The fixtures and schedule for the Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026 season have been confirmed, with the season getting underway on 13 December for the 5th edition of Japan’s premier rugby union league.
In Division 1, the regular season comprises 108 matches and will run until May 10, 2026, before the six-team finals series in the top Division, which will be conducted over three weekends.
The eight-team Division Two and six-team Division Three remain unchanged, although there have been indications the JRLO could expand again for the 2026-2027 season. At the end of June 2025, the Japan Rugby League One said it was beginning to accept and review applications from teams wishing to join Japan Rugby League One from the 2026-27 season (scheduled to begin in December 2026).
Division 1 Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026
There are interleague games between the two conferences in JRLO Division 1, with six teams from each conference playing against each other.
In Division 1, Richie Mo’unga and Michael-Leitch’s two-time defending champions, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, will face the star-studded Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on the opening day.
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, coached by Todd Blackadder, are chasing a third straight title, while Robbie Deans’ team finished last season in fourth. This season, Deans has moved into an Advisor role with Atsushi Kanazawa stepping up into the Head Coach position, and retired Shota Horie is the Forwards coach.
The seven-time Super Rugby-winning Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo’unga will marshal the Brave Lupus challenge, and won the title in 2025 after steering his side to the win 18-13 over Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, playing with a broken hand.
The All Black fly-half is aiming for the threepeat with his team in his third season in Japan, but the new season, despite some concern that the JRLO would attract fewer international players, is due to see a number of new stars compete. One of his teammates, Warner Dearns, has joined Super Rugby Pacific outfit the Hurricanes for the 2026 season
These 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, and 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.
Kobe, who beat Saitama in the third-placed playoff, gets their season underway with a tough game against last season’s beaten finalists, Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, who will again call on the talented services of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx. Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay has appointed Ryo Yamamura as Assistant Coach.
Several Boks head back to Japan, including the Yokohama Canon Eagles pair of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and centre Jesse Kriel, who have a new Head Coach in the form of former All Black assistant and Blues Head Coach Leon MacDonald.
As a player in Japan, he had stints with Yamaha (now Shizuoka Blue Revs) and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.
Yokohama begin their campaign at home against Shizuoka Blue Revs, who still have a good blend of international and local talent, with Kwagga Smith a standout performer. The Blue Revs collectively won just 16 games through the competition’s first three seasons but had their best season yet on the last campaign, winning 14 matches, which saw them reach the JRLO Division 1 play-offs for the first time. They have been bolstered with the signing of Fijian Semi Radradra.
Viliami Tahitua will serve as player and coach for the Shizuoka Blue Revs this coming season.
Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath still have the services of Springbok Cheslin Kolbe but have resigned Brave Blossom international Tevita Tatafu, who signs on after two seasons with Union Bordeaux Begles.<
Toyota Verblitz has a terrible season and heads into 2025-26, having signed All Black Mark Telea among others, as Sir Steve Hansen, as Director of Rugby and Ian Foster as Head Coach, try to turn things around.
Another club that struggled was Urayasu D-Rocks, and they have confirmed the addition of Manaaki Selby-Rickett (Maori All Blacks and Chiefs) as well as Quintin Strange (New Zealand U20, All Blacks XV, and Crusaders). Johann Ackermann was an advisor at the club last season and is now the Lions coach in South Africa.
We will be bringing all the new season’s players and management signings soon!
Division 2 Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026
Division Two in the JRLO remains includes 8 teams and the season starts on December 13 2025. Regular season play will be followed by a two-legged promotion/relegation Replacement Battle.<
Some of the big news has been the appointment of both Will Genia and Quade Cooper rejoining Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Division Two as coaches under ex-captain Haruki Ota as the new head coach, but on the player front, Springbok Manie Libbok and Peter Umaga-Jensen are some of the major signings.
NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu announced Greg Cooper as their new head coach for next season, with former Wallaby Rory Arnold one of their international signings.
Former Wallabies star and ex-Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu is the new head coach at JRLO Division Two side Kamaishi Seawaves.
Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Vortex have signed Pepesana Patafilo from Moana Pasifika, and Jude Gibbs from the Reds in Australia, among others.
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, in addition to signing a partnership with French club USAP, have signed on Mahe
Vailanu (Waratahs), Sione Havili Talitui (Tonga & Moana Pasifika), Billy Burns (Ireland and Munster),
Division 3 Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026
Division Three again features six teams and also begins on December 13. There are a total of 45 matches in Division Three in the 2025-2026 season.
Details of each match’s venue, kick-off time, and broadcast schedule will be announced in due course, but there are details available on the JRLO website as PDFs and online.
Regular season play will be followed by a two-legged promotion/relegation Replacement Battle. Last season, none of the teams earned promotion or were relegated.
Japan Rugby News 2025-2026
AloJapan.com