Kintetsu, Coca-Cola, Toyota Industries Stay Up

TOKYO (Jan. 28) – The 16 teams making up the Japan Rugby Top League for the 2017-18 season and the eight sides taking part in the new national second division, the Top Challenge League, were determined Saturday following the final round of promotion/relegation games.

Kintetsu Liners, Coca-Cola Red Sparks and Toyota Industries Shuttles all kept their places in the top flight following wins over the second- to fourth-ranked teams from the regional leagues.

Andre Taylor scored two of the Liners’ seven tries as they beat Top Kyushu champions Kyuden Voltex 47-0.

The Red Sparks beat Top East runners-up Hino Red Dolphins 32-22 with William Tupou, Timothy Lafaele and Sam Wykes all scoring tries and Lafaele adding three conversions and two penalty goals.

Ryan Kankowski scored one and created two tries as the Shuttles defeated Top East champions Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 33-21.

The results mean the Top League will feature 15 of the same sides as the 2016-17 season with the one change being NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, who went unbeaten in Top West and Top Challenge 1, replacing Honda Heat, who were automatically relegated after finishing bottom following the 2016-17 season.

Kyuden, Hino and Mitsubishi will take part in the new national second division alongside Honda, Chubu Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Kamaishi Seawaves and Mazda Blue Zoomers.