Honda Relegated from Top League

TOKYO (Jan. 8) – Honda Heat were relegated from the Japan Rugby Top League on Sunday after they lost 41-21 to NEC Green Rockets for whom Jordan Payne scored two tries.

The defeat at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground means Honda cannot jump above Kintetsu Liners on the final weekend of the season and sees them play in the new national second division, the Top Challenge League, next term.

The sides finishing 13th to 15th in the league must play one-off promotion/relegation playoff games against the fourth, third and second ranked teams, respectively, from the regional leagues, and the three teams to take part from the top flight were determined Sunday after Kubota Spears beat Kobe Kobelco Steelers 23-16.

The victory lifts the Spears into 11th spot and means Coca-Cola Red Sparks, Toyota Industries Shuttles and Kintetsu Liners will play in the playoffs.

It also ensures Kobe cannot overtake Panasonic Wild Knights, who qualify for the All-Japan Championship along with Suntory Sungoliath, Yamaha Jubilo and the university champion.

Yamaha remain second in the league, three points behind Suntory with a game to play, thanks to a 26-12 win over Kintetsu in which Jubilo were awarded two penalty tries.

Yuki Yatomi and Shota Tanaka also touched down for Yamaha with Gerhard van den Heever adding three conversions.

Ricoh Black Rams were the biggest winners of the day as they downed Munakata Sanix Blues 36-3 to move into seventh spot.

In the day’s other game, Canon Eagles topped NTT Communications Shining Arcs 26-15 thanks to tries by Kosuke Hashino and Adam Thomson and four penalty goals and two conversions from JC Roos.