Official Review: Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 – Round Four

The fairytale continues for English coach Graham Rowntree after Urayasu D-Rocks climbed to fifth in the standings following a 28-22 win over Yokohama Canon Eagles yesterday as Japan Rugby League One resumed after the New Year’s break.

With internationals, Wallaby midfielder Samu Kerevi and Springbok backrower Jasper Wiese prominent,

Rowntree’s men stormed to a 23-5 halftime advantage, which proved too much for the still winless Eagles to overhaul, despite a much improved second half performance.

As he was for much of last season, Kerevi was a colossus in the midfield, running in a try from 60 meters after pouncing on an errant pass, during a man-of-the-match performance.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Form book

Urayasu finished at the bottom of Division One last term but have tied the three wins they gathered across the whole of the last regular season in just their fourth match.

The form book makes for ugly reading for Yokohama fans though with the Eagles, who were back-to-back semi finalists in the second and third editions of the competition, now having lost their last eight games, four at the end of last term, and the first four this time under new coach Leon MacDonald.

This is the club’s worst losing sequence for a decade, since they dropped eight-in-a-row in the 2014-15 season.

Atsushi Kanazawa is enjoying a much kinder start to his tenure as Saitama Wild Knights boss, with his men exorcising some demons as they blew Shizuoka BlueRevs away in the second half of yesterday’s 37-22 win.

The BlueRevs are the only side to have beaten the Wild Knights twice in the regular season since League One  began, and Kwagga Smith’s men looked set to be troublesome again after they got the better of the first half to lead 15-8 at the break.

Their supremacy didn’t last, with the lead gobbled up by five tries in the final 30 minutes as the home side raced to a try-scoring bonus point in their fourth win of the season.

Unbeaten

Kubota Spears also remain unbeaten and lead the standings by one point on differentials courtesy of their 45-21 win over Mie Honda Heat in today’s match at Suzuka Gardens.

The game was effectively done and dusted by halftime, with internationals Wallaby Bernard Foley and All Black Shaun Stevenson both try-scorers as the Spears breezed to a 31-0 advantage.

This was extended to 45-0 after an hour before the visitors relaxed, allowing Heat to salvage some respect by scoring the final three tries of the afternoon.

It was little comfort, though, after a loss which extended Heat’s winless run in the regular season to 13 matches.

Dramatic finish

The most dramatic finish of the weekend saw Kobelco Kobe Steelers snatch a 22-20 victory against Tokyo Sungoliath, depriving the home side in the 80th minute when Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe was judged offside attempting an interception, which allowed Brave Blossoms international Seungsin Lee to kick the winning penalty goal.

Kobe’s seventh win in a row on their travels; the game was notable for the two yellow cards issued to Sungoliath’s Sam Cane, with the former All Black captain unable to return after the second of the sanctions.

Cane’s former test teammate, Brodie Retallick, rammed his way through four defenders to score for a third successive match, as Kobe retained third position on the standings.

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo are one point behind in fourth, with the defending champions led to their 47-22 win over Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars by a hat-trick from newly acquired winger Tjay Clarke.

Formerly of the (Wellington) Hurricanes, the 23-year-old experienced a memorable but mixed afternoon as he was also one of four players yellow-carded, three from the Brave Lupus side.

All Black flyhalf Richie Mo’unga, Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am and Toshiba’s Tongan-born prop Vea Taumoefolau were also temporarily ejected during the game. 

Perfect record

Yellow cards were also a feature of BlackRams Tokyo’s come-from-behind win over Toyota Verblitz, with the latter unable to score while their opponents had just 13 men for 10 second-half minutes as Steve Hansen’s men surrendered a 29-10 halftime lead in their 37-29 defeat.

Things had looked good in the first period for the former All Black coach, as New Zealand test winger Mark Telea scored twice to help his side to what appeared an insurmountable lead.

It wasn’t with the result leaving Verblitz, who finished 10th after a disappointing last campaign, occupying the same position again. 

Hanazono Kintetsu Liners continued their unbeaten start in Division Two, with All Black centre Peter Umaga Jensen a try-scorer twice during their 47-34 win over Hino Red Dolphins.

Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks also boast a perfect record after edging RedHurricanes Osaka, while Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi proved too strong for Green Rockets Tokatsu.

After topping last year’s try-scoring rankings in Division Three with 14, Chase Tiatia ran in a hat-trick as SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS outclassed Yakult Levins Toda.

SkyActivs top the section standings after a comfortable 34-point win in the Hiroshima Derby, while Le RIRO Fukuoka picked up their second win at Kurita Water Gush Akishima’s expense.

Japan Rugby League One Results – Round Four 

Division One

Saturday January 10

Urayasu D-Rocks 28, Yokohama Canon Eagles 22; at Tokyo (Chichibu)

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 47, Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 22; at Kanagawa

Saitama Wild Knights 37, Shizuoka BlueRevs 22; at Saitama

Kobelco Kobe Steelers 22, Tokyo Sungoliath 20; at Tokyo (Ajinomoto)

BlackRams Tokyo 37, Toyota Verblitz 29; at Fukuoka

Sunday January 11

Kubota Spears 45, Mie Honda Heat 21; at Mie

Division Two

Saturday January 10

Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 47, Hino Red Dolphins 34; at Osaka

Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks 26, RedHurricanes Osaka 21; at Tokyo (Yumenoshima)

Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi 40, Green Rockets Tokatsu 24; at Chiba

Division Three

Saturday January 10

SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS 70, Yakult Levins Toda 3; at Tochigi

SkyActivs Hiroshima 61, Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions 27; at Hiroshima

Sunday January 11

Le RIRO Fukuoka 20, Kurita Water Gush Akishima 18; at Fukuoka

READ MORE: Official Preview: Japan Rugby League One 2025-26 – Round Four