2005–06 Top League Explained

Countries: Japan
Date:October 2005 – February 2006
Champions:Toshiba Brave Lupus
Runnersup:Sanyo Wild Knights
Prevseason:2004–05
Nextseason:2006–07

The 2005–06 Top League was the third season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League.[1]

Toshiba Brave Lupus won both the league round-robin and the Microsoft Cup knockout competitions.

Teams

TeamRegion
Fukuoka Sanix BluesFukuoka, Kyushu
Kobelco SteelersHyogo, Kansai
Kubota SpearsChiba, Kanto
NEC Green RocketsChiba, Kanto
Ricoh Black RamsTokyo, Kanto
Sanyo Wild KnightsGunma, Kanto
Secom Rugguts
Suntory SungoliathTokyo, Kanto
Toshiba Brave LupusTokyo, Kanto
Toyota VerblitzAichi, Tokai
World Fighting BullKobe, Kansai
Yamaha JubiloShizuoka, Tokai

Top League season

Final standings

Top League Table
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints
1Toshiba Brave Lupus11 9 0 2 406 193 213 10 0 46
2Sanyo Wild Knights11 9 0 2 416 276 140 6 0 42
3NEC Green Rockets11 9 0 2 270 136 134 4 1 41
4Toyota Verblitz11 7 0 4 431 263 168 6 3 37
5Kobelco Steelers11 7 0 4 284 225 59 4 1 33
6Suntory Sungoliath11 6 0 5 308 241 67 6 2 32
7Yamaha Jubilo11 5 0 6 328 211 117 4 4 28
8Kubota Spears11 4 1 6 324 297 27 5 0 23
9World Fighting Bull11 5 1 5 166 200 -34 0 1 23
10Secom Rugguts11 2 0 9 260 481 -221 6 1 15
11Ricoh Black Rams11 2 0 9 137 398 -261 2 0 10
12Fukuoka Sanix Blues11 0 0 11 134 543 -409 1 1 2
The top 8 teams qualified for the Microsoft Cup play-offs.
The top 4 teams also qualified for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
[2]

Four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Number of matches won
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Fixtures and results

Microsoft Cup play-offs

The top eight teams in the league played off for the Microsoft Cup (2006) knock out tournament, which was won by Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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Final

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Top League Challenge Series

See main article: 2006 Top League Challenge Series.

Coca-Cola West Red Sparks and IBM Big Blue won promotion to the 2006–07 Top League via the 2006 Top League Challenge Series, while Honda Heat, Kintetsu Liners, Kyuden Voltex and NTT Communications Shining Arcs progressed to the promotion play-offs.

Promotion and relegation play-offs

Four promotion/relegation matches (Irekaesen) were played, with the winner of each qualifying for the 2006–07 Top League. The 9th, 10th, and 11th placed team from the Top League played against the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st placed teams, respectively, from Challenge 2. The 12th placed team from the Top League played against the 3rd placed team from Challenge 1. --------------------So Fukuoka, Ricoh, Secom, and World all remained in the Top League for 2006–07.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 19 April 2018 . The Japanese Top League . Japan Experience.
  2. Web site: 2005/06 Top League . https://archive.today/20150117173156/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=96&Stagione=2005/06 . dead . January 17, 2015 . The Rugby Archive .