50th All Japan Rugby Football Championship explained

Countries: Japan
Champions:Suntory Sungoliath
Runnersup:Kobelco Steelers
Prevseason:2012
Nextseason:2014

The 2013 The All-Japan Rugby Football Championship (日本ラグビーフットボール選手権大会 Nihon Ragubi-Futtobo-ru Senshuken Taikai) took place from Feb 2nd up to the final on Feb 24th.

Qualifying

Top League

The top four teams (Suntory Sungoliath, Toshiba Brave Lupus, Panasonic Wild Knights, Kobelco Steelers) in the 2012–13 Top League automatically qualified for the competition, and competed in a playoff competition.

Toshiba Brave Lupus and Suntory Sungoliath eventually played in the Final, with Suntory Sungoliath winning 19–3. As Top League finalists they gained automatic entry to the Championship Semi-finals.

The Top League Wildcard Tournament was contested by the fifth to tenth teams in the final table for the last two places for this league in the Championship. This was competed by Toyota Verblitz, Yamaha Júbilo, Kintetsu Liners, NEC Green Rockets, NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Ricoh Black Rams and eventually taken by Toyota Verblitz and Yamaha Júbilo.

Top Challenge One

In the 2012–13 Challenge series, the teams from Top Challenge One (Kubota Spears, Toyota Industries Shuttles, Coca-Cola West Red Sparks) and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars (Top Challenge Two Winner) competed over 3 rounds to gain the first place (as Top Challenger One) for qualification to the Championship. This was eventually won by the Coca-Cola West Red Sparks.[1]

University

In the 49th Japan National University Rugby Championship final Teikyo University defeated Tsukuba University 39–22. Both teams gained entry to the Championship as finalists.

Club

In the 20th All Japan Rugby Club Championship, Rokko Fighting Bull gained the Top Club side entry to the Championship.

Qualifying Teams

Knockout stages

First round

width=5%Roundwidth=10%Datewidth=20%Teamwidth=10%Scorewidth=20%Teamwidth=20%Venuewidth=10%Attendance
FirstFeb 2, 2013 12:00
Toyota Verblitz5 – 20
Kobelco SteelersKintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium,
Osaka
n/a
FirstFeb 2, 2013 14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights56 – 14
Hanazono,
Osaka
n/a
FirstFeb 2, 2013 12:00
Tsukuba University15 – 47
Coca-Cola West Red SparksChichibunomiya Rugby Stadium,
Tokyo
n/a
FirstFeb 2, 2013 14:00
Teikyo University115 – 5
Rokko Fighting BullChichibunomiya,
Tokyo
n/a

Quarter-final

width=5%Roundwidth=10%Datewidth=20%Teamwidth=10%Scorewidth=20%Teamwidth=20%Venuewidth=10%Attendance
Quarter FinalFeb 10, 2013 12:00
Coca-Cola West Red Sparks29 – 45
Kobelco SteelersChichibunomiya,
Tokyo
n/a
Quarter FinalFeb 10, 2013 14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights54 – 21
Teikyo UniversityChichibunomiya,
Tokyo
n/a

Semi-final

Suntory Sungoliath and Toshiba Brave Lupus bypassed the first two rounds into the semi-finals by reaching the final of the Top League playoffs in 2013.

width=5%Roundwidth=10%Datewidth=20%Teamwidth=10%Scorewidth=20%Teamwidth=20%Venuewidth=10%Attendance
Semi FinalFeb 16, 2013 12:00
Suntory Sungoliath26 – 13
Panasonic Wild KnightsChichibunomiya,
Tokyo
n/a
Semi Final Feb 16, 2013 14:00
Kobelco Steelers31 – 29
Toshiba Brave LupusHanazono,
Osaka
n/a

Final

width=5%Roundwidth=10%Datewidth=20%Winnerwidth=10%Scorewidth=20%Runner-upwidth=20%Venuewidth=10%Attendance
FinalFeb 24, 2013 14:00
Suntory Sungoliath36 – 20
Kobelco SteelersNational Olympic Stadium,
Tokyo
14,155 [2]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Japan - Top League Challenge 2012/13 . rugbyarchive.net . 6 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131204152338/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2012%2F13 . 4 December 2013 .
  2. Web site: ARFU - All Japan Championship Rugby Final 2013 . arfu.com . 6 August 2014 . 22 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140822103755/http://www.arfu.com/news/2013/02/Japan-dom . dead .