2017–18 Top League

The 2017–18 Top League was the 15th season of Japan's top-tier domestic rugby union competition, the Top League.

2017–18 Top League
Crowd at the 2017–18 final for the 55th All-Japan title
CountriesJapan
Date18 August 2017 – 14 January 2018
ChampionsSuntory Sungoliath (5th title)
Runners-upPanasonic Wild Knights
RelegatedKintetsu Liners,
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Matches played120
Attendance640,685
(average 5,339 per match)
Highest attendance27,871
(Toyota Verblitz v Yamaha Júbilo, Round 1)
Lowest attendance1,107
(Kubota Spears v Canon Eagles, 9th-place play-off)
Top point scorerLionel Cronjé (132)
Top try scorerAkihito Yamada (12)

The tournament was won by Suntory Sungoliath for the fifth time, beating Panasonic Wild Knights 12–8 in the final played on 13 January 2018. Kintetsu Liners were automatically relegated to the second-tier Top Challenge League competition for 2018 and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes were also relegated after losing in their relegation play-off match.

Competition rules

In January 2017, the JRFU announced that the Top League competition would be held earlier in the year, in order to aid the Japanese Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves' preparations for the following season. The sixteen Top League teams would be divided into two conferences for the first stage of the competition; each team would play the seven other teams in their conferences once, plus an extra six matches against teams in the opposite conferences for a total of thirteen matches.[1]

All sixteen teams will then progress to a play-off stage; the top two teams in each conference will advance to the title play-offs, the next two teams in each conference to the 5th-place play-offs, the next two teams in each conference to the 9th-place play-offs and the bottom two teams in each conference to the 13th-place play-offs, which will determine the final positions for the season. The title play-offs will also double as the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship, which would no longer include university teams.[2] The team that finishes 16th will be automatically relegated to the 2018 Top Challenge League, while the other three teams in the 13th-place play-off will all play in relegation play-off matches.[3]

Teams

The following teams took part in the 2017–18 Top League competition:

2017–18 Top League Red Conference teams
Team nameRegion
Kintetsu LinersHigashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai
Kobelco SteelersKobe, Kansai
Kubota SpearsAbiko, Chiba, Kantō
NTT DoCoMo Red HurricanesOsaka, Kansai
NTT Com Shining ArcsChiba, Chiba, Kantō
Suntory SungoliathFuchū, Tokyo, Kantō
Toshiba Brave LupusFuchū, Tokyo, Kantō
Toyota VerblitzToyota, Aichi, Tokai
2017–18 Top League White Conference teams
Team nameRegion
Canon EaglesMachida, Tokyo, Kantō
Coca-Cola Red SparksFukuoka, Kyushu
Munakata Sanix BluesMunakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu
NEC Green RocketsAbiko, Chiba, Kantō
Panasonic Wild KnightsOta, Gunma, Kantō
Ricoh Black RamsTokyo, Kantō
Toyota Industries ShuttlesAichi, Mizuho
Yamaha JúbiloIwata, Shizuoka, Tokai

First stage

Standings

The final standings for the 2017–18 Top League First Stage were:

2017–18 Top League First Stage Red Conference standings
PosTeamPWDLPFPAPDTBLBPts
1Suntory Sungoliath131201450180+2707055
2Toyota Verblitz131003394288+1064246
3Toshiba Brave Lupus13805345292+534339
4Kobelco Steelers13715353297+564337
5NTT Com Shining Arcs13616310277+332331
6Kubota Spears13607305401−961126
7NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes13607291402−1112026
8Kintetsu Liners13409213365−1520117
2017–18 Top League First Stage White Conference standings
PosTeamPWDLPFPAPDTBLBPts
1Panasonic Wild Knights131300580142+43811063
2Yamaha Júbilo13904440232+2088246
3Ricoh Black Rams13904314239+756143
4NEC Green Rockets13607250323−731126
5Canon Eagles13409246399−1531320
6Toyota Industries Shuttles132011248362−1141211
7Munakata Sanix Blues131012205392−187048
8Coca-Cola Red Sparks130013203556−353033
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top two teams in each conference qualified for the title play-offs.
The third and fourth-placed teams in each conference qualified to the 5th-place play-offs.
The fifth and sixth-placed teams in each conference qualified to the 9th-place play-offs.
The seventh and eighth-placed teams in each conference qualified to the 13th-place play-offs.

Matches

The 2017–2018 Top League fixtures are:[4]

Round 1

18 August 2017Kobelco Steelers39–16NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
17:00Scoreboard[5]
Report[6]
Attendance: 5,335


18 August 2017Ricoh Black Rams17–13NTT Com Shining Arcs 
17:00Scoreboard[7]
Report[8]
Attendance: 7,793


18 August 2017Toyota Verblitz11–14Yamaha Júbilo 
18:00Scoreboard[9]
Report[10]
Attendance: 27,871


18 August 2017Canon Eagles5–32Suntory Sungoliath 
19:30Scoreboard[11]
Report[12]
Attendance: 10,547


18 August 2017Kintetsu Liners13–12Toyota Industries Shuttles 
19:30Scoreboard[13]
Report[14]
Attendance: 8,020


19 August 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus20–0NEC Green Rockets 
16:00Scoreboard[15]
Report[16]
Attendance: 8,038


19 August 2017Kubota Spears21–45Panasonic Wild Knights 
19:30Scoreboard[17]
Report[18]
Attendance: 8,462


20 August 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks22–38Munakata Sanix Blues 
16:00Scoreboard[19]
Report[20]
Attendance: 3,103

Round 2

26 August 2017NEC Green Rockets48–12Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
16:30Scoreboard[21]Attendance: 2,129


25 August 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs25–14Toshiba Brave Lupus 
17:00Scoreboard[22]
Report[23]
Attendance: 7,337


25 August 2017Ricoh Black Rams15–31Suntory Sungoliath 
19:30Scoreboard[24]
Report[25]
Attendance: 10,218


26 August 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes24–45Kubota Spears 
16:30Scoreboard[26]
Report[27]
Attendance: 2,782


26 August 2017Kobelco Steelers20–3Munakata Sanix Blues 
17:00Scoreboard[28]
Report[29]
Attendance: 3,643


26 August 2017Toyota Verblitz22–9Kintetsu Liners 
17:00Scoreboard[30]
Report[31]
Attendance: 3,665


26 August 2017Panasonic Wild Knights43–8Canon Eagles 
19:00Scoreboard[32]Attendance: 3,380


26 August 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles10–38Yamaha Júbilo 
19:00Scoreboard[33]
Report[34]
Attendance: 5,512

Round 3

1 September 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus10–47Panasonic Wild Knights 
19:30Scoreboard[35]
Report[36]
Attendance: 7,466


2 September 2017NEC Green Rockets42–26Toyota Industries Shuttles 
13:00Scoreboard[37]Attendance: 1,317


2 September 2017Munakata Sanix Blues14–35Ricoh Black Rams 
15:00Scoreboard[38]
Report[39]
Attendance: 2,038


2 September 2017Suntory Sungoliath27–24Yamaha Júbilo 
16:00Scoreboard[40]
Report[41]
Attendance: 14,054


2 September 2017Kobelco Steelers45–7Kubota Spears 
17:00Scoreboard[42]
Report[43]
Attendance: 4,344


2 September 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes28–24Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
18:00Scoreboard[44]
Report[45]
Attendance: 2,250


2 September 2017Canon Eagles12–34Toyota Verblitz 
18:30Scoreboard[46]
Report[47]
Attendance: 15,024


3 September 2017Kintetsu Liners10–36NTT Com Shining Arcs 
16:00Scoreboard[48]
Report[49]
Attendance: 4,023

Round 4

8 September 2017NEC Green Rockets12–29Kobelco Steelers 
19:30Scoreboard[50]
Report[51]
Attendance: 6,326


9 September 2017Kubota Spears27–19Toyota Industries Shuttles 
16:30Scoreboard[52]
Report[53]
Attendance: 5,384


9 September 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes29–19Munakata Sanix Blues 
16:30Scoreboard[54]Attendance: 3,468


9 September 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks17–64Panasonic Wild Knights 
17:00Scoreboard[55]
Report[56]
Attendance: 2,709


9 September 2017Kintetsu Liners25–20Canon Eagles 
17:00Scoreboard[57]
Report[58]
Attendance: 2,120


9 September 2017Yamaha Júbilo35–12Ricoh Black Rams 
17:00Scoreboard[59]
Report[60]
Attendance: 7,108


9 September 2017Suntory Sungoliath36–11NTT Com Shining Arcs 
19:00Scoreboard[61]
Report[62]
Attendance: 7,964


9 September 2017Toyota Verblitz23–18Toshiba Brave Lupus 
19:00Scoreboard[63]Attendance: 5,688

Round 5

22 September 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus25–32Kobelco Steelers 
19:30Scoreboard[64]
Report[65]
Attendance: 5,618


23 September 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks5–32Ricoh Black Rams 
16:30Scoreboard[66]
Report[67]
Attendance: 1,877


23 September 2017Kubota Spears17–54Suntory Sungoliath 
16:30Scoreboard[68]
Report[69]
Attendance: 2,793


23 September 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles24–32NTT Com Shining Arcs 
17:00Scoreboard[70]
Report[71]
Attendance: 4,933


23 September 2017Munakata Sanix Blues17–29NEC Green Rockets 
19:00Scoreboard[72]
Report[73]
Attendance: 2,886


23 September 2017Panasonic Wild Knights43–16Toyota Verblitz 
19:00Scoreboard[74]
Report[75]
Attendance: 4,194


24 September 2017Canon Eagles21–69Yamaha Júbilo 
14:00Scoreboard[76]
Report[77]
Attendance: 18,279


24 September 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes31–21Kintetsu Liners 
17:00Scoreboard[78]
Report[79]
Attendance: 4,975

Round 6

29 September 2017Ricoh Black Rams29–3NEC Green Rockets 
17:00Scoreboard[80]
Report[81]
Attendance: 4,033


29 September 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus19–17Toyota Industries Shuttles 
19:30Scoreboard[82]
Report[83]
Attendance: 6,034


30 September 2017Canon Eagles33–29Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
11:30Scoreboard[84]
Report[85]
Attendance: 3,762


30 September 2017Yamaha Júbilo19–38Kobelco Steelers 
14:00Scoreboard[86]
Report[87]
Attendance: 6,419


1 October 2017Kubota Spears40–50Toyota Verblitz 
13:00Scoreboard[88]Attendance: 2,178


1 October 2017Munakata Sanix Blues18–24Kintetsu Liners 
13:00Scoreboard[89]
Report[90]
Attendance: 1,585


1 October 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs12–39Panasonic Wild Knights 
13:00Scoreboard[91]Attendance: 4,074


1 October 2017Suntory Sungoliath69–7NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
13:00Scoreboard[92]Attendance: 2,734

Round 7

7 October 2017Canon Eagles31–26Kobelco Steelers 
11:30Scoreboard[93]
Report[94]
Attendance: 1,219


7 October 2017Suntory Sungoliath45–0Munakata Sanix Blues 
11:30Scoreboard[95]
Report[96]
Attendance: 3,711


7 October 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks24–33Toshiba Brave Lupus 
13:00Scoreboard[97]
Report[98]
Attendance: 1,545


7 October 2017Kintetsu Liners14–28Kubota Spears 
13:00Scoreboard[99]
Report[100]
Attendance: 2,412


7 October 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs27–18NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
14:00Scoreboard[101]
Report[102]
Attendance: 7,408


7 October 2017Panasonic Wild Knights32–3Toyota Industries Shuttles 
14:00Scoreboard[103]
Report[104]
Attendance: 2,605


7 October 2017Ricoh Black Rams6–12Toyota Verblitz 
14:00Scoreboard[105]
Report[106]
Attendance: 3,387


8 October 2017NEC Green Rockets15–35Yamaha Júbilo 
13:00Scoreboard[107]
Report[108]
Attendance: 2,976

Round 8

14 October 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles47–7Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
11:30Scoreboard[109]
Report[110]
Attendance: 1,496


14 October 2017Kobelco Steelers7–56Panasonic Wild Knights 
14:00Scoreboard[111]
Report[112]
Attendance: 6,825


14 October 2017Yamaha Júbilo36–10NTT Com Shining Arcs 
14:00Scoreboard[113]
Report[114]
Attendance: 3,243


15 October 2017Kintetsu Liners10–37Ricoh Black Rams 
11:30Scoreboard[115]
Report[116]
Attendance: 3,380


15 October 2017NEC Green Rockets28–27Kubota Spears 
13:00Scoreboard[117]
Report[118]
Attendance: 2,934


15 October 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus32–18NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
13:00Scoreboard[119]
Report[120]
Attendance: 2,732


15 October 2017Munakata Sanix Blues22–24Canon Eagles 
14:00Scoreboard[121]Attendance: 2,038


15 October 2017Toyota Verblitz31–32Suntory Sungoliath 
14:00Scoreboard[122]
Report[123]
Attendance: 4,574

Round 9

21 October 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus34–20Munakata Sanix Blues 
11:30Scoreboard[124]
Report[125]
Attendance: 2,172


21 October 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs76–7Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
14:00Scoreboard[126]
Report[127]
Attendance: 3,089


21 October 2017Panasonic Wild Knights21–10Suntory Sungoliath 
13:00Scoreboard[128]
Report[129]
Attendance: 8,953


21 October 2017Kubota Spears5–35Yamaha Júbilo 
14:00Scoreboard[130]
Report[131]
Attendance: 2,359


21 October 2017Kintetsu Liners10–17NEC Green Rockets 
11:30Scoreboard[132]
Report[133]
Attendance: 2,076


21 October 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles24–33Toyota Verblitz 
14:00Scoreboard[134]
Report[135]
Attendance: 3,968


22 October 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes36–14Canon Eagles 
11:30Scoreboard[136]
Report[137]
Attendance: 5,465


22 October 2017Kobelco Steelers10–15Ricoh Black Rams 
14:00Scoreboard[138]
Report[139]
Attendance: 7,813

Round 10

2 December 2017Ricoh Black Rams34–12NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
11:30Scoreboard[140]
Report[141]
Attendance: 6,417


2 December 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs28–28Kobelco Steelers 
14:00Scoreboard[142]
Report[143]
Attendance: 9,784


3 December 2017Suntory Sungoliath34–5Kintetsu Liners 
11:30Scoreboard[144]
Report[145]
Attendance: 3,672


3 December 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles10–31Canon Eagles 
11:30Scoreboard[146]
Report[147]
Attendance: 2,891


3 December 2017Panasonic Wild Knights54–5NEC Green Rockets 
13:00Scoreboard[148]
Report[149]
Attendance: 4,241


3 December 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks24–55Toyota Verblitz 
14:00Scoreboard[150]
Report[151]
Attendance: 4,392


3 December 2017Munakata Sanix Blues27–31Kubota Spears 
14:00Scoreboard[152]
Report[153]
Attendance: 4,037


3 December 2017Yamaha Júbilo22–27Toshiba Brave Lupus 
14:00Scoreboard[154]
Report[155]
Attendance: 4,932

Round 11

9 December 2017NEC Green Rockets13–28Suntory Sungoliath 
11:30Scoreboard[156]
Report[157]
Attendance: 6,089


9 December 2017Toyota Industries Shuttles20–35Ricoh Black Rams 
11:30Scoreboard[158]
Report[159]
Attendance: 3,680


9 December 2017Kobelco Steelers39–22Kintetsu Liners 
13:00Scoreboard[160]
Report[161]
Attendance: 5,745


9 December 2017Yamaha Júbilo54–7Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
13:00Scoreboard[162]
Report[163]
Attendance: 4,362


9 December 2017NTT Com Shining Arcs8–3Canon Eagles 
14:00Scoreboard[164]
Report[165]
Attendance: 8,568


9 December 2017Toyota Verblitz46–18NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
14:00Scoreboard[166]
Report[167]
Attendance: 8,106


10 December 2017Kubota Spears22–38Toshiba Brave Lupus 
13:00Scoreboard[168]
Report[169]
Attendance: 3,465


10 December 2017Panasonic Wild Knights42–7Munakata Sanix Blues 
13:00Scoreboard[170]
Report[171]
Attendance: 3,542

Round 12

16 December 2017Canon Eagles20–25NEC Green Rockets 
13:00Scoreboard[172]
Report[173]
Attendance: 2,326


16 December 2017Yamaha Júbilo40–5Munakata Sanix Blues 
13:00Scoreboard[174]
Report[175]
Attendance: 4,191


16 December 2017NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes38–19Toyota Industries Shuttles 
11:30Scoreboard[176]
Report[177]
Attendance: 3,290


16 December 2017Toyota Verblitz22–15NTT Com Shining Arcs 
14:00Scoreboard[178]
Report[179]
Attendance: 5,302


17 December 2017Coca-Cola Red Sparks5–12Kubota Spears 
11:30Scoreboard[180]
Report[181]
Attendance: 5,753


17 December 2017Suntory Sungoliath24–7Kobelco Steelers 
14:00Scoreboard[182]
Report[183]
Attendance: 10,606


17 December 2017Toshiba Brave Lupus51–14Kintetsu Liners 
11:30Scoreboard[184]
Report[185]
Attendance: 3,599


17 December 2017Panasonic Wild Knights50–7Ricoh Black Rams 
14:00Scoreboard[186]
Report[187]
Attendance: 6,162

Round 13

24 December 2017NEC Green Rockets13–16NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 
11:30Scoreboard[188]
Report[189]
Attendance: 4,016


24 December 2017Ricoh Black Rams40–24Canon Eagles 
14:00Scoreboard[190]
Report[191]
Attendance: 7,335


24 December 2017Suntory Sungoliath28–24Toshiba Brave Lupus 
13:00Scoreboard[192]
Report[193]
Attendance: 7,650


24 December 2017Kubota Spears23–17NTT Com Shining Arcs 
13:00Scoreboard[194]
Report[195]
Attendance: 2,564


24 December 2017Kintetsu Liners36–20Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
11:30Scoreboard[196]Attendance: 2,950


24 December 2017Toyota Verblitz39–33Kobelco Steelers 
14:00Scoreboard[197]Attendance: 5,465


24 December 2017Yamaha Júbilo19–44Panasonic Wild Knights 
13:00Scoreboard[198]Attendance: 8,135


24 December 2017Munakata Sanix Blues15–17Toyota Industries Shuttles 
13:00Scoreboard[199]
Report[200]
Attendance: 2,051

Second stage

Standings

The final standings for the 2017–18 Top League are:

2017–18 Top League standings
PosTeam
1Suntory Sungoliath
2Panasonic Wild Knights
3Yamaha Júbilo
4Toyota Verblitz
5Kobelco Steelers
6Toshiba Brave Lupus
7Ricoh Black Rams
8NEC Green Rockets
9NTT Com Shining Arcs
10Canon Eagles
11Kubota Spears
12Toyota Industries Shuttles
13Munakata Sanix Blues
14Coca-Cola Red Sparks
15NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
16Kintetsu Liners
Top League and All-Japan Rugby Football Championship champions.
The 13th to 15-placed teams qualify to the relegation play-offs.
The 16th-placed team is automatically relegated to the 2018 Top Challenge League.

Title play-offs

The title play-offs also double up as the 55th All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.


Semi-final6 January 2018Toyota Verblitz11–17Panasonic Wild Knights 
14:00Scoreboard[201]Attendance: 10,099


Semi-final6 January 2018Suntory Sungoliath49–7Yamaha Júbilo 
16:00Scoreboard[202]Attendance: 11,167


3rd-place play-off13 January 2018Yamaha Júbilo28–10Toyota Verblitz 
11:30Attendance: 16,515


Final13 January 2018Suntory Sungoliath12–8Panasonic Wild Knights 
14:15Attendance: 23,416

5th-place play-offs

Semi-final6 January 2018Kobelco Steelers19–10Ricoh Black Rams 
11:30Scoreboard[203]Attendance: 4,436


Semi-final6 January 2018Toshiba Brave Lupus29–22NEC Green Rockets 
14:00Scoreboard[204]Attendance: 5,890


7th-place play-off14 January 2018NEC Green Rockets20–44Ricoh Black Rams 
11:30Attendance: 4,174


5th-place play-off14 January 2018Toshiba Brave Lupus17–41Kobelco Steelers 
14:00

9th-place play-offs

Semi-final6 January 2018Kubota Spears30–31Canon Eagles 
11:30Scoreboard[205]Attendance: 1,107


Semi-final6 January 2018NTT Com Shining Arcs27–19Toyota Industries Shuttles 
14:00Scoreboard[206]Attendance: 1,757


11th-place play-off14 January 2018Toyota Industries Shuttles10–31Kubota Spears 
11:30Attendance: 2,102


9th-place play-off14 January 2018NTT Com Shining Arcs38–32Canon Eagles 
14:00

13th-place play-offs

Semi-final6 January 2018Kintetsu Liners8–29Munakata Sanix Blues 
12:00Scoreboard[207]Attendance: 1,510


Semi-final6 January 2018NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes14–19Coca-Cola Red Sparks 
14:30Scoreboard[208]Attendance: 2,448


15th-place play-off13 January 2018NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes21–13Kintetsu Liners 
11:30Attendance: 3,729


13th-place play-off13 January 2018Coca-Cola Red Sparks5–32Munakata Sanix Blues 
14:00Attendance: 4,440

Promotion and relegation

Honda Heat was promoted to the 2018–19 Top League as champions of the 2017 Top Challenge League, replacing the 16th-placed Kintetsu Liners.

In addition, there were three promotion/relegation play-offs for three places in the 2018–19 Top League. The teams ranked 13th, 14th and 15th in the Top League played off against the teams ranked 4th, 3rd and 2nd in the 2017 Top Challenge League respectively.

Hino Red Dolphins beat NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 20–17 to replace them in the Top League for 2018–19, with latter being relegated to the Top Challenge League. Coca-Cola Red Sparks and Munakata Sanix Blues retained their places in the Top League for 2018–19, with the former drawing against Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars and the latter beating Kyuden Voltex.


20 January 2018Coca-Cola Red Sparks27–27Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 
11:30Attendance: 1,889


20 January 2018Munakata Sanix Blues40–21Kyuden Voltex 
14:00Attendance: 3,074


20 January 2018NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes17–20Hino Red Dolphins 
13:00Attendance: 2,835

See also

References