The ever-changing poses of Tokyo Fox!!
The primary half of 2026 has been a busy one for watching rugby and I’ve already managed to attend sufficient matches to warrant one other compilation submit sequence. There’s a few worldwide matches developing nevertheless it’s extremely probably that they’ll be lined in a separate submit or two. I additionally went to a Premiership match when again within the UK in early January however I’ve determined to not embody that within the high ten rating. It does seem as a bonus on the finish of this submit although!
These rankings definitely shouldn’t be taken too significantly as they’re based mostly on a combination of event, climate, individuals I met, and perhaps even the rugby itself! In contrast to the soccer compilations, the stadia gained’t play an excessive amount of of a component as all however one in every of them befell on the identical stadium!
10. Mie Honda Warmth 5-49 Tokyo Black Rams @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday seventeenth April (19:00 KO)
Enormous reductions and ticket giveaways (not for me sadly!) meant it was fairly presumably the busiest I’ve ever seen it at Tokyo’s iconic rugby stadium. I switched issues up a bit by taking a seat in the principle stand nevertheless it was a little bit of a good squeeze. It was a really one-sided match ensued with Black Rams enjoying some effective rugby within the first half to take the sport out of sight.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 4,000-yen, Attendance: 15,934
9. Kubota Spears 26-3 Toshiba Courageous Lupus @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday twenty fourth Might (14:30 KO)
The Japan Rugby League One championship isn’t gained by the staff that comes high and is as a substitute determined by play-off matches which means that the 2024 and 2025 champions Toshiba Courageous Lupus had an opportunity of profitable three in a row regardless of ending sixth! They have been outclassed right here although by the Third-placed staff in what was really a little bit of a lackluster contest. Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 3,000-yen, Attendance: 12,579
8. Urayasu D-Rocks 26-49 Shizuoka Blue Revs @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Friday twenty fourth April (19:00 KO)
It was a carnival-like ambiance with 500-yen beers on sale all evening plus free Hawaiian-style shirts, flags and snack packs. On the sphere although it was just about over as a contest by the interval because the guests racked up a 28-0 lead which was then prolonged to 35-0 at first of the second half. There was one thing of a fightback by D-Rocks after that however the sport was already finished and dusted.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 3,700-yen, Attendance: 11,173
7. Tokyo Black Rams 33-7 Mitsubishi Dynaboars @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday twenty ninth March (14:30 KO)
This was really my first time to ever see Black Rams play and so they have been the superior facet on this match which wasn’t significantly nice. As ever, the Dynaboars followers created an excellent ambiance however their staff simply by no means obtained going and it was a very poor efficiency from a facet that have been so spectacular the final time I noticed them.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 4,500-yen, Attendance: 8,263
6. Yokohama TKM 21-12 Artemi-Stars @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday 1st February (13:00 KO)
The twelfth Japan Nationwide Ladies’s Rugby Championship ultimate befell in significantly better situations than the earlier showpiece event. Artemi-Stars have been the superior staff within the first half, however TKM scored a strive on their first assault. TKM had the higher hand within the second and regardless of being behind briefly they got here again to attain a few tries to place the competition past doubt.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 2,100-yen, Attendance: 3,537
5. Tokyo Black Rams 28-40 Toyota Verblitz @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday twenty sixth April (14:30 KO)
A intently fought contest swung forwards and backwards for the primary 65-70 minutes with some very tight TMO choices needed on a lot of events. The away staff finally outmuscled the Black Rams with a few late tries to take most factors.
Climate: Sunny/Cloudy, Worth: 0-yen, Attendance: 10,007
4. Kobe Steelers 22-13 Kubota Spears @ MUFG Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), Sunday seventh June (15:05 KO)
The title decider on the Nationwide Stadium was a hotly contested affair and for some time within the first half it seemed just like the Tokyo Bay staff may sneak a shock win however they failed to guide on the break regardless of being the higher staff. Kobe Steelers confirmed the 50,00o spectators why they completed high of the desk and so they deservedly went to win the match and the championship.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2,000-yen, Attendance: 50,451
3. Toshiba Courageous Lupus 22-24 Mie Honda Warmth @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday twenty second March (14:30 KO)
This sport took fairly a very long time to get going however as soon as it did it was fairly good and the climax was very thrilling because the away staff snatched it with a penalty within the dying seconds having missed one only a minute earlier than that. It had seemed like Courageous Lupus would get the win with a late surge having been behind for a lot of the sport nevertheless it wasn’t to be. It was additionally good to be joined by a piece colleague who was attending his first rugby match in Japan!
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 4,000-yen, Attendance: 8,419
2. Tokyo Sungoliath 60-21 Toshiba Courageous Lupus @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Sunday fifteenth March (14:30 KO)
The Fuchu Derby was a vivid and vibrant affair performed out in actually sunny situations and I obtained sunburnt. Courageous Lupus have been a shadow of their former selves this season and have been completely outplayed by their rivals who ran riot with tries galore.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 0-yen, Attendance: 12,562
1. Urayasu D-Rocks 28-22 Yokohama Canon Eagles @ Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku (Tokyo), Saturday tenth January (12:00 KO)
Simply 36 hours after arriving again in Japan from the UK I completed work very early and was in a position to attend this match. It turned out to be an incredible sport with the house staff scoring a number of first half tries. It jogged my memory of a match D-Rocks have been concerned within the season earlier than which noticed them finally lose. I used to be just about resigned to historical past repeating itself once they solely had a six-point benefit with 20 minutes remaining. A transformed strive would win it for Yokohama however D-Rocks surprisingly held agency to take the win.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 3,800-yen, Attendance: 5,169
Bonus: Leicester Tigers 36-28 Saracens @ Mattioli Woods Welford Street Stadium, Leicester (UK), Sunday 4th January (15:00 KO)
Had I included this match from my UK within the record, it could undoubtedly have been primary. It was my first time to observe Leicester Tigers in 23 years and I beloved it. The primary half noticed some completely great tries earlier than issues slowed down within the second interval and Saracens clawed it again a bit throughout a interval of sunshine snow. I met a number of gamers after the ultimate whistle too which I actually didn’t expact at this degree. Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Chilly/Mild snow, Worth: 20 kilos, Attendance: 25,849
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