2010–11 Top League Explained

Countries: Japan
Champions:Sanyo Wild Knights (1st title)
Runnersup:Suntory Sungoliath
Prevseason:2009–10
Nextseason:2011–12

The 2010–11 Top League was the eighth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. The Sanyo Wild Knights defeated Suntory Sungoliath 28-23 in the final of the Microsoft Cup to claim their first Top League title.

The Top League is a semi-professional competition which is at the top of the national league system in Japan, with promotion and relegation between the next level down.

Changes

Teams

TeamRegionSeason
Coca-Cola West Red SparksFukuoka, Kyushu5
Fukuoka Sanix BluesFukuoka, Kyushu7
Kintetsu LinersOsaka, Kansai5
Kobelco SteelersHyogo, Kansai8
Kubota SpearsChiba, Kanto8
NEC Green RocketsChiba, Kanto8
NTT Shining ArcsChiba, Chiba1
Ricoh Black RamsTokyo, Kanto7
Sanyo Wild KnightsGunma, Kanto8
Suntory SungoliathTokyo, Kanto8
Toshiba Brave LupusTokyo, Kanto8
Toyota VerblitzAichi, Tokai7
Toyota Industries ShuttlesAichi, Mizuho1
Yamaha JubiloShizuoka, Tokai8

Regular season

Final standings

Top League Table
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints<-- Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts-->
1 Toshiba Brave Lupus131102483210+27357
2 Sanyo Wild Knights131102545163+38255
3 Toyota Verblitz131102446261+18555
4 Suntory Sungoliath131003395279+2236
5 Kobelco Steelers13706395279+11636
6 NEC Green Rockets13706276332−3734
7 Ricoh Black Rams13607364389−2532
8 Fukuoka Sanix Blues13517357472−11532
9 Kintetsu Liners13607277344−6731
10 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks13508250438−18828
11 Yamaha Jubilo13508327504−17727
12 NTT Shining Arcs13409271343−7224
13131111224443−21911
14 Toyota Industries Shuttles131012229558−32911
The top 4 teams qualified to the title play-offs.
The top 4 teams also qualified for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
Teams 5 to 10 qualified to the wildcard play-offs for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
Teams 11 and 12 went through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers.
Teams 13 and 14 were automatically relegated to the regional leagues for 2011–12.
[1]

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

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

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Round 6

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Round 7

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Round 8

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Round 9

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Round 10

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Round 11

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Round 12

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Round 13

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Title play-offs

Top 4 sides of the regular season competed in the Microsoft Cup (2011) knock out tournament to fight for the Top League title. The top 4 teams of 2008–09 were Toshiba Brave Lupus, Sanyo Wild Knights, Toyota Verblitz and Suntory Sungoliath.

Semi-finals

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Final

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Wildcard play-offs

The two second round winners qualified for the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

First round

The Top League teams ranked 7th and 10th played-off for the right to meet the Top League team ranked 5th in the second round. The Top League teams ranked 8th and 9th played-off for the right to meet the Top League team ranked 6th in the second round. ----So Sanix and Ricoh progressed to the second round.

Second round

The Top League team ranked 5th played-off against the winner of the teams ranked 7th and 10th, and the Top League team ranked 6th played-off against the winner of the teams ranked 8th and 9th. The two winning second round teams advanced to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.----So Kobelco and NEC advanced to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

Top League Challenge Series

See main article: 2010–11 Top League Challenge Series.

Honda Heat and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes won promotion to the 2011–12 Top League via the 2010–11 Top League Challenge Series, while Canon Eagles and Kyuden Voltex progressed to the promotion play-offs.

Promotion and relegation play-offs

Two promotion/relegation matches (Irekaesen) were played. The Top League teams ranked 12th and 11th played-off against the Challenge 1 teams ranked 3rd and 4th respectively, for the right to be included in the Top League for the following season.------------So NTT and Yamaha remained in the Top League for the following season.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2010/11 Top League . The Rugby Archive.