Official Review: Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 | Round Seven

Kieran Crowley recorded some significant wins during his time in charge of the Azzurri, most notably claiming
Italy’s first ever win against Australia along with a win against Wales in Cardiff but yesterday provided arguably the
Mie Hona Heat mentor’s biggest success on the club scene as his side bowled Toshiba Brave Lupus 44-38.
The defending champions’ second defeat of the season was the upset of the round as Japan Rugby League One
resumed after its second bye weekend yesterday, with Honda set on their way by a fifth minute try from Los
Pumas centurion Pablo Matera.
The Argentine’s try was the first of five in a first half blitz which fired Honda to a 34-21 advantage, with New
Zealand-schooled winger Ben Paltridge scoring twice.
Although the game had long since been lost, three tries in the final six minutes – two by utility back Michael

Collins – salvaged a bonus point for Toshiba, for whom Richie Mo’unga and Michael Leitch were first half try-
scorers.

Toshiba’s stumble allowed Kobelco Kobe Steelers to extend the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Brave
Lupus to five on the point’s table after they won a 17-try shootout against Shizuoka BlueRevs.
A first half hattrick by winger Shunsuke Uenobo led Kobe to a 38-21 halftime lead, with skipper Brodie Retallick
also scoring for the ninth time this season to maintain his position as the competition's leading try-scorer.
The All Black second rower is one ahead of Saitama Wild Knights’ Brave Blossoms hooker Atsushi Sakate who also
added to his total during his side’s win over BlackRams Tokyo.
Kobe’s onslaught didn’t let up after the break, pushing their advantage out to 29 points before the BlueRevs finally
mustered a response, posting three of the last four tries on a frantic afternoon where defence appeared at times
to be ‘optional’.

With Kwagga Smith on the bench, the head-to-head duel between the Springbok backrower and his All Black rival
Ardie Savea only lasted 26 minutes, with the BlueRevs skipper surprisingly held back by coach Yuichiro Fujii until
the early stages of the second half.
While it rained tries in Hygo, in Tokyo it just rained, with BlackRams Tokyo taking a deserved bonus point off the
Wild Knights for the second match running, as the competition front-runners ground out a 13-6 win.
Although they conceded what proved to be the game’s only try in the sixth minute, the gritty BlackRams did not
relent, keeping the game in the balance as they stayed within a converted try margin for most of the match.
While the conditions made it difficult for both sides, the significance of the BlackRams’ defensive effort is
highlighted by the fact that the league leaders had scored 31 tries in their previous six outings.
The competition point took the BlackRams above Urayasu D-Rocks on the ladder, after Graham Rowntree’s men
became the 23rd side to visit Spears Edoriku Field in the League One era and return home beaten, overrun 48-14
by Kubota Spears in a contest where the respective No.8s combined for five of the game’s 10 tries.
Springbok Jasper Wiese contributed both of his side’s tries, but the Urayasu backrower was outdone by Brave
Blossoms international Faulua Makisi as the Spears’ skipper bagged a hat-trick, scoring all his side’s tries in the
second half.
The maximum point return closed the gap between the Spears and Wild Knights at the top of the standings to
two, with the teams scheduled to meet next month.
While the status quo remains in the division’s upper echelon, the picture changed dramatically at the bottom after
Leon MacDonald gained his first win as Yokohama Canon Eagles coach when his charges edged Toyota Verblitz 20-
14 in an exciting contest at Aichi.
As well as ending a run of 10 consecutive defeats dating to the last four matches of last term, the Eagles’ success
raised them two places on the ladder, going above Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars as well as Verblitz, with
Steve Hansen’s men plunging to the bottom following their sixth straight defeat.
The losing bonus point means Verblitz have five points, same as the Dynaboars, but they could have been denied
that consolation had Eagles’ sharpshooter Yu Tamura not missed a penalty attempt in the final minute.
Glenn Delaney’s Dynaboars were denied the opportunity to improve their position after today’s engagement with
Tokyo Sungoliath in Tokyo was postponed due to snow.

There was drama in the top-of-the-table clash in Division Two yesterday as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners came from
behind to beat a gallant Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks 16-14, snatching the win via an 80th minute try by
scrumhalf Kensho Kawamura.
The hosts had led 14-6 early in the second half but were made to pay dearly for missed goal-kicking opportunities
as Kintetsu scored the final two tries of the contest to sneak home, retaining their unbeaten record while ending
that of the Blue Sharks.
RedHurricanes Osaka gained their first win of the season in today’s match, holding off Kyushu Electric Power
Kyuden Voltex 7-3.
Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves’ visit to Green Rockets Tokatsu was postponed.
Division Three saw leaders SkyActivs Hiroshima stay in course for an unbeaten season by hammering Yakult Levins
Toda, but today’s game between Le RIRO Fukuoka and Choguku Electric Power Red Regulions also fell victim to the
‘white’ weather.