There are just three final games played in the JRLO in round 6 (Part 1) from 20-21 January 2024, before the break in the Japan Rugby League One season for the Cross-Border Challenge matches against visiting NZ Super Rugby sides on February 3 and February 10, 2024.
Division One JRLO 2023-2024 – Round 6 Fixtures Part 1
Saturday 20th January 2024
For Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, Saturday’s fixtures in JRLO Division 1 are final preparations before both teams set their sights on NZ Super Rugby Pacific sides as part of the Cross Border matches, with fixtures against the Blues and the Chiefs respectively.
For Saitama, former Melbourne Rebels lock Esei Haangana has been handed the captain’s armband for the first time in their matchup against Mie Honda Heat at home, while his second-row partner Springbok Lood de Jager is also selected.
The Heat are still chasing their first win this season, as Kieran Crowley’s promoted side struggles in the top Japanese flight. The loss of talisman ex-Argentine skipper Pablo Matera to injury and their inability to play the duration of the 80 minutes has seen them succumb to better sides.
With a Wild Knights side who have been averaging 54 points a game, they are a scary prospect for the former Italian coach’s side as this fixture sees his bottom-placed team face the current log leaders.
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars suffered at the hands of the Wild Knights in their last outing 81-21 and play third-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at home in the other Division 1 fixture.
The visitors have racked up 25 tries this season, fourth for overall tries in the competition, and can strike from across their squad.
Dynaboars Coach Glen Delany has made six changes to his starting XV for Saturday, with one being positional, as they try to avoid a fourth straight defeat.
- Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights v Mie Honda Heat; at Kumagaya
- Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars v Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath; at Sagamihara
Brief highlights of all JRLO matches will be available here.
Division Three JRLO 2023-2024 – Round 5 Fixtures
Saturday January 20 2024
There is just one game in Division Three, between Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks and Kurita Water Gush Akishima.
The Blue Sharks were upset in their last outing against Mazda SkyActivs Hiroshima and they are only two points above the visitors on the log, so a loss could drop the Blue Sharks to second-from-bottom in the Division.
Lima Sopoaga arrived at the team expecting more but his absence through injury hasn’t helped their campaign.
Hino Red Dolphins sit comfortably at the top of the league.
- Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks v Kurita Water Gush Akishima; at (Yumunoshima) Tokyo
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.
At the start of 2024, the Japan Rugby League One also announced to fans in Asia that they will be able to watch on Malaysian TV streaming provider, Astro, with matches on Astro SuperSport channel!
The full fixture list for this JRLO season can be seen here.
JRLO 2023-2024
- JRLO 2023-2024 Round 5 Preview.
- JRLO 2023-2024 Round 4 Preview.
- NTT JRLO Season 2023-2024 – Who Is Involved?
- Cross-Border Rugby 2024 – JRLO & Super Rugby NZ Teams Confirmed.
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