JRLO 2023-2204 Division 1 Final
Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights vs Toshiba Brave Lupus – National Stadium, Tokyo – Sunday at 3.05pm (JT).
Throughout the two sides that are competing for the championship in Tokyo on Sunday, there are exciting matchups that could determine the outcome of the game between Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights are still favourites despite a really tough semifinal win and are heading into the final on the back of 17 straight wins and chasing a record seventh national title since the semi-professional era in Japan began with Top League in 2003.
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo also had to overcome a stubborn Sungoliath side in the second half and they have won five titles and will equal the Wild Kights nations title if they upend the odds this weekend.
However, Robbie Deans’s side has been in incredible dominant form over recent seasons, while Toshiba coach Todd Blackadder’s club’s last title was in the 2009-10 season and they have lost the last nine times they have faced the Wild Knights.
Aside from the close friendship between the two New Zealand coaches, players are also looking for a fairy tale ending to the season, and in some cases their careers.
Wild Knights hooker Shota Horie (in the feature photo above), as we have written previously, hangs up is boots after the weekend as the 37-year-old career comes to an end after four Rugby World Cups and 76 tests as well as more than 150 appearances for his club in Japan. He also appeared 18 times for the Melbourne Rebels and 26 for the Sunwolves. He will be chasing a 7th title with the club in a remarkable career.
The top two sides in Japan have the two best defences and the best-attacking units (Wild Knights averaging 6.4 tries a game, and Brave Lupus 5), with Lachlan Boshier is the leading poacher, with 16 turnovers.
All Black flyhalf Richie Mo’unga finds himself in another country and another final, and will hope to steer Toshiba Brave Lupus to the title against the odds in front of a maximum capacity 68,000 seater National Stadium in the Japanese capital.
JRLO 2023-2024 Replacement Battle Round 2
The second leg of the Replacement Battle features eight teams aiming to secure theor places in Division Two and Division Three in the 2024-2025 JRLO.
- Urayasu D-Rocks 21-12 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners; at Tokyo
- Mie Honda Heat 57-39 Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi; at Aichi
- Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo 40-21 NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu; at Chiba
Division Two v Three
- Japan Steel Kamaishi Seawaves 37-19 Kurita Water Gush Akishima; at Iwate
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners of Division One host Division Two champions Urayasu D-Rocks in Osaka on Friday, while on Saturday, the third and fourth playoff in Division One will also be played.
Division Two v One
- Hanazono Kintetsu Liners (12) v Urayasu D-Rocks (21); at Osaka, 7pm
Saturday May 26
- Mie Honda Heat (57) v Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi (39); at Suzuka, 12pm
- Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo (40) v NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu (21); at Tokyo, 2.30pm
Division Two v Three
Saturday May 26
- Kurita Water Gush Akishima (19) v Japan Steel Kamaishi Seawaves (37); at Tokyo, 2.30pm
How To Watch JRLO
Matches from the JRLO can be seen in Africa on ESPN Africa, as well as in New Zealand via TVNZ, and in some regions on World Rugby’s global rugbypass.com website.
The Japan Rugby League One also has been accessible to fans in Asia on Malaysian TV streaming provider, Astro, with matches on Astro SuperSport channel while some fixtures have been streamed on RugbyPassTV in certain territories.
The 2024 JRLO League One Final will be streamed for free on World Rugby’s RugbyPass app and webpage for audiences *outside of Japan and New Zealand.
The full fixture list for this JRLO season can be seen here.
Japan Rugby League One 2023-2024
- JRLO 2024 Semifinals & Replacement Preview.
- Ardie Savea – Playing Rugby In The JRLO Has Been A Blessing.
- Rugby Life At JRLO Side Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay – Bernard Foley, Dane Coles & Liam Williams.
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