Tokyo Sungoliath v Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.30pm
Springbok Cheslin Kolbe had an eventful game the last time the team ran out in their narrow 30-31 loss to Saitama Wild Knights - but he did score 15 points. If Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am is selected, they could be facing each other for the first time in Japan.
Tokyo Sungoliath are 5th on the log and will want to continue to be in the mix at the top end, while Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars have struggled this season and are in 10th.
Saturday February 7
Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks v Hanazono Kintetsu Liners; at Tokyo (Yumenoshima), 2.30pm
Second hosts first in Division Two as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners travel to Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks. Springbok Manie Libbok at Hanazono will hope to control proceedings and maintain their flawless season, but he faces Irish-capped Billy Burns at the Blue Sharks, who has also steered his side to four wins from four so far.
Sunday February 8
Green Rockets Tokatsu v Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves; at Chiba, 12pm Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex v RedHurricanes Osaka; at Fukuoka, 2.30pm
The 5th-ranked Green Rockets were narrow winners the last time they played, with a 81st minute win. They host Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves, who are one position above them on the log.
6th placed Electric Power Kyuden Voltex host the RedHurricanes Osaka, who are yet to register a win this season.
Saturday February 7
SkyActivs Hiroshima v Yakult Levins Toda; at Hiroshima, 1pm Sunday February 8
SkyActivs Hiroshima will be looking to stay well on top of the standings when they host Yakult Levins Toda in Division Three. The visitors were on the losing end of a big defeat last weekend.
Sunday February 8
LeRIRO Fukuoka v Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions; at Fukuoka, 1pm
LeRIRO Fukuoka sit 3rd in the Division and will look to hold that position or improve as they host the winless Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions.