JRLO 2023-2024 Round 9 Preview

The JRLO 2023-2024 Round 9 for Divisions 1 and 3 and Round 8 for Division 2 will be played from 9-10 March 2024.

Unfortunately, a number of high-profile international stars have been injured this season, depriving the JRLO and fans of some of the best talent in the world.

Sungoliath’s Cheslin Kolbe has been seen with a cast on his left hand and is rumoured to be ruled out for several weeks, while teammate Sam Cane has also sustained an injury to his back and could be out for as long as ten weeks (the remainder of the JRLO season).

Another Sungoliath player, Welsh Gareth Anscombe was injured before the season got underway, and had his contract revoked before he played a game in Japan – he recently has recovered and signed to play in the UK Premiership with Gloucester.

Both Jesse Kriel and Faf De Klerk (knee surgery) from Yokohama Canon Eagles were ruled out earlier in the season due to injuries but Kriel hopes to be back for the end of the Japanese season.

Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay are missing all three of their international test players this weekend – fullback Liam Williams, flyhalf Bernard Foley and hooker Dane Coles.

Division One JRLO 2023-2024 – Round 9 Fixtures

Saturday 9th March 2024

Toyota Verblitz will also be looking to their internationals to put last weekend’s loss behind them – with All Black halves Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith, Springbok Pieter Steph du Toit, and Brave Blossoms skipper Kazuki Himeno all in a side that shipped 42 points in 40 minutes against Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Their clash against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay on Saturday sees the visitors missing key players, with all three of their foreign test men; fullback Liam Williams, flyhalf Bernard Foley and hooker Dane Coles ruled out.

Shizuoka Blue Revs could have broken into the top four in Divison 1 had they beaten Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars a few weeks ago, but now after back-to-back losses, find themselves fourth from bottom.

They will hope to overcome the Canon Eagles at home and the visitors are also without Springboks Jesse Kriel and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk to injury.

Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath will be missing All Black backrower Sam Cane (back) and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe (hand) as they face Hanazono Kintetsu Liners on Saturday,  but last weekend did just fine without the pair by beating Black Rams.

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo are unbeaten after 8 straight wins and their All Black imports (flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and backrower Shannon Frizell) are firing on all cylinders – on Sunday they face Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights who are also unbeaten and were the last time to beat Brave Lupus.

The Wild Knights might have averaged over 51 points per game through their eight wins and Brave Lupus Head Coach Todd Blackadder faces his compatriot Robbie Deans once again – with their rivalry going back to their time in New Zealand, and Blackadder yet to manage a win in Japan over his former mentor.

Rikiya Matsuda, the incumbent Brave Blossoms flyhalf and current Wild Knights playmaker, will be raring to take on the All Black flyhalf.

• Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay v Toyota Verblitz; at Osaka, 12pm
• Yokohama Canon Eagles v Shizuoka Blue Revs; at Oita, 12pm
• Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath v Hanazono Kintetsu Liners; at Tokyo, 2.30pm
• Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights v Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo; at Kumagaya, 2.35pm

Sunday 10th March 2024

Suzuka Sports Garden will on Sunday host the winless Heat and the Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo who are coming off a huge loss against Sungoliath and with just two wins from the first eight matches.

The final match on Sunday sees the Mitsubishi Dynaboars take on Kobe Steelers, with the hosts on a run of two wins after beating Blue Revs and the Spears. The visiting Kobe side is hitting form though, with Ardie Savea scoring four tries to demolish Toyota Verlitz last week.

• Mie Honda Heat v Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo; at Suzuka, 12pm
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars v Kobelco Kobe Steelers; at Kanagawa, 2.30pm

Brief highlights of all JRLO matches will be available here.

All times shown are Japan local time.

Division 2 JRLO 2023-2024 – Round 8 Fixtures

Sunday 10th March 2024

Japan Steel Kamaishi Seawaves, due to their geographic location 560 kilometres north of Tokyo, travel the most miles in the JRLO but it’s their home form which is the thorn in their side.

They host Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex on Sunday, and the visitors have only won one of seven fixtures this season.

The Green Rockets host Red Hurricanes Osaka in the other JRLO Division 2 match on Sunday, with the Green Rockets (coached by Wayne Pivac) looking to make ground on Urayasu D-Rocks and the Shuttles who are above them on the log.

The Red Hurricanes will be hoping to stop a run of five straight defeats but it will be a challenge.

Japan Steel Kamaishi Seawaves vs NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu was cancelled due to a snow-covered pitch last weekend and the game will be re-scheduled for later in the season.

• Japan Steel Kamaishi Seawaves v Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex; at Kamaishi, 1pm
• NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu v Red Hurricanes Osaka; at Chiba, 2.30pm

Division 3 JRLO 2023-2024 – Round 9 Fixtures

Saturday 9th March 2024

In Division Three, second from bottom Kurita Water Gush Akishima hosts Divison log leaders Hino Red Dolphins on Saturday.

Second-placed Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks head to Hiroshima to take on bottom-of-the-table Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions.

• Kurita Water Gush Akishima v Hino Red Dolphins; at Tokyo, 1pm
• Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions v Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks; at Hiroshima, 2pm

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 8 Preview.
• JRLO 2023-2024 Round 7 Preview Part 2.
• NTT JRLO Season 2023-2024 – Who Is Involved?
• Rugby Life At JRLO Side Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay – Bernard Foley, Dane Coles & Liam Williams.