Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 Round Eight Preview

February 12, 2026
309
Ultimate Rugby

It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Yokohama Canon Eagles’ first win of the season was an important step forward for the two-time League One semi-finalists, and a great confidence boost ahead of the keenly contested ‘Photocopy Derby’ against the team representing fellow office products producer, Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo.

Yokohama have only lost a derby once since the advent of League One five years ago, but that defeat was in the most recent meeting, when fullback Kippei Ishida was sent off and the 14 men of the Eagles, despite battling bravely for the final 38 minutes, succumbed 27-20.

That defeat, and Yokohama’s difficulties since, lends weight to the argument that the Eagles’ hold over the BlackRams is the weakest it has been, lying six points and three places behind their rivals on the ladder, with Tabai Matson’s side eyeing a first appearance in the playoffs since the competition’s inception.

Last weekend’s game performance against the Saitama Wild Knights did nothing to dispel that conversation, with the BlackRams collecting a deserved bonus point in a gritty 13-6 defeat, where the league leaders were held to just one try, having scored 31 from six outings previously.

Central to the BlackRams’ improvement has been the significant alteration Matson, and skipper TJ Perenara, have affected on discipline, with just four teams (one who had played one less game) having conceded fewer penalties after seven rounds.

Three years ago, before Matson’s arrival, the BlackRams were the most penalized team in the league.

While made to work last weekend, history suggests Atsushi Kanazawa’s unbeaten outfit will return to their free scoring best against bottom placed Toyota Verblitz, who boast the worst defence in the league and a woeful record against the Wild Knights.

Steve Hansen’s men have lost all nine matches between the teams since rugby resumed in Japan post Covid, conceding 40 points or more on six occasions.

Buoyed by their first set of back-to-back wins since the opening two rounds of last term, Mie Honda Heat will be looking to put further space between themselves and the two relegation series places on the point’s table.

They play a Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars outfit that faces the added hurdle of not having played for three weeks, after having their first match following the January bye called off when Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo was blanketed in snow.

Kieran Crowley’s side climbed to ninth after their stunning upset against champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, six points clear of the 11th-placed Dynaboars, who might be getting edgy after managing just one win from their last nine outings.

The two teams played out a thriller last season, with Heat taking the honours after flyhalf Gwante Oh converted the 80th minute try scored by backrower Ryota Kobayashi, to snatch a 38-37 win.

While Kobayashi, who scored two of Heat’s tries, is no longer at the club, flyhalf James Grayson is still with the Dynaboars, with last year’s defeat especially tough on the Englishman after he scored 22 of Sagamihara’s points, kicking seven from seven alongside scoring his side’s opening try.

Like Mitsubishi, Tokyo Sungoliath were denied a shot last weekend, and they return against a Urayasu D-Rocks outfit whose form has tapered off after their excellent start to the season.

Last weekend’s 48-14 hammering by Kubota Spears was D-Rocks’ third defeat on the bounce, while being the biggest of their four losses so far.

Although Sungoliath didn’t lose their current fifth ranking while they sat on the sidelines, the Sam Cane-led side will not want to lose any more ground on the sides placed above.

Shizuoka BlueRevs missed the chance to go above Sungoliath during their bizarre 60-45 loss to Kobelco Kobe Steelers and now must pick themselves up to play the Spears, who put 62 points on them last season.

The completely out of character performance from a side who had won six of their previous seven – and went on to win 14 of 18 in the regular season – will surely stand as motivation for Kwagga Smith’s men.

It will need to as Kubota arrives at Yamaha Stadium with ominous momentum, having scored a league-high 44 tries, while trailing the league-leading Wild Knights by just two points.

Sunday should provide a belter of a contest when fourth hosts third as Kobe hits Tokyo to tackle Brave Lupus.

Although Dave Rennie’s men have impressed, they may still carry the demons of last term when the defending champions made a real mess of them, crushing Kobe twice among their three wins against the Kansai side.

Toshiba ended Kobe’s title hopes in a 31-3 semi-final victory, having earlier romped to a 73-28 win in the second of the regular season meetings.

Brave Lupus scored 19 tries across the three matches, including 11 during the remarkable contest at Hygo.

The key fixture in Division Two sees Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, which came in agonizing circumstances, as they conceded a last minute try against top-of-the-table Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.

They are being hosted by Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, who put the shock of a surprise loss to Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves behind them, when blitzing winless Hino Red Dolphins 62-12 last time out.

Last year’s section winners could jump into second on the ladder if they can overcome the visitors.

Kintetsu host the always competitive Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex in the division’s other match, while SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS will be out to close the gap on Division Three leaders SkyActivs Hiroshima, when they complete the split round by taking on the Wycliff Palu-coached Kurita Water Gush Akishima.

RUGGUTS are nine points behind SkyActivs while Water Gush have won just once from five attempts so far.

Japan Rugby League One Round Eight Schedule (all kick offs, JT)

Division One

Saturday February 14

Yokohama Canon Eagles v BlackRams Tokyo; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 12pm

Saitama Wild Knights v Toyota Verblitz; at Saitama, 2.30pm

Shizuoka BlueRevs v Kubota Spears; at Shizuoka, 2.30pm

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars v Mie Honda Heat; at Kanagawa, 2.30pm

Urayasu D-Rocks v Tokyo Sungoliath; at Miyazaki, 2.35pm

Sunday February 15

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo v Kobelco Kobe Steelers; at Tokyo (Chichibu), 2.30pm

Division Two