2018 Top Challenge League

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2018 Top Challenge League
CountriesJapan
Date8 September – 9 December 2018
ChampionsNTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (3rd title)
Runners-upMitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars
Matches played40
Tries scored332
(average 8.3 per match)
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 Top Challenge League was the second season of Japan's second-tier domestic rugby union competition, the Top Challenge League.[1]

It was played from 8 September to 9 December 2018, with eight participating teams. NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes won the competition for the third time – having previously won in 2010–11 and 2016–17 and qualified for the promotion play-offs, along with Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars, Kintetsu Liners and Kurita Water Gush. Kamaishi Seawaves and Chugoku Red Regulions finished seventh and eighth respectively to qualify for the relegation play-offs.

Competition rules[edit]

In January 2017, the JRFU announced the format of the Top Challenge League competition. The competition was played in two stages. The First Stage was a round-robin format, where all eight teams played each other once.

The top four teams in the First Stage progressed to Group A of the Second Stage, while the bottom four teams progressed to Group B. Each of these groups was another round-robin, with all four teams playing each other once.

The four teams that competed in Group A progressed to promotion play-offs against the bottom four teams in the 2018–19 Top League.

The two team that finished bottom and second-bottom of Group B progressed to the relegation play-offs, along with the winners and the runners-up of the Regional Challenge, held between the champions of the Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League.

Teams[edit]

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Location of teams in the 2018 Top Challenge League

The following teams took part in the 2018 Top Challenge League competition:

2018 Top Challenge League teams
Team name Based 2017–18 placing
Chugoku Red Regulions Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture Top Challenge League, 6th
Kamaishi Seawaves Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture Top Challenge League, 7th
Kintetsu Liners Higashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai Top League, Relegated
Kurita Water Gush Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture Regional Leagues, Champions
Kyuden Voltex Fukuoka, Kyūshū Top Challenge League, 4th
Mazda Blue Zoomers Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture Top Challenge League, 5th
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture Top Challenge League, 3rd
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka, Kansai Top League, Relegated

First stage[edit]

Standings[edit]

The current standings for the 2018 Top Challenge League First Stage are:

2018 Top Challenge League First Stage standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Kintetsu Liners 7 7 0 0 301 86 +215 47 13 6 0 34
2 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 7 6 0 1 345 136 +209 54 21 5 1 30
3 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 7 5 0 2 250 157 +93 38 23 4 0 24
4 Kurita Water Gush 7 4 0 3 155 180 −25 24 29 2 0 18
5 Kamaishi Seawaves 7 2 0 5 176 226 −50 24 34 2 1 11
6 Mazda Blue Zoomers 7 2 0 5 173 275 −102 26 41 1 1 10
7 Chugoku Red Regulions 7 1 0 6 159 310 −151 23 46 1 0 5
8 Kyuden Voltex 7 1 0 6 90 279 −189 14 43 0 0 4
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top four teams qualified for the Second Stage Group A.
The bottom four teams qualified for the Second Stage Group B.

Matches[edit]

The 2018 Top Challenge League First Stage fixtures are:[2]

Round one[edit]

8 September 2018 Kintetsu Liners 61–14 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
14:00 Scoreboard[3] Attendance: 750


8 September 2018 Chugoku Red Regulions 13–22 Kyuden Voltex  
16:00 Scoreboard[4] Attendance: 800


9 September 2018 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 42–17 Kamaishi Seawaves  
12:30 Scoreboard[5] Attendance: 2,783


9 September 2018 Kurita Water Gush 17–53 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
15:00 Scoreboard[6] Attendance: 5,880

Round two[edit]

16 September 2018 Chugoku Red Regulions 15–40 Kurita Water Gush  
12:30 Scoreboard[7] Attendance: 670


16 September 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 28–29 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
14:00 Scoreboard[8] Attendance: 775


16 September 2018 Kyuden Voltex 17–38 Kintetsu Liners  
15:00 Scoreboard[9] Attendance: 1,363


16 September 2018 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 31–12 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
17:00 Scoreboard[10] Attendance: 2,342

Round three[edit]

29 September 2018 Kintetsu Liners 38–7 Kurita Water Gush  
13:00 Scoreboard[11] Attendance: 740


29 September 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 19–52 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
13:00 Scoreboard[12] Attendance: 1,030


29 September 2018 Kyuden Voltex 10–30 Kamaishi Seawaves  
12:00 Scoreboard[13] Attendance: 300


30 September 2018 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 68–17 Chugoku Red Regulions  
12:00 Scoreboard[14] Attendance: 700

Round four[edit]

6 October 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 23–24 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
13:00 Scoreboard[15] Attendance: 320


6 October 2018 Kyuden Voltex 5–17 Kurita Water Gush  
12:00 Scoreboard[16] Attendance: 150


7 October 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 27–52 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
14:00 Scoreboard[17] Attendance: 1,509


7 October 2018 Kintetsu Liners 55–0 Chugoku Red Regulions  
13:00 Scoreboard[18] Attendance: 1,138

Round five[edit]

20 October 2018 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 79–0 Kyuden Voltex  
11:30 Scoreboard[19] Attendance: 1,642


20 October 2018 Chugoku Red Regulions 24–52 Kamaishi Seawaves  
11:30 Scoreboard[20] Attendance: 3,000


21 October 2018 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 14–52 Kintetsu Liners  
14:00 Scoreboard[21] Attendance: 6,886


21 October 2018 Kurita Water Gush 34–19 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
13:00 Scoreboard[22] Attendance: 1,500

Round six[edit]

26 October 2018 Kurita Water Gush 0–38 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
19:15 Scoreboard[23] Attendance: 7,717


27 October 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 10–29 Kintetsu Liners  
14:00 Scoreboard[24] Attendance: 1,278


27 October 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 50–19 Kyuden Voltex  
14:00 Scoreboard[25] Attendance: 800


28 October 2018 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 54–33 Chugoku Red Regulions  
14:00 Scoreboard[26] Attendance: 500

Round seven[edit]

3 November 2018 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 52–17 Kyuden Voltex  
13:15 Scoreboard[27] Attendance: 1,600


4 November 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 19–57 Chugoku Red Regulions  
13:00 Scoreboard[28] Attendance: 1,200


4 November 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 12–40 Kurita Water Gush  
14:00 Scoreboard[29] Attendance: 2,312


4 November 2018 Kintetsu Liners 28–24 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
14:00 Scoreboard[30] Attendance: 8,047

Second Stage Group A[edit]

Standings[edit]

The standings for the 2018 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A are:

2018 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA S1B TB LB Pts
1 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 3 3 0 0 115 23 +92 17 2 2 2 0 16
2 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 3 2 0 1 64 71 −7 9 11 1 1 0 10
3 Kintetsu Liners 3 1 0 2 82 50 +32 12 6 3 1 0 8
4 Kurita Water Gush 3 0 0 3 14 131 −117 2 21 0 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

Matches[edit]

Round one[edit]

25 November 2018 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 45–10 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
11:30 Scoreboard[31] Attendance: 700


25 November 2018 Kintetsu Liners 57–0 Kurita Water Gush  
14:00 Scoreboard[32] Attendance: 500

Round two[edit]

1 December 2018 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 50–7 Kurita Water Gush  
11:30 Scoreboard[33] Attendance: 1,646


1 December 2018 Kintetsu Liners 19–30 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
14:00 Scoreboard[34] Attendance: 2,622

Round three[edit]

9 December 2018 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 24–7 Kurita Water Gush  
11:30 Scoreboard


9 December 2018 Kintetsu Liners 6–20 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
14:00 Scoreboard

Second Stage Group B[edit]

Standings[edit]

The standings for the 2018 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B are:

2018 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA S1B TB LB Pts
5 Kyuden Voltex 3 2 0 1 89 49 +40 14 6 0 2 1 11
6 Mazda Blue Zoomers 3 2 0 1 80 91 −11 10 14 2 0 0 10
7 Kamaishi Seawaves 3 1 0 2 87 89 −2 12 12 3 1 1 9
8 Chugoku Red Regulions 3 1 0 2 47 74 −27 6 10 1 0 1 6
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

Matches[edit]

Round one[edit]

18 November 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 24–22 Chugoku Red Regulions  
11:30 Scoreboard[35]


18 November 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 18–39 Kyuden Voltex  
14:00 Scoreboard[36]

Round two[edit]

1 December 2018 Mazda Blue Zoomers 31–24 Kyuden Voltex  
11:30 Scoreboard[37] Attendance: 500


1 December 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 24–25 Chugoku Red Regulions  
14:00 Scoreboard[38] Attendance: 600

Round three[edit]

9 December 2018 Chugoku Red Regulions 0–26 Kyuden Voltex  
13:00 Scoreboard[39] Attendance: 1,050


9 December 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 45–25 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
15:00 Scoreboard[40] Attendance: 1,050

Promotion play-offs[edit]

The matches played were:


23 December 2018 Munakata Sanix Blues 75–0 Kurita Water Gush  
13:00 Scoreboard[41] Attendance: 1,110


23 December 2018 Hino Red Dolphins 21–11 Kintetsu Liners  
13:00 Scoreboard[42] Attendance: 1,780


23 December 2018 Toyota Industries Shuttles 7–31 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
13:00 Scoreboard[43] Attendance: 3,288


23 December 2018 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 24–33 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes  
13:00 Scoreboard[44] Attendance: 3,746

Relegation play-offs[edit]

  • Top Challenge League side Kamaishi Seawaves won their match to remain in the Top Challenge League for 2019.
  • Top Challenge League side Chugoku Red Regulions lost their match and was relegated to the Top Kyūshū League for 2019.
  • Top League East side Shimizu Blue Sharks won their match to win promotion to the Top Challenge League for 2019.
  • Top League West side Chubu Electric Power lost their match to remain in the Top League West for 2019.

The matches played were:


5 January 2019 Kamaishi Seawaves 41–7 Chubu Electric Power  
13:00 Scoreboard


5 January 2019 Chugoku Red Regulions 28–33 Shimizu Blue Sharks  
13:00 Scoreboard

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Japan to add second-tier rugby league in 2017". Japan Times. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  2. ^ "2018ジャパンラグビー トップチャレンジリーグ日程" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Kanto Rugby Football Association. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. ^ "ジャパンラグビートップチャレンジリーグ2018　1stステージ 第1週". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). 8 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  4. ^ "ジャパンラグビートップチャレンジリーグ2018　1stステージ 第1週". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). 8 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
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  41. ^ "宗像サニックス 対 栗田工業". Top League (in Japanese). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  42. ^ "日野 対 近鉄". Top League (in Japanese). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  43. ^ "豊田自動織機 対 三菱重工". Top League (in Japanese). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  44. ^ "コカ･コーラ 対 NTTドコモ". Top League (in Japanese). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
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