2017 Top Challenge League
| 2017 Top Challenge League | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Japan |
| Date | 9 September – 23 December 2017 |
| Champions | Honda Heat |
| Runners-up | Hino Red Dolphins |
| Promoted | Honda Heat, Hino Red Dolphins |
| Relegated | Chubu Electric Power |
| Matches played | 40 |
The 2017 Top Challenge League was the inaugural season of Japan's second-tier domestic rugby union competition, the Top Challenge League.[1]
It was played from 9 September to 23 December 2017, with eight participating teams. Honda Heat won the competition for the second time – having previously won in 2014–15 – and won promotion to the 2018–19 Top League. Hino Red Dolphins, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars and Kyuden Voltex finished second, third and fourth respectively to qualify for the promotion play-offs, while Kamaishi Seawaves finished seventh to qualify for the relegation play-offs. Chubu Electric Power finished eighth to be relegated to the third tier regional leagues for 2018.
Competition rules[edit]
In January 2017, the JRFU announced the format of the Top Challenge League competition. The competition was played in two stages. The First Stage was a round-robin format, where all eight teams played each other once.
The top four teams in the First Stage progressed to Group A of the Second Stage, while the bottom four teams progressed to Group B. Each of these groups was another round-robin, with all four teams playing each other once.
The team that finished top of Group A won automatic promotion to the 2018–19 Top League, while the other three teams in Group A progressed to promotion play-offs against the teams placed 13th, 14th and 15th in the 2017–18 Top League.
The team that finished bottom of Group B were relegated to the regional leagues for 2018. The winners of the Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League competed in a Regional Challenge, with the winner replacing the relegated team in the 2018 Top Challenge League. The second-bottom team in Group B progressed to a promotion / relegation play-off match against the runner-up of the Regional Challenge.[2]
Teams[edit]
Location of teams in the 2017 Top Challenge League
The following teams took part in the 2017 Top Challenge League competition:
First stage[edit]
Standings[edit]
The final standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League First Stage were:
| 2017 Top Challenge League First Stage standings | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Honda Heat | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 506 | 71 | +434 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| 2 | Hino Red Dolphins | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 285 | 157 | +128 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 242 | 125 | +117 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| 4 | Kyuden Voltex | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 209 | 178 | +31 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 162 | 188 | −26 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| 6 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 176 | 217 | −41 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 7 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 88 | 369 | −281 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Chubu Electric Power | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 76 | 439 | −363 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. |
- The top four teams qualified for the Second Stage Group A. Honda Heat carried 3 bonus points into the Second Stage, Hino Red Dolphins carried 2 bonus points into the Second Stage and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars carried 1 bonus point into the Second Stage.
- The bottom four teams qualified for the Second Stage Group B. Kamaishi Seawaves carried 3 bonus points into the Second Stage, Mazda Blue Zoomers carried 2 bonus points into the Second Stage and Chugoku Red Regulions carried 1 bonus point into the Second Stage.
Matches[edit]
Round one[edit]
| 9 September 2017 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 17–52 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 16:00 | Report[3] | Attendance: 1,200 |
| 9 September 2017 | Honda Heat | 53–12 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | |||
| 16:00 | Report[4] | Attendance: 1,400 |
| 9 September 2017 | Kyuden Voltex | 47–17 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 17:00 | Report[5] | Attendance: 600 |
| 10 September 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 7–19 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 15:00 | Report[6] | Attendance: 1,811 |
Round two[edit]
| 16 September 2017 | Hino Red Dolphins | 55–7 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 15:00 | Report[7] |
| 16 September 2017 | Kyuden Voltex | 59–3 | Chugoku Red Regulions | |||
| 16:00 | Report[8] |
| 17 September 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 3–60 | Honda Heat | |||
| 12:30 | Report[9] |
| 17 September 2017 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 19–5 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | |||
| 15:00 | Report[10] |
Round three[edit]
| 24 September 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 20–22 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 12:00 | Report[11] |
| 24 September 2017 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 19–68 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 13:00 | Report[12] |
| 24 September 2017 | Chubu Electric Power | 24–68 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 14:30 | Report[13] |
| 24 September 2017 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 0–103 | Honda Heat | |||
| 15:00 | Report[14] |
Round four[edit]
| 7 October 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 11–24 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 11:30 | Report[15] |
| Bye/s: Chubu Electric Power, Chugoku Red Regulions, Honda Heat, Kyuden Voltex, Mazda Blue Zoomers, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars |
Round five[edit]
| 14 October 2017 | Honda Heat | 155–0 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 13:00 | Report[16] |
| 14 October 2017 | Kyuden Voltex | 31–20 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | |||
| 13:00 | Report[17] |
| 15 October 2017 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 7–48 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 11:30 | Report[18] |
| Bye/s: Hino Red Dolphins, Kamaishi Seawaves |
Round six[edit]
| 21 October 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 31–18 | Chugoku Red Regulions | |||
| 13:00 | Report[19] |
| 21 October 2017 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 20–7 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 13:00 | Report[20] |
| 22 October 2017 | Honda Heat | 31–7 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 13:00 | Report[21] |
| 22 October 2017 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 16–22 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 14:00 | Report[22] |
Round seven[edit]
| 11 November 2017 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 8–69 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | |||
| 13:00 | Report[23] |
| 11 November 2017 | Kyuden Voltex | 10–45 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 13:00 | Report[24] |
| Bye/s: Chubu Electric Power, Hino Red Dolphins, Honda Heat, Kamaishi Seawaves |
Round eight[edit]
| 18 November 2017 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 31–31 | Kamaishi Seawaves | |||
| 13:00 | Report[25] |
| 19 November 2017 | Hino Red Dolphins | 42–33 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 11:30 | Report[26] |
| 19 November 2017 | Chubu Electric Power | 7–35 | Chugoku Red Regulions | |||
| 14:00 | Report[27] |
| 19 November 2017 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 27–50 | Honda Heat | |||
| 14:00 | Report[28] |
Round nine[edit]
| 25 November 2017 | Chubu Electric Power | 14–59 | Kamaishi Seawaves | |||
| 11:30 | Report[29] |
| 25 November 2017 | Honda Heat | 54–22 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 14:00 | Report[30] |
| Bye/s: Chugoku Red Regulions, Kyuden Voltex, Mazda Blue Zoomers, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars |
Second Stage Group A[edit]
Standings[edit]
The standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A are:
| 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A standings | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | S1B | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Honda Heat | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 23 | +177 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Hino Red Dolphins | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 79 | −13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 63 | 92 | −29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Kyuden Voltex | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 166 | −135 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. |
- Honda Heat is promoted to the 2018–19 Top League.
- Hino Red Dolphins, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars qualify for the promotion play-offs.
Matches[edit]
Round one[edit]
| 10 December 2017 | Hino Red Dolphins | 27–10 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 11:30 | Report[31] |
| 10 December 2017 | Honda Heat | 92–5 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 14:00 | Report[32] |
Round two[edit]
| 17 December 2017 | Hino Red Dolphins | 29–14 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 11:30 | Report[33] |
| 17 December 2017 | Honda Heat | 53–8 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | |||
| 14:00 | Report[34] |
Round three[edit]
| 24 December 2017 | Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | 45–12 | Kyuden Voltex | |||
| 11:30 | Report[35] |
| 24 December 2017 | Honda Heat | 55–10 | Hino Red Dolphins | |||
| 14:00 | Report[36] |
Second Stage Group B[edit]
Standings[edit]
The standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B are:
| 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B standings | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | S1B | TB | LB | Pts |
| 5 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 44 | +69 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 6 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 95 | 67 | +28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 7 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 126 | 55 | +71 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 8 | Chubu Electric Power | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 183 | −168 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Legend: P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points. |
- Chugoku Red Regulions and Mazda Blue Zoomers remain in the Top Challenge League for 2018–19.
- Kamaishi Seawaves qualify for the relegation play-offs.
- Chubu Electric Power is relegated to regional leagues for 2018.
Matches[edit]
Round one[edit]
| 9 December 2017 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 29–17 | Chugoku Red Regulions | |||
| 11:30 | Report[37] |
| 9 December 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 76–0 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 14:00 | Report[38] |
Round two[edit]
| 16 December 2017 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | 60–5 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 11:30 | Report[39] |
| 16 December 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 28–31 | Chugoku Red Regulions | |||
| 14:00 | Report[40] |
Round three[edit]
| 23 December 2017 | Chugoku Red Regulions | 47–10 | Chubu Electric Power | |||
| 11:30 | Report[41] |
| 23 December 2017 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 22–24 | Mazda Blue Zoomers | |||
| 14:00 | Report[42] |
Promotion and relegation[edit]
- Honda Heat won promotion to the 2018–19 Top League as champions of the Top Challenge League, replacing the 16th-placed Kintetsu Liners.
- Hino Red Dolphins beat NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the promotion play-offs to win promotion to the 2018–19 Top League.
- Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars failed to win their matches in the promotion play-offs, remaining in the Top Challenge League for 2018–19.
- Chubu Electric Power were relegated to the 2018 regional leagues, and were replaced by 2017 regional league winner Kurita Water Gush.
- Kamaishi Seawaves won their relegation play-off against 2017 regional league runner-up Osaka Police to remain in the Top Challenge League.
Relegation play-offs[edit]
At the end of the season, the team placed seventh will play against the regional team placed second for a place in the 2018 Top Challenge League.
| 13 January 2018 | Kamaishi Seawaves | 55–19 | Osaka Police | |||
| 12:00 | Report[43] |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Japan to add second-tier rugby league in 2017". Japan Times. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ ジャパンラグビー トップチャレンジリーグ 2017-2018シーズン、参加8チーム決定 [Japan Rugby Top Challenge League 2017-2018 season, participating 8 teams determined] (Press release) (in Japanese). Top League. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 中電 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 Honda 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 九州電力 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
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- ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第1節 Honda 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
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- ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第2節 Honda 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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- ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第3節 Honda 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
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- ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第2節 釜石SW 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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