2025 has been one other bumper yr for watching rugby and but once more I managed to attend sufficient matches to warrant the continuation of this compilation publish collection.
None of them actually merited their very own publish so I’ve collated them into this rankings checklist. As with my soccer compilation posts, it’s definitely not one to be taken too severely because it’s based mostly on a combination of event, climate, folks I met, and possibly even the rugby itself! Not like the soccer compilations, the stadia gained’t play an excessive amount of of a component as all of them befell at simply 4 completely different stadiums!
10. Water Gush Akishima 64 – 26 LeRIRO Fukuoka @ AGF Discipline, Chofu (Tokyo), Sunday nineteenth January.
My first expertise of third tier rugby in Japan took place simply because I wished to see the staff with the slightly bizarre and distinctive title play! Because it was mid-January, I used to be additionally eager to get my sporting yr beneath manner with some dwell motion. There might have been quite a lot of factors scored but it surely actually did present the distinction in stage between some groups on this nation.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2000 yen, Attendance: Unknown
9. Fujitsu Frontiers 37-0 Ebina Minerva AFC @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday twenty ninth August.
Dangle on a minute, this was not even a rugby match! True. This opening match of Japan’s American Soccer X-League season was held at Tokyo’s iconic residence of rugby for the primary time ever, and for that it deserves inclusion on this compilation publish. Nothing to do with the truth that I wanted yet one more match to spherical it as much as ten!! Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Sizzling, Worth: 2200 yen, Attendance: Unknown
8. Japan Ladies 30-19 Spain Ladies @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Saturday twenty sixth July.
The attendances have been steadily rising for Sakura 15 matches in recent times, and this was the very best environment but due to a bunch of passionate followers congregated in a single a part of the stand. This was the second check on the again of the earlier week’s match in Kitakyushu, and the house facet appeared to be in management for a lot of the match which maybe wasn’t really mirrored within the last rating.
Climate: Heat, Worth: 2000 yen, Attendance: 5,244
7. Urayasu D-Rocks 19-61 Toshiba Courageous Lupus @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday twenty fifth April.
A slightly one-sided contest because the away staff blitzed it with strive after strive as they performed some nice phases of rugby. Sadly, there was by no means any indicators of jeopardy for Michael Leitch and his fellow gamers as that they had D-Rocks on the backfoot very early on.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2500 yen, Attendance: 11,408
6. Urayasu D-Rocks 34-21 Mitsubishi Dynaboars @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday ninth Could.
It might have been a really moist evening, however the first half definitely didn’t dampen the spirits on or off the sphere. The environment created by the Dynaboars devoted was improbable and the tries rained in all through an entertaining match.
Climate: Wet, Worth: 1500 yen, Attendance: 8,650
5. Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix 13-5 Pearls @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday 2nd February.
A very fulfilling and carefully fought last on a bitterly chilly and moist afternoon. Regardless of their dominance within the first half, Phoenix had been unable to place the sport out of sight.
Climate: Chilly & moist, Worth: 1000 yen, Attendance: 1,447
4. Toshiba Courageous Lupus 18-13 Kubota Spears @ Japan Nationwide Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), Sunday 1st June.
The Play-Off last might not have been as spectacular because the 2024 model, but it surely was nonetheless pretty spectacular. Courageous Lupus deservedly gained the League One title once more after dominating a lot of the sport however had been by no means fairly capable of end off their opponents and their resolute defence even after they had been a person down for ten minutes within the second half.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2000 yen, Attendance: 51,009
3. Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 44-40 Toyota Verblitz @ Sagamihara Gion Stadium, Minami-ku (Kanagawa Prefecture), Sunday ninth February.
Seeing English gamers James Grayson and Lewis Chesham (on mortgage from Leicester Tigers on the time) in motion was the principle purpose I ventured all the best way over to Sagamihara. On a really sunny afternoon the house staff did all of the work within the first half and nearly clung on within the last minutes as Verblitz almost got here again from the demise to grab it.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 3900 yen, Attendance: 5,287
2. Urayasu D-Rocks 22 – 33 Kubota Spears @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday 14th March.
The house facet shocked me by dominating the primary half and deservedly led 15-0 on the break. After they added a break-away strive very early within the second half and had a 22 level benefit it appeared like they had been going to proceed as they left off. Not so although as Spears scored a few tries quickly after and there was a way of inevitability after that as they fought again to win with room to spare. A free pink shirt was given out to all spectators too!
Climate: Calm/Delicate, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: 14,056
1. Toshiba Courageous Lupus 42 – 31 Saitama Wild Knights @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Saturday twenty second March.
While it didn’t fairly attain the heights of final yr’s title-deciding play-off match, it was one other nice contest between these two groups. Courageous Lupus had been but once more victorious on a really sunny March afternoon. The man subsequent to me kindly lent me his sun shades for the entire match because the solar was obtrusive into the eyes of us within the again stand.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 3500 yen, Attendance: 16,937
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