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The fixtures for the Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 season see Division 1 kicking off on December 13, with champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo facing old rivals Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on the opening weekend for the 5th edition of Japan’s premier rugby union league.
The top-flight regular season comprises 108 matches and will run until May 10, 2026, before the six-team finals series, which will be conducted over three weekends. The division is split into two conferences of six teams, and each of the sides plays interleague games between the two.
The new season, despite some concern that the JRLO would attract fewer international players, is due to see a number of new stars compete with more rumoured for next season.
Ardie Savea returns to Japan and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, and alongside Pieter Steph du Toit at Toyota Verblitz, and the recently crowned Malcolm Marx at Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay - the last three World Rugby Players of the year will all feature in League One this season.
More than 50 foreign capped test players will feature in League One.
12 of the current world champion Springboks play in Japan.
We take a look at some of the biggest signings in Division One of the JRLO for next season.
Coached by Todd Blackadder, the team is chasing a third straight title in the JRLO but has lost the services of 8 players from last season.
He said pre-season. “I'm confident in what our team has built. I'm pleased with this journey, where we've controlled what we can control at a high level.” His side will start the season as favourites, but achieving three titles in a row won’t be easy.
The seven-time Super Rugby-winning Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo’unga will once again marshal the Brave Lupus challenge, as he has been confirmed until the end of the 2026 season, and then he will return to the Crusaders. The All Black fly-half is aiming for the three-peat with his team in his third season in Japan.
Blackadder said of Mo’unga, “He is in the best shape I have ever seen him in. Whether we talk or watching him practice, I can sense that he has a clear mind. I think he has a strong desire to leave something good behind for Toshiba. He has brought his family to Japan, and they are all enjoying Fuchu and Toshiba. His son was born in Japan last week.”
Warner Dearns has joined Super Rugby Pacific outfit the Hurricanes for one season, while Mamoru Harada has also left for Moana Pasifika. It's likely it will be another All Black’s final season if he wants to have a crack at RWC 2027 with NZ- Shannon Frizell.
At a senior level, Masahiro Kunda is now the concurrently CEO, President and General Manager of the club. The former Brave Blossom earned 44 caps for the Japanese national team and participated in three Rugby World Cups (1991, 1995, 1999). Will Eggleston has joined as the Defence Coach from the Western Force.
The defending champions have been light on new signings, but a number of clubs have pledged to better develop local pathways and Japanese talent.
New Signings: Andrew Macario (Kintetsu Liners), Callum McDonald (Tokyo Sungoliath), Michael Stolberg (Black Rams), Netani Vakayalia (Black Rams), Teejay Clark (Wellington Hurricanes)
Frans Ludeke continues his role as head of the Japanese club he joined in 2016, and the runners-up last season will again call on the talented international services of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, who is now the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year, and fly-half Bernard Foley, but have not announced many signings for the new season.
The club also had half a dozen players involved with the Brave Blossoms end-of-year tour: Keijiro Tamefusa, David van Zeeland, Tyler Paul, Maxi Faulua, Shinobu Fujiwara, and Yuya Hirose.
Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay has appointed Ryo Yamamura as Assistant Coach. As a player, he earned 39 caps for the Brave Blossoms, and as a coach, he has been with the Kurita Water Gash Akishima (Assistant Coach) from 2021-2024 and the U20 Japan National Team (Scrum Coach) 2024-2025.
They only had one player leave last season, and Shaun Stevenson, who featured them for a few games last term, has signed on for the whole season.
New Signings: Yasue Yoshimitsu (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars & Japan)
The big signings for the season include the return of former World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea, who heads back to Kobelco Kobe Steelers after making 15 appearances for the Kansai-based outfit two seasons ago.
Dave Rennie remains as Head Coach and should be relishing the extra firepower this season.
Savea is joined by NZ test teammate Anton Lienert-Brown. The powerful centre replaces the departed Ngane Laumape (who was one of a dozen to depart) in Dave Rennie’s side. Both players have signed on for one-season sabbaticals from New Zealand Rugby.
Leinert-Brown said, “I'm really looking forward to this next chapter in my career - connecting with some old friends from my Chiefs days, meeting new teammates, and immersing myself in Japanese culture. I've always loved the warmth of the people and the incredible food, and I can't wait to experience it all.
The team had 12 players leave after last season. The new Defensive Coach is Pete Murchie, who joins from Glasgow Warriors, and the co-captains are internationals Brodie Retallick (NZ) and Lee Seung-shin (Japan).
Retallick said, “We've had a fantastic preseason, and I look forward to showing you how much we've improved since last season's third-place finish. We'll continue to work hard to prepare for our opening game (against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay).”
Seung-shin, who had an excellent Test year with the Brave Blossoms, added, “Last season was a season that boosted our confidence, but we ended the season with results that were far from our goal, and the entire team ended the season with disappointment. I will use that disappointment as motivation to play for everyone involved with the team and do my best to win the championship”
They have won the National Amateur Tournament nine times, the Japan Championship ten times, and the Top League twice, and will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2028. Their slogan is "Rise Higher" for the 2025-26 season.
New Signings: Ardie Savea (All Blacks, Moana Pasifika), Anton Lienert-Brown (All Blacks, Chiefs), Ash Dixon (NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, Highlanders, Maori All Blacks), Neil Hansen (Lions SA), Mac Harris (Highlanders), Kavaia Tagivetaua (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi & Japan 7s)
One of the biggest changes this season is that five-time title-winning coach Robbie Deans has moved into an Advisor role with former assistant coach Atsushi Kanazawa stepping up into the Head Coach position, and retired Shota Horie is the Forwards coach. 51 cap Wallaby Berwick Barnes has also joined as the Backs Coach - he was previously at the club as a player from 2013-2018.
Atsushi Kanazawa said, “I am honoured to be appointed head coach of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights. I would like to express my sincere respect and gratitude to former head coach Robbie Deans, who has led the team for so many years and achieved so much. The six seasons I spent under him were a tremendous learning experience for me.
Although my role will change, I am thrilled to continue working with Robbie. While I feel a great sense of responsibility and weight in leading this historic club as the new head coach.”
Last season, the club failed to reach the finals for the first time. They had four losses alongside two draws, which is more losses than the Wild Knights had suffered in the first three years of League One combined!
The club signed twins Jayden and Tristan Joubert, who went to a highly renowned South African school, Paarl Boys' High School. Jaden Joubert said, “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to join the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights. I am honoured to be a part of a team with such passion and dedication for rugby.”
New Signings: Jayden Joubert (South African High School Representative), Tristan Joubert
The team signed a partnership agreement with Leicester Tigers last season and had the services of livewire Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse for one campaign, but has has departed but have signed plenty of exciting talent for this season after 20 players left the club or retired at the end of last season.
Akira Ishii, General Manager, said, “The DynaBoars have continued to grow with the aim of becoming Japan's best in 2027, but the 2024-25 season was a season in which we identified new issues.” They said they will focus on the three priorities of 'players,' 'environment,' and 'people’.
Kyo Yoshida has been appointed as the new captain for the 2025-26 season, while the Head Coach is Glenn Delaney.
Yoshida said, “As captain of the DynaBoars, I feel the weight of the team's history and responsibility. I want to achieve better results than last season and make this a season in which we rewrite the team's history. Our goal is to be a team that "wins." And not just win, I want to be a team that is gritty, intense, and embodies what it means to be a DynaBoars team.”
The biggest signing is that of Springbok RWC winner Lukhanyo Am. The Sharks player has 42 caps for SA and said of playing in Japan for the first time, “I am very excited to be joining Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars. I look forward to bringing my experience to the team and playing alongside my teammates and fans this season. See you all at the stadium!"
They have signed at least three Japanese players: Shunsuke Asaoka, Daiki Yamagiwa, and Yoshiki Yoshioka, one South African (Pieter Scholtz), and an Australian (Ollie Horne).
Horne, who has URC experience with the Glasgow Warriors, said, “This opportunity has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I'm incredibly grateful to become part of a club with such strong values, history, and passionate supporters.
I'm excited to embrace the culture here, learn from everyone around me, and contribute to the environment that makes this club so special. I can't wait to get to work with my new teammates and give everything I have, both on and off the field, to help the Dynaboars continue to grow."
The club’s new slogan for the season is: "Dyna Forward - All Green Forward".
All Black scrumhalf Brad Weber is strongly linked to sign with the club, but there has not been a confirmation yet.
New signings: Shunsuke Asaoka (Toyota Verblitz & Japan), Daiki Yamagiwa (NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu), Yoshiki Yoshioka (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Pieter Scholtz (Avilon-Bayonne), Ollie Horne (University of Technology Sydney, Manly Marlins, Glasgow Warriors), Gideon Koegelenberg (Benetton Rugby), Miyake Shun (Canterbury- NZ), Sasaki Hiyu (East Coast Boys RFC - NZ), Semisi Masirewa (Kintetsu Liners / Japan), Seru Jose (Kintetsu Liners/Hanazono Kintetsu Liners & Japan 7s)
The club, which finished bottom of D1, has its third Head Coach in as many seasons, as former Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland was first linked to be the new coach to take over from former club player Greig Laidlaw, but in the end, Graham Rowntree was unveiled as the new Head Coach.
He said, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead such an ambitious and proud club. The Japanese league is becoming more and more competitive every year. I look forward to driving an environment where we can change and adapt to be more competitive.”
Urayasu D-Rocks announced that Greig Laidlaw will be appointed as the new Executive Club Ambassador (but more recently also has filled a role with Scottish rugby.)
They have confirmed the addition of international players Manaaki Selby-Rickett (Maori All Blacks and Chiefs) as well as Quintin Strange (New Zealand U20, All Blacks XV, and Crusaders). Manaaki Selby-Rickett said, “I am particularly impressed with the club's philosophy, particularly its commitment to youth development through the Academy. This focus on youth development is essential to the growth of rugby, and I deeply respect this approach. Japan holds a special place in my heart, and my experiences here have always been fantastic. I am also fortunate to be close friends with Otere Black and have grown up watching the great Ross Isaac.”
The club said of his signing, “His unique qualities include his offensive and defensive impact in lineouts, his physicality throughout the game, his ball-running skills that inspire the team, and his high work rate, all of which are essential for a modern rugby lock.”
Johann Ackermann was an advisor at the club last season and is now the Lions coach in South Africa.
At the conclusion of last season, as many as 16 players announced they had departed or retired - including Nathan Hughes, who had joined mid-season on loan.
New signings: Manaaki Selby-Rickett (Maori All Blacks and Chiefs), Quintin Strange (New Zealand U20, All Blacks XV, and Crusaders), Motoki Sudo (Toyota Verblitz & Japan), Tamati Ioane (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Kobe Steelers & Japan)
