We continue our look at the Japan Rugby League One teams in Division 1 Conference B for the 2025-2026 season. One aspect to take note of this season, is the change in format of the quarter-finals (two matches) in the playoff tournament which will run from May 23rd to June 7th, 2026. The top-ranked teams (third and fourth-placed teams in the league) will host these matches in their host areas or stadiums of their choice, instead of being played at a neutral venue.
We continue our look at the Japan Rugby League One teams in Division 1 Conference B for the 2025-2026 season. One aspect to take note of this season, is the change in format of the quarter-finals (two matches) in the playoff tournament which will run from May 23rd to June 7th, 2026. The top-ranked teams (third and fourth-placed teams in the league) will host these matches in their host areas or stadiums of their choice, instead of being played at a neutral venue.
The semi-finals, third-place match, and final will continue to be hosted by JRLO.
The team still have the services of Springbok Cheslin Kolbe and has re-signed Brave Blossom international Tevita Tatafu, who signed on after two seasons with Union Bordeaux Begles, as well as several players from other clubs in the JRLO and from abroad.
George Hammond has joined from Harlequins in the Prem, as well as Kaleb Trask and Gideon Rampling (both from the Chiefs - NZ & Maori All Blacks), as they try and replace more than 16 players who left the club after last season.
Tatafu said, "I am really happy to be able to return to Sungoliath after two challenging years in Europe. It was a great experience for me to play against top teams and top-class players. I am very happy to be able to play for Sungoliath again and look forward to having a good season with the team. I will bring back what I learned in France and do my best to help Sungoliath shine."
Sam Cane will captain the side, and newly capped for Japan, Harry Hockings is Vice-captain, along with Yutaka Nagere.
The former All Black captain said, We've got great leaders across the squad, and I see my role as helping bring everyone together. I know we can achieve something special this season”.
New signings: Shuhei Takeuchi (Japan and Urayasu D-Rocks), Kanta Ogawa (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Sam Jeffries (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Kazuki Ishida (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars), Quinton Mahina (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), George Hammond (Harlequins), Kaleb Trask (Chiefs - NZ & Maori All Blacks), Gideon Rampling (Chiefs - NZ & Maori All Blacks)
The side just missed out on the playoffs after being led by former All Black scrumhalf TJ Perenara, but at the conclusion of the season, 13 players were announced to have left the club.
Among the new signings which have been made so far for the new campaign is Michael Allardice, who has been playing in Japan since 2020 and said, “My family and I are incredibly excited to start this new chapter with the Black Rams Tokyo. I look forward
to meet the fans, connect with the team, and experience everything Tokyo has to offer.”
Nick Suchong (NZ) has experience in the MLR in the US as well as in his native NZ (having played Super Rugby and NPC). Tomoya Adachi (Wales) said, “I am looking forward to adapting to the style of rugby in Japan and developing my skills to be the best version of myself.”
One of their players, New Zealand-born Brodie McCarran, has also acquired Japanese citizenship.
TJ Perenara will captain the side again, with Shuhei Matsuhashi and Yuki Ikeda as VC.
The former All Black said, “I'm honoured and privileged to be able to lead this great club. We have some amazing players and leaders here, so to be able to do this alongside them is exciting. We have a great opportunity this year to build on something we did last season and can't wait to get out there and perform for our fans.”
Their slogan for the new season is ‘Ignite’, and they also (among dozens of new announcements across the clubs) confirmed they have entered a partnership with Villarreal CF (La Liga 1), a Spanish football club, to promote sustainability through education and development. This is League One's first partnership with an overseas sports team other than rugby.
New signings: Kota Mitake (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Michael Allardice (Red Hurricanes Osaka), Nick Suchong (NPC Southland NZ), Tomoya Adachi (Dragons, Wales), Felix Kalapu (Waratahs), Rameka Poihipi (Chiefs - NZ)
The club had a terrible season last campaign and heads into 2025-26 having signed All Black Mark Telea among a dozen other new signings, as Sir Steve Hansen, as Head Coach and Ian Foster as Co-Coach, try to turn things around.
Telea said, “I am very excited to join the Toyota Verblitz team. I can't wait to meet my new teammates and reunite with Steve and Fozzy (Foster) as I contribute to the team this season. I am also looking forward to experiencing Japanese culture with my family and being part of the community on and off the field.”
9 players left at the end of last season, including Michael Hooper and Joseph Manu, after only one season with the club. Hooper has, however, signed on as a coaching consultant for the breakdown area.
General Manager Goto Akitomo said, “We will never forget the disappointment of finishing 10th last season, and all of our players and staff will fight as one to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.”
New Signings: Taufa Latu (Black Rams Tokyo), Schalk Erasmus (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Jone Kerevi (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi), Solomona Tyrell (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi), Lourens Erasmus (Urayasu D-Rocks), Harrison Goggin, Zach Gallagher (Hurricanes), Harry Bortolussi (Manly Marines), Aidan Morgan (Hurricanes - 2024), Mark Telea (All Blacks and Blues), Semisi Tupou (Black Rams Tokyo), Keisuke Moriya (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Hamdah Tuipulotu (Blues - NZ)
The club has announced several signings to bolster their chances of a better season ahead. Head Coach Ciaran Crowley’s notable addition is the addition of 13-cap Fijian international Tevita Ikanivere, who joins from the Drua. They need the numbers as 13 players left after the last campaign.
Tevita Ikanivere said, "I'm extremely grateful to the Mie Honda Heat for giving me this opportunity. My family and I are excited to move to Japan and become part of the Heat family. I look forward to contributing to the championship-winning Mie Honda Heat team and playing in front of their incredible Japanese fans and supporters."
Japan 7s player Larry Sulunga re-signed with the club after previously announcing he would retire - he is one of a few Japan 7s players to sign on for the club.
Of note to fans in Asia, Ben Paltridge signed on from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars, where he spent the past 5 seasons - he has Thai and NZ heritage.
The Mie Honda Heat announced their captain and leader for the 2025-26 season would be former NZ U20 Waimana Kapa, their first-ever foreign captain.
They also added several backroom staff, including Isak van der Westhuizen as Assistant Coach from the Cheetahs in South Africa.
Honda, the owner of the Mie Honda Heat club, also announced it acquired the naming rights to the 14,000-seat stadium, Tochigi Green Stadium, and it will be called the Honda Heat Green Stadium on a ten-year contract running until November 30, 2035.
They also confirmed the extension of its strategic partnership agreement with Prem side Harlequins, which began in 2023.
New signings: Larry Sulunga, Haruto Takahashi (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua), Trevor Hosea (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Aseri Masivou (NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu and Japan 7s), Yuta Shirasaka, Rakuhei Yamashita (Kobelco Kobe Steelers and Japan 7s), Akauola Manu (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Yu Kawai, Ben Paltridge (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars), Kazuki Ban (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Viliami Tahitua will serve as player and coach for the Shizuoka Blue Revs this coming season. He will have the bulk of the side from last year, as only 6 players announced they had left or retired.
They still have a good blend of international and local talent, with captain and Springbok Kwagga Smith a standout performer over recent seasons, which saw them reach the JRLO Division 1 play-offs for the first time last season. He will captain the side again this campaign.
They have most notably been bolstered with the signing of star Fijian Semi Radradra from the French Top 14.
The player, who won gold with Fiji at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in rugby Sevens, said, "I am honoured to be joining the Shizuoka Blue Revs next season. Playing in Japan Rugby League One has always been my goal, and I am delighted to be joining a top club like the Blue Revs. I am highly motivated and will do my best to contribute to the team next season. I can't wait to arrive in Japan, meet my new teammates and coaching staff and get started on pre-season training.”
The club boasts several players who have been capped by the Japan national side, and has promoted a number of youth players to the senior team. A backline includes the likes of newly capped Brave Blossom Sam Green, Charles Piutua, Sanele Nohamba, Valens Tefere and Radrada.
New signings: Semi Radradra (Fiji & Lyon), Daniel Maiava (Australian U-20 & Melbourne Rebels)
The side that includes the likes of Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and centre Jesse Kriel, will have a new Head Coach in the form of former All Black assistant Blues Head Coach and consultant at Western Force Leon MacDonald. As a player in Japan, he had stints with Yamaha (now Shizuoka Blue Revs) and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.
MacDonald said, “Having played in Japan for a long time, I have longed to return to Japan, not only to reconnect with Japanese culture but also to contribute to the further development of Japanese rugby. The Eagles are a club with a proud history and passionate fans, and I am honoured to be a part of it. I believe success comes from hard work, team unity, and a common goal.”
He will have to rebuild as 9 players left at the end of last season and nearly as many staff. It was also announced that Brave Blossom Amanaki Mafi has signed on to join Newcastle in the Prem.
New Assistant Coaches are Dave Dillon, who was previously with U20 New Zealand, Highlanders and Kobe Steelers, Masahide Okazaki (Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo), and Shinichi Furukawa (Toyota Industries Shuttles).
Jesse Kriel will play his seventh season with the team and will captain them for the first time with Masato Furukawa as vice-captain. This is the first time in Eagles history that a foreign player will serve as captain.
Kriel, who also captained the Springboks for the first time in 2025, said, “It's a huge honour to lead the Yokohama Canon Eagles. This club has become a special part of my journey, and I'm incredibly proud to lead such a talented and hard-working group of players. There are many strong leaders in the group that will form part and help steer the team in a winning direction.”
The side has also confirmed many new player signings for the new season, which include Dino Lamb, who has played for Italy 6 times. He said, “I am ready to work hard, contribute in every way, and continue to grow as both a player and a teammate. I look forward to integrating into the club's culture, connecting with our incredible supporters, and giving my all for the team every day. I can't wait to meet everyone at the club and experience everything that makes this team and Japanese rugby so special.”
New signings: Sam Caird (U20 NZ Rep), Yu Chinen (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars & Japan), Nesta Mahina (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Doichi Kaito (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Daichi Akiyama (Toyota Verblitz & Japan), Dino Lamb (Harlequins & Italy), Sione Lavemai (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath & Japan), Amanaki Saumaki (Yokohama Canon Eagles & Japan), Levi Aumua (Crusaders & All Blacks XV), Yuto Mori (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Randall Baker (Blues, NPC Auckland, U20 NZ Rep)
