Japan Rugby Top League 2017-2018: Round One Preview
Round one of the 2017-18 Japan Rugby Top League season kicks off with a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Friday 18 August 2017. In the early game, Ricoh Black Rams play NTT Communications Shining Arcs while in the later game, Canon Eagles play defending champions Suntory Sungoliath. Elsewhere on Friday, Toyota Verblitz play Yamaha Jubilo at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi and in another double header at the Yanmar Stadium in Osaka, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers play newly promoted NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes and Kintetsu Liners play Toyota Industries Shuttles.
On Saturday, Toshiba Brave Lupus play NEC Green Rockets and Kubota Spears play Panasonic Wild knights in a double header at Chichibu.
In the only Sunday game in the opening round, Coca-Cola Red Sparks play Munakata Sanix Blues in a Kyushu derby at the Level-5 Stadium in Fukuoka.
Round 1
| Date | Team | Score | Team | K/O | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 18 Aug 2017 | Ricoh | – | NTT Comm. | 17:00 | Chichibu, Tokyo |
| Canon | – | Suntory | 19:30 | Chichibu, Tokyo | |
| Toyota | – | Yamaha | 18:00 | Toyota Stadium, Aichi | |
| Kobe | – | NTT Docomo | 17:00 | Yanmar Stadium, Osaka | |
| Kintetsu | – | Toyota Industries | 19:30 | Yanmar Stadium, Osaka | |
| Sat, 19 Aug 2017 | Toshiba | – | NEC | 16:00 | Chichibu, Tokyo |
| Kubota | – | Panasonic | 18:30 | Chichibu, Tokyo | |
| Sun, 20 Aug 2017 | Coca-Cola | – | Sanix | 16:00 | Level-5 Stadium, Fukuoka |
Japan Rugby Top League 2017-18 Red Conference Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | BP1 | BP2 | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suntory | ||||||||||
| 2 | Kobe | ||||||||||
| 3 | NTT Comm. | ||||||||||
| 4 | Toyota | ||||||||||
| 5 | Toshiba | ||||||||||
| 6 | Kubota | ||||||||||
| 7 | Kintetsu | ||||||||||
| 8 | NTT Docomo |
Four points for win, two for draw, one bonus point for scoring three tries or more than the opposition (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).
Japan Rugby Top League 2017-18 White Conference Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | BP1 | BP2 | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yamaha | ||||||||||
| 2 | Panasonic | ||||||||||
| 3 | Ricoh | ||||||||||
| 4 | Canon | ||||||||||
| 5 | NEC | ||||||||||
| 6 | Sanix | ||||||||||
| 7 | Coca-Cola | ||||||||||
| 8 | Toyota Industries |
Four points for win, two for draw, one bonus point for scoring three tries or more than the opposition (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).