The play-off finals series for Japan Rugby Top League 2009-10 involves the top four finishers. Under the tournament format, the team that finishes first on the final Top League points table plays the team that finishes fourth while second plays third. Consequently, in one semi-final of the 2010 Play-off Series, first placed Sanyo Wild Knights (59 points) play fourth placed Toyota Verblitz (48) while in the other semi, second placed Suntory Sungoliath (58) play third placed Toshiba Brave Lupus (52).

In 2010, the Microsoft company withdrew its naming rights sponsorship and so the finals will simply be known as the Top League Play-off Series. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Microsoft Cup acted as the finals play-off series to determine the overall Japan Rugby Top League champion. However, from 2004 to 2006 the Microsoft Cup was a separate knock-out tournament for the top 8 finishers in Top League.

Previous Play-off/Microsoft Cup Finals

2009: Toshiba 17 d Sanyo 6.

2008: Suntory 14 d Sanyo 10.

2007: Toshiba 14 d Suntory 13.

2006: Toshiba 33 d Suntory 18.

2005: Toshiba 20 d Yamaha 6.

2004: NEC 24 d Toshiba 19.

Semi-finals

Sanyo Wild Knights (Top League 1) 25 d Toyota Verblitz (Top League 4) 21

Date: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Kick-off: 14:00.

Sanyo at the Microsoft Cup

2009: Runners-up. Beat Suntory 32-22 in semi, then lost to Toshiba 17-6 in final. (Finished second in TL)

2008: Runners-up. Beat Toshiba 25-21 in semi, then lost to Suntory 14-10 in final. (Finished first in TL)

2007: DNQ. (Finished fifth in TL)

2006: lost to Kubota 40-24 in first round.

2005: lost to Toyota in first round 41-21.

2004: beat Kubota 39-31 in first round then lost 34-36 to Toshiba in semis.

Toyota at the Microsoft Cup

2009: DNQ. (Finished eighth in TL)

2008: defeated by Suntory 33-10 in semi-final. (Finished third in TL)

2007: defeated by Toshiba 38-33 in semi-final. (Finished fourth in TL)

2006: lost 12-17 to NEC in first round.

2005: beat Sanyo 41-21 in first round & knocked out in SF on a toss of a coin after drawing 33-all with Yamaha.

2004: DNP.

Recent Encounters

Sanyo 46 d Toyota 19 (TL 2009-10)

Sanyo 27 d Toyota 17 (TL 2008-9)

Sanyo 25 d Toyota 24 (National Championship semi-final 2008)

Sanyo 26 d Toyota 25 (TL 2007-8)

Toyota 23 d Sanyo 20 (TL 2006-7)

Sanyo 26 d Toyota 25 (TL 2005-6)

Toyota 41 d Sanyo 21 (first round Microsoft Cup 2005)

Toyota 35 d Sanyo 13 (TL 2004-5)

Toyota 44 d Sanyo 14 (National Championship 2004)

Preview

Sanyo have been runners-up in the last two Play-off finals and they will be hoping for third time lucky as they enter the finals series as the minor premiers in Top League for the 2009-10 season. On the other hand, Toyota have made the semi-finals on three previous occasions but are as yet to appear in a final. Toyota finished in fourth place in Top League this year to set up a semi-final showdown with first placed Sanyo. The Wild Knights completed the rounds undefeated on 59 points from 12 wins and a draw while Toyota were 11 competition points adrift on 48 points from 10 wins, a draw and two losses.

One of those losses for Toyota came in round 7 when they went down to Sanyo 46-19 at Ota city in Gunma prefecture. However, the Verblitz then went on to win their next six games in a row, so they come into this important semi-final encounter in good form. In recent years, Sanyo have had the wood over Toyota wining the last four meetings, although admittedly two of those clashes were one point results. Coming into this semi-final as the top seed combined with the fact Sanyo have won five of the past six games against Toyota should give the Knights the psychological edge required to play their way into a third final. However, Sanyo cannot afford to rest on their laurels as there are no second chances should they slip up against Toyota.

Wrap-up

Sanyo Wild Knights made it through to the final of the Play-off Tournament of the 2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League season with a hard-fought 25-21 win over Toyota Verblitz in Osaka. In a tense first half the respective five-eighths for both sides in Masakazu Irie for Sanyo and Orene Ai’i for Toyota traded shots at drop goal without effect while Ai’i managed three penalties to Sanyo fullback Atsushi Tanabe’s two penalties. It looked like Toyota would take this narrow 9-6 lead into the halftime break but Sanyo flanker Young-Nam Yu edge his side in front with the first try of match on the stroke of halftime. Tanabe landed the conversion to help Sanyo to a 13-9 lead at the completion of the first forty minutes.

Sanyo had the better of the second half exchanges with further tries to lock Justin Ives and wing Tomoki Kitagawa to extend the lead to 25-9 by the thirty minute mark. Toyota then finished strongly with late tries to wing Tatsuya Kusumi and Ai’i but it was not enough and Sanyo went on to claim victory with a 25-21 score line.

Toshiba (Top League 3) 35 d Suntory (Top League 2) 24

Date: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 14:00.

Suntory at the Microsoft Cup

2009: lost 32-22 to Sanyo in semi-final. (Finished third in TL)

2008: Champions. Beat Toyota 33-10 in semi then beat Sanyo 14-10 in Final. (Finished second in TL)

2007: Runners-up. Beat Yamaha 40-39 in semi then lost to Toshiba 14-13 in Final. (Finished second in TL)

2006: Runners-up. Beat Yamaha 35-17 in first round & Kubota 44-25 in the semis before losing to Toshiba 33-18 in final.

2005: knocked out by eventual champion Toshiba 33-13 in first round.

2004: knocked out by eventual champion NEC 32-5 in first round.

Toshiba at the Microsoft Cup

2009: Champions. Defeated Sanyo 17-6 in final and Kobe 26-7 in semi-final. (Finished first in TL)

2008: lost 25-21 to Sanyo in semi-final. (Finished fourth in TL)

2007: Champions. Defeated Suntory 14-13 in final and Toyota 38-33 in semi-final. (Finished first in TL)

2006: Champions. Defeated Suntory 33-18 in final, NEC 23-10 in semi-final and Kobe 38-7 in first round.

2005: Champions. Defeated Yamaha 20-6 in final, Kobe 41-0 in semi-final and Suntory 33-13 in first round.

2004: Runners-up. Lost to NEC 24-19 in final, beat Sanyo 36-34 in semi-final and Yamaha 39-10 in first round.

Recent Encounters

Suntory 59 d Toshiba 22 (TL 2009-10)

Toshiba 61 d Suntory 5 (TL 2008-9)

Suntory 25 d Toshiba 14 (semi-final National Championship 2008)

Suntory 10 d Toshiba 3 (TL 2007-8)

Toshiba 14 d Suntory 13 (final Microsoft Cup 2007)

Toshiba 12 d Suntory 10 (TL 2006-7)

Toshiba 33 d Suntory 18 (final Microsoft Cup 2006)

Toshiba 37 d Suntory 6 (TL 2005-6)

Toshiba 33 d Suntory 13 (first round Microsoft Cup 2005)

Toshiba 38 d Suntory 12 (TL 2004-5)

Toshiba 50 d Suntory 10 (TL 2003-4)

Preview

Over the six year history of the Microsoft Cup, Toshiba have won the title four times and been runner-up once with two of their titles coming with wins over Suntory in finals. Toshiba are the reigning Top League champions after defeating Sanyo 17-6 in the Microsoft Cup final twelve months ago, so they well and truly know what it takes to win the big games.

After being bridesmaid to Toshiba on two occasions, Suntory finally tasted victory with a 14-10 win over Sanyo in the 2008 Microsoft Cup final, so the Sungoliath too have plenty of big game experience.

In the early years of the Top League era Toshiba clearly dominated their western Tokyo neighbours with seven wins in a row in major competitions. However, the tide has turned somewhat over the past few seasons with Suntory claiming three wins out of the last four encounters between these two sides including an impressive 59-22 win at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo in round 12 in late December. That was sweet revenge for the Sungoliath as they went down 61-5 to the Brave Lupus in the corresponding game the previous season.

However, the slate will be wiped clean for this bout with the big loss Toshiba suffered just four weeks ago committed to the history books. This should be a titanic struggle between two of the giants of Japanese rugby as they punch it out toe-to-toe for a place in the final.

Wrap-up

Toshiba Brave Lupus stung Suntory Sungoliath with a 35-24 win in the Top League Play-off Tournament semi-final played in Tokyo to move into the final where they will meet Sanyo Wild Knights.

In a fast and furious start to the game, the first points did not come till the nineteenth minute when Toshiba fullback Goshi Tachikawa touched down to finish off a smooth backline movement. Suntory then closed out the half with three quick tries over the final ten minutes to enjoy a substantial 21-7 lead at the break with five-eighth Tusi Pisiata and wing Yasunori Nagatomo among the scorers for Sungoliath.

However, Toshiba came out for the second half in a fighting mood and gradually whittled down the difference with tries to lock Yuta Mochizuki and five-eighth David Hill to lock it all up at 21-all. In the fifteenth minute, a lucky bounce of the ball gave Tachikawa his second try and the Hill conversion put the Brave Lupus back in front 28-21. Although Suntory responded with a Pisiata penalty the result was put beyond doubt when bullocking flanker Steven Bates scored the fifth Toshiba try on the thirty minute mark. The score remained unchanged till the end with Toshiba recording a 35-24 win.

Final

Sanyo Wild Knights (Top League 1) v Toshiba (Top League 3)

Date: Sunday, 31 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 14:00.

2009-10 Japan Rugby Top League Table (final)

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	BP1	BP2	Pts
1	Sanyo	13	12	1	0	534	175	359	9	-	59
2	Suntory	13	11	2	0	571	196	375	10	-	58
3	Toshiba	13	10	0	3	436	276	160	10	2	52
4	Toyota	13	10	1	2	394	219	175	6	-	48
5	Kobe	13	7	1	4	344	304	40	6	2	38
6	Kubota	13	6	0	7	313	339	-26	4	3	31
7	Sanix	13	6	0	7	311	371	-60	5	2	31
8	Coca-Cola	13	7	0	6	299	448	-149	3	-	31
9	Yamaha	13	5	2	6	311	327	-16	3	2	30
10	NEC	13	4	0	9	224	280	-56	4	5	25
11	Kintetsu	13	4	1	8	218	348	-130	3	2	23
12	Ricoh	13	4	0	9	262	422	-160	1	2	19
13	Honda	13	1	0	12	255	464	-209	2	4	10
14	Kyuden	13	0	0	13	199	502	-303	2	2	4

Four points for win, two for draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).

The top four finishers qualify for the Microsoft Cup 2010, the finals series for the 2009-10 Top League season.

The top four finishers automatically qualify for the 47^th National Championship 2010 with the teams that finish 5^th to 10^th playing off to determine the final 2 Top League teams.

The bottom two finishers are automatically relegated to regional leagues for the 2010-11 season.

The teams that finish 11^th and 12^th go through the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers to retain their places in Top League for 2010-11.

Top League Promotion & Relegation: Top Challenge Series 2009-10

NTT Communications and Toyota Jido Shokki win Promotion to Top League for 2010-11.

Top Challenge One (TC1)

At the completion of the thirteen rounds of Top League, the two bottom teams, that is, the teams that finish thirteenth and fourteenth, are automatically relegated. These two relegated sides are then replaced by the two teams that finish first and second in the Top Challenge series. The teams that top the three regional leagues below Top League, that is Top East, Top West and Top Kyushu, play each other once with the top two sides gaining automatic promotion to Top League for the 2010-11 season. The team that finishes third in TC1 has a second bite of the cherry in a one-off Promotion and Relegation play-off with the team that finished twelfth in Top League in 2009-10, that is, Ricoh Black Rams. This year, NTT Communications (Top East), Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West) and Mazda Zoomers (Top Kyushu) will contest TC1 with the top two finishers gaining automatic promotion to Top League to replace relegated Honda Heat and Kyuden Voltex. NTT Communications are aiming for promotion to Top League for the first time, as are Toyota Jido Shokki and Mazda.

NTT Communications (Top East 1) 43 d Mazda (Top Kyushu 1) 0

Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010.

Venue: Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium.

Kick-off: 14:00.

NTT Communications only held a 7-0 lead at the break, but powered home in the second half on the back of two early tries from former All Black backrower Bradley Mika. Former Wallabies and Brumbies fullback Mark Gerrard also contributed a try and three conversions as NTT went on to a comfortable 43-0 win.

Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West 1) 55 d Mazda (Top Kyushu 1) 0

Date: Saturday, 23 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Kick-off: 14:00.

Toyota Jido Shokki defeated Mazda 55-0 to hand Mazda their second loss of the series. As a result, Toyota Jido Shokki guaranteed promotion to Top League for next season not only for themselves but also for NTT Communications. With two losses from their two games Mazda can finish no better than third, thus ensuring Toyota Jido Shokki and NTT Communications gain the automatic promotion for the top two finishers in the Top Challenge series. Toyota Jido Shokki were always in control and after taking a 17-0 lead into halftime went on to score a further unanswered five tries to run out comfortable 55-0 winners.

NTT Communications (Top East 1) v Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West 1)

Date: Saturday, 30 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 14:00.

Top Challenge Two (TC2)

The three sides that finish in second position in their respective regional leagues take part in TC2. These three sides play each other once with the top side winning the right to take on Kintetsu Liners, the team that finished 11^th in Top League in 2009-10, for a place in Top League for next season. The other two sides are then finished for the season. This year, Yokogawa Atlastars (Top East), NTT Docomo (Top West) and Chugoku Electric (Top Kyushu) will contest TC2. Yokogawa Atlastars defeated Mitsubishi Dyna Boars 35-30 on Monday, 11 January 2010 at Chichibu in Tokyo in the play-off for second place in Kanto.

Yokogawa Atlastars (Top East 2) 81 d Chugoku Electric (Top Kyushu 2) 17

Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010.

Venue: Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium.

Kick-off: 12:00.

Yokogawa are still in the fight to regain their place in Top League with a thirteen tries to two, 81-17 win over Chugoku Denki. Former Wallabies wing Scott Staniforth ran in three tries to help keep his side in the hunt for a play-off spot against Kintetsu Liners. Yokogawa played one year in Top League in the 2008-9 season.

NTT Docomo (Top West 2) 137 d Chugoku Electric (Top Kyushu 2) 0

Date: Saturday, 23 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Kick-off: 12:00.

NTT Docomo set up a winner-take-all showdown with Yokogawa Atlastars in Tokyo next Saturday with an emphatic 137-0 win over Chugoku Electric. NTT ran in a total of 21 tries and well and truly had the match wrapped up by halftime with a 59-0 lead after the first 40 minutes of play. An additional 12 tries were scored in the second half with the Red Hurricanes now looking to beat Yokogawa next week for the right to take on Kintetsu Liners (11^th in Top League) in the final round of promotion and relegation play-offs for the 2010-11 season.

Yokogawa Atlastars (Top East 2) v NTT Docomo (Top West 2)

Date: Saturday, 30 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 12:00.

Final Promotion & Relegation Play-offs

Date: Saturday, 13 February 2010.

Venue: TBA.

Kintetsu Liners (Top League 11) v winner of Top Challenge 2.

Ricoh Black Rams (Top League 12) v the team that finishes third in Top Challenge 1.

The 47^th National Championship 2010:

Prior to 2009, the National Championship (NC) had an 8-team format for three years, but for 2009 the number of teams was increased to ten with the inclusion of two extra Top League sides. The NC involves 6 Top League sides, the two top university teams, the winner of Top Challenge and the Top Club team. The first round of the NC kicks off on Sunday, 7 February 2010.

For 2010 the Wildcard Tournament was introduced for the Top League sides that finished fifth to tenth on the final table. These six sides play off over two weekends to determine the final two Top League participants after the top four Top League finishers gained automatic qualification.

The two universities that participated in the 46^th National University Championship final gained admission to the NC. Teikyo University defeated Tokai University 14-13 in the final and consequently Teikyo as University 1 play the top club side in the first round while Tokai as University 2 play the team that finishes first in the Top Challenge series as the Top Challenger.

This year, NTT Communications (Top East), Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West) and Mazda Zoomers (Top Kyushu) contested Top Challenge One series with the winner gaining automatic entry to the NC as the Top Challenger.

Komaba WMM and Rokko Club played in the final of the 17^th National Club Championship to determine the Top Club participant in the NC.

Top League Qualification to the NC for Teams Fifth to Tenth: Wildcard Tournament.

Coca-Cola (Top League 8) 31 d Yamaha (Top League 9) 17

Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Kick-off: 12:00.

Coca-Cola beat Yamaha 31-17 to progress to a showdown with Kobe Steelers next Saturday. Coca-Cola led from the start and held a 11-3 lead at halftime before upping the ante in the second half with further 20 points. Five-eighth Shaun Webb was again a potent force for Coca-Cola in this match with a try, two conversions, three penalties and a drop goal. Yamaha managed two converted tries in the second half but it was never going to be enough to overcome a free-flowing Coca-Cola.

NEC (Top League 10) 33 d Sanix (Top League 7) 5

Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010.

Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.

Kick-off: 14:00.

After winning their final three games, NEC scraped into the Wildcard tournament in last place, however, the Green Rockets were impressive in beating Sanix 33-5. NEC lead 14-5 at halftime and then kept Sanix scoreless in the second half while adding a further 19 points to their score. Five-eighth Takeshi Matsuo kept the scoreboard ticking over with a try and four conversions. NEC will now meet Kubota in Tokyo next Saturday for a place in the National Championship.

NEC Green Rockets (Top League 10) 22 d Kubota Spears (Top League 6) 21.

Date: Saturday, 23 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 12:00.

NEC have found form at the right end of the season and are set to seriously challenge Kubota after beating Sanix 33-5 in Osaka last Saturday. Kubota defeated NEC 29-11 on this very ground back in round one of Top League in early September, but Kubota will be in for a tougher match this time around as they battle for a place in the National Championship.

NEC continued their remarkable season form reversal with a last gasp 22-21 win over Kubota. NEC only managed one win over the first ten rounds of Top League and were seriously under threat of relegation before three wins over the final three rounds avoided such a fate and allowed them to scrape into the last place in the Wildcard series. After beating Sanix 33-5 last weekend this win over Kubota means the Green Rockets have picked up one of the two Wildcard entries into the National Championship in February. NEC were behind 21-12 leading into the final ten minutes before a converted try narrowed the gap to just two points. The decisive act was left to five-eight Takeshi Matsuo who kicked a 40^th minute penalty goal to cruelly deny the Spears.

Kobe Steelers (Top League 5) 40 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks (Top League 8) 28.

Date: Saturday, 23 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 14:00.

After resting up last weekend Kobe are back in action against Coca-Cola this Saturday. Both sides have to travel all the way to Tokyo for this important clash after Coca-Cola overcame Yamaha 31-17 at Hanazono in the opening round last Saturday. In the regular season, Kobe had a commanding 70-10 win over Coca-Cola at the Homes Stadium in Kobe in round 12 just after Christmas and it will be important for the Red Sparks to put this well and truly behind them if they are to earn a win and take their place in the National Championship next month.

Kobe saw off a spirited Coca-Cola fight back to claim a 40-28 win and move into the National Championship next month. Kobe shot out of the blocks and lead 26-0 after only thirteen minutes of play and it looked like a repeat performance of the 70-10 win the Steelers enjoyed over Coca-Cola in the regular season was on the cards. However, the Red Sparks regrouped and reduced the margin to 33-28 by the 70^th minute. The result was ultimately put beyond doubt when Kobe flanker Josh Blackie crossed for his second try in the 39^th minute.

First Round

Sunday, 7 February 2010.

Suntory Sungoliath (Top League 2) v NEC Green Rockets (Top League Wildcard), Hanazono, 14:00.

Teikyo University (University 1) v Rokko Fighting Bull (Top Club), Chichibu, 14:00.

Tokai University (University 2) v NTT Communications or Toyota Jido Shokki (Top Challenger), Chichibu, 12:00.

Toyota Verblitz (Top League 4) v Kobe Steelers (Top League Wildcard), Hanazono, 12:00.

Second Round

Sunday, 14 February 2010.

Winner of Suntory (Top League 2) v NEC (Wildcard) and Teikyo (University 1) v Rokko (Top Club), Chichibu, 14:00.

Winner of Tokai (University 2) v NTT or Toyota JS (Top Challenger) and Toyota (Top League xx) v Kobe (Wildcard), Chichibu, 12:00.

Semi-finals

Saturday, 20 February 2010.

Final

Sunday, 28 February 2010.

Chichibu.

The Grubber Kick

The Grubber Kick brings the reader weekly news shorts, gossip and general happenings from the world of Rugby in Japan.

IRB ranking on 25 January 2010 - Japan were 13 (70.59).

Backchat:

What exactly IS Number One??

With so much rugby going on at the moment it is forgivable if one feels a bit dazed and confused. Top League semi-finals, Top League Wildcard play-offs for the National Championship, Top Challenge series, Top League promotion and relegation play-offs and the lead up to the National Championship are all works in process. Then, university and high school finals were played just a few short weeks ago.

Amidst all the helter skelter activity at this time of the year, the perennially unanswered question of “What exactly IS the Number One rugby competition in Japan??” undoubtedly raises its head again. Well, it all boils down to the debate about what is the premier title in the land?

For many rugby fans in Japan it is winning the university title. For OBs from those bastions of Japanese rugby like Waseda, Keio, Meiji and Doshisha, rugby is all about the old school tie and nothing else. Yes, university rugby is steeped in tradition and nostalgia and without the rugby base in these academic intuitions there would be no rugby in Japan. True, but let’s move on as there is more.

Although many locals will passionately disagree, RiJ believes that fighting it out between the university boys who range in age from about 18 to 23 years of age cannot be taken seriously as THE major rugby title in Japan. So what are we left with?

Let’s start with the Top League title. Does this title take pride of place? Top League was formed in the 2003-4 season in an effort to unify the senior level company leagues in Japan into one competition. That done, the team on top after 11 games in the 12 team competition took the Top League title over the first three years. Confusing matters during these three seasons was the fact that there was also the knock-out style Microsoft Cup title for the top 8 finishers in Top League, not to mention the National Championship so there were three or four options for pride of place.

From the 2006-7 season, Top League was expanded to 14 teams and the Microsoft Cup was merged into Top League as the finals series for the top four finishers. Still got a bit confusing though, as did a team win the Top League title or the Microsoft Cup title or both and how did they sit with each other in the trophy cabinet? Why Microsoft never sponsored the whole season programme is anyone’s guess, but Top League and the finals together could have been known collectively as something like the ‘Microsoft Premiership’. That dilemma has been resolved for the 2009-10 season with Microsoft withdrawing its sponsorship and apparently due to a lack of a sponsor to take over the naming rights the finals are simply known as the Top League Play-offs.

And that brings us to the National Championship. Surely this is the pot of gold at the end of the Japanese rugby rainbow. 2010 is the forty-seventh running of the National Championship, which, pre-Top League pitted the university champion against the company champion to produce the national champion. Back in the good old days of amateur rugby that was all well and good and the students actually chalked up a few titles in the early days. However, it has been a whole generation since a university last won the National Championship with dimming memories having to stretch back as far as 1988 when Waseda beat Toshiba 22-16. By and large, the National Championship has desperately struggled for relevance in the Top League era and the age of professional rugby, but the JRFU continue to persists against all odds. The patient has shown no signs of life for years now but still no one is brave enough to suggest turning off the artificial life support system.

Since the inception of Top League, the National Championship is a flawed attempt to draw all quarters of Japanese rugby into one grand tournament to bring the curtain down on the domestic season. It is a nice concept but the depth is not out there to make this a competitive first class tournament as it a matter of the strongest Top League teams scooping the pool with everyone else just there to make up the numbers. In 2010, six Top League sides will contest the Championship with the top two universities, the top side from the extremely weak club competition and the top side from the very weak regional leagues. The universities, clubs and regions are on a different planet compared to the major Top League sides and why they are all thrown into the one competition defies explanation. Moreover though, although the two sides that fight out the Top League final could very well turn around in a few weeks and do it all again in the National Championship final, surely the latter has the strongest claim on being the title of titles to have in Japan?

So there you go, at the end of the day, take your pick. It just depends on which boat you are in. Are you in university boat? Are you in the Top League boat, or are you in the National Championship boat?

But then, does it really matter? RiJ likes to think it does and putting the University Championship aside for the moment believes Top league and the National Championship produce the same results. The National Championship has served its purpose but is now redundant meaning that it needs to be pensioned off and replaced with something bigger and better. RiJ believes the University Championship, the Top League title and a revamped National title can all co-exist but that someone needs to stand up and make some hard decisions for the betterment of rugby in Japan.

The Draw

The Draw gives the reader future dates for the diary and other great things to look forward to in Rugby in Japan.

17^th National Club Championship: the winner of the Club Championship will enter the National Championship as the Top Club team.

Final

Rokko Fighting Bull 38 d Komaba WMM 15.

Date: Sunday, 24 January 2010.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 12:00.

This game was played prior to the Top League Play-off semi-final between Suntory and Toshiba. The Rokko Club joined forces with the restructured World Fighting Bull during the previous off-season to form Rokko Fighting Bull and the result has seen Rokko make it through to the National Championship in February after they defeated Komaba WMM in the final of the 17^th National Club Championship