Wikipedia

2021 Top League

The 2021 Top League was the 18th season of Japan's top tier domestic rugby union competition. The original schedule was for a three stage competition that included all 16 Top League teams plus the top four sides from the Top Challenge League, in preparation for the three-tier professional league planned for 2022.[1] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan the season was postponed and re-formatted.[2]

2021 Top League
Kubota halfback Daisuke Inoue in February 2021
CountriesJapan
Date20 February 2021 – 23 May 2021
ChampionsPanasonic Wild Knights (5th title)
Runners-upSuntory Sungoliath
Matches played73
Attendance250,022
(average 3,425 per match)
Highest attendance8,747 (Suntory Sungoliath v Kubota Spears, 3 April 2021)
Top point scorerBeauden Barrett (168)
Top try scorerMalo Tuitama (14)
Official website
www.top-league.jp
← 2020
2022 →

Under the revised format, the two leagues were played separately. The Top League sides were split into two conferences of eight teams for the first stage, followed by a 16-team knockout stage to decide the champion team.

Teams

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2021 Top League Teams
Club Region Head Coach Captain
Canon Eagles Machida, Tokyo   Keisuke Sawaki   Yu Tamura
Hino Red Dolphins Hino, Tokyo   Takuro Miuchi   Kyosuke Horie
Honda Heat Suzuka, Mie   Danny Lee   Ryota Kobayashi
Kobelco Steelers Kobe   Dave Dillon   Tom Franklin
Kubota Spears Abiko, Chiba   Frans Ludeke   Harumichi Tatekawa
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars Sagamihara   Greg Cooper   Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
Munakata Sanix Blues Munakata, Fukuoka   Corey Brown   Ryuichiro Fukutsubo
NEC Green Rockets Abiko, Chiba   Ryota Asano   Ryoi Kamei
NTT Communications Shining Arcs Chiba Prefecture   Hugh Reece-Edwards   Shokei Kin
NTT DoCoMo ​Red Hurricanes Osaka   Johan Ackermann   Lourens Erasmus
Panasonic Wild Knights Ōta, Gunma   Robbie Deans   Atsushi Sakate
Ricoh Black Rams Setagaya   Damien Hill   Shuhei Matsuhashi
Suntory Sungoliath Fuchū, Tokyo   Milton Haig   Ryoto Nakamura
Toshiba Brave Lupus Fuchū, Tokyo   Todd Blackadder   Michael Leitch
Toyota Verblitz Toyota City   Simon Cron   Kaito Shigeno
Yamaha Jubilo Iwata, Shizuoka   Naoya Okubo   Yuya Odo

Stage One

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The 16 Top League sides will be split between a red conference and a white conference. They will only play against teams from their conference.[3]

Red Conference

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Ladder

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Red Conference Standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Suntory Sungoliath 7 7 0 0 420 129 291 6 34
2 Toyota Verblitz 7 6 0 1 288 186 102 4 28
3 Kubota Spears 7 5 0 2 236 130 106 5 25
4 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 7 3 1 3 236 254 -18 3 17
5 Toshiba Brave Lupus 7 3 0 4 224 229 -5 4 16
6 Honda Heat 7 1 0 5 133 240 -107 2 6
7 Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 7 1 1 5 123 309 -186 0 6
8 Munakata Sanix Blues 7 1 0 6 139 322 -183 1 5

Fixtures & Results

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Round 1

20 February 2021
13:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs41 - 13Honda Heat
Report
Yumenoshima Stadium
Attendance: 950
20 February 2021
14:00
Kubota Spears43 - 17Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Nakadai Sports Park Athletic Stadium
Attendance: 1488
20 February 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz34 - 33Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4305
21 February 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars7 - 75Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Sagamihara Gion Stadium
Attendance: 4058

Round 2

27 February 2021
12:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus7 - 39Kubota Spears
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4150
27 February 2021
14:00
Munakata Sanix Blues23 - 30Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Global Arena
Attendance: 1280
28 February 2021
13:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs29 - 47Toyota Verblitz
Report
Yumenoshima Stadium
Attendance: 2940
28 February 2021
14:00
Honda Heat14 - 31Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Mie Sports Garden
Attendance: 2817

Round 3

6 March 2021
12:00
Kubota Spears34 - 24NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 2459
6 March 2021
14:00
Suntory Sungoliath75 - 10Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
Attendance: 2407
6 March 2021
14:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus58 - 7Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1513
6 March 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz45 - 3Honda Heat
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4116

Round 4

13 March 2021
13:00
Munakata Sanix Blues29 - 61Toyota Verblitz
Report
Global Arena
Attendance: 2001
20 March 2021
12:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus5 - 73Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3986
14 March 2021
13:00
Kubota Spears38 - 7Honda Heat
Report
ZA Oripri Stadium
Attendance: 2115
14 March 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars26 - 26NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Sagamihara Gion Stadium
Attendance: 3122

Round 5

26 March 2021
19:30
Toshiba Brave Lupus19 - 45NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6125
27 March 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz36 - 39Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4251
28 March 2021
12:00
Kubota Spears32 - 17Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 2057
28 March 2021
13:00
Honda Heat24 - 25Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 1265

Round 6

3 April 2021
12:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs40 - 21Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium
Attendance: 862
3 April 2021
13:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars29 - 40Toyota Verblitz
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1562
3 April 2021
14:00
Suntory Sungoliath33 - 26Kubota Spears
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 8747
4 April 2021
12:00
Honda Heat17 - 53Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1685

Round 7

10 April 2021
14:00
Honda Heat55 - 7Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 1039
11 April 2021
12:00
Suntory Sungoliath94 - 31NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 8233
11 April 2021
13:00
Toyota Verblitz25 - 24Kubota Spears
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4252
11 April 2021
13:00
Munakata Sanix Blues14 - 49Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 2825

White Conference

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Ladder

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White Conference Standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Panasonic Wild Knights 7 6 1 0 318 76 242 5 31
2 Kobelco Steelers 7 6 1 0 289 138 151 3 29
3 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 7 4 0 3 175 175 0 1 17
4 Ricoh Black Rams 7 3 0 4 179 184 -5 5 17
5 Canon Eagles 7 3 1 3 176 230 -54 2 16
6 Yamaha Júbilo 7 3 0 4 239 240 -1 3 15
7 Hino Red Dolphins 7 1 1 5 90 238 -148 1 7
8 NEC Green Rockets 7 0 0 7 139 324 -185 1 1

Fixtures & Results

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Round 1

20 February 2021
14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights55 - 14Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3941
20 February 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers47 - 38NEC Green Rockets
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3752
21 February 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles24 - 26NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Machida Stadium
Attendance: 2989
21 February 2021
14:00
Hino Red Dolphins17 - 52Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2084

Round 2

27 February 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes38 - 19NEC Green Rockets
Report
Yanmar Stadium Nagai
Attendance: 2232
28 February 2021
12:00
Yamaha Júbilo22 - 23Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1856
28 February 2021
14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights60 - 12Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 4380
28 February 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers73 - 10Canon Eagles
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 4407

Round 3

6 March 2021
12:00
NEC Green Rockets31 - 59Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3760
6 March 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes22 - 17Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2592
6 March 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers52 - 7Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 2504
6 March 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles0 - 47Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Showa Denko Dome Oita
Attendance: 7008

Round 4

21 March 2021
12:00
NEC Green Rockets7 - 10Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 865
14 March 2021
14:00
Ricoh Black Rams19 - 20Kobelco Steelers
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 4204
14 March 2021
14:00
Yamaha Júbilo32 - 40Canon Eagles
Report
Yamaha Stadium
Attendance: 6436
14 March 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes13 - 26Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Yanmar Stadium Nagai
Attendance: 4735

Round 5

27 March 2021
12:00
Ricoh Black Rams28 - 31Canon Eagles
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6302
27 March 2021
13:00
Yamaha Júbilo22 - 53Kobelco Steelers
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6267
28 March 2021
13:00
Panasonic Wild Knights62 - 5NEC Green Rockets
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6772
28 March 2021
14:00
Hino Red Dolphins25 - 26NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2395

Round 6

3 April 2021
13:00
Yamaha Júbilo33 - 21NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium
Attendance: 3580
4 April 2021
13:00
Hino Red DolphinsCancelled [a 1]Canon Eagles
Soyu Stadium
4 April 2021
13:00
NEC Green Rockets15 - 37Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3710
4 April 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers13 - 13Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 8523

Round 7

10 April 2021
12:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes29 - 31Kobelco Steelers
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4879
10 April 2021
13:00
Panasonic Wild Knights55 - 19Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 8389
10 April 2021
13:00
Ricoh Black Rams41 - 19Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 3092
11 April 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles71 - 24NEC Green Rockets
Report
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 2211

Playoff Stage

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All sixteen Top League sides plus the top four finishing sides from the 2021 Top Challenge League will be included in the playoff stage. All matches of the playoff stage are knockouts with lower ranked Top League conference teams and the top four Top Challenge League teams playing in the first round to qualify to the round of sixteen.[4]

First round

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17 April 2021
12:00
Toyota Industries Shuttles24 - 25NEC Green Rockets
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 941
17 April 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars24 - 17Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 1019
18 April 2021
12:00
Munakata Sanix Blues21 - 31Kintetsu Liners
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4285
18 April 2021
14:00
Shimizu Blue Sharks20 - 48Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 1036

Bracket

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Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
        
Sungoliath 76
Green Rockets 31
Sungoliath Bye
Black Rams
Brave Lupus 24
Black Rams 27
Sungoliath 26
Spears 9
Spears 46
Jubilo 12
Spears 23
Steelers 21
Steelers 50
Dynaboars 17
Sungoliath 26
Wild Knights 31
Verblitz 49
Red Dolphins 29
Verblitz 33
Red Hurricanes 29
Red Hurricanes 21
Heat 13
Verblitz 21
Wild Knights 48
Eagles 43
Shining Arcs 13
Eagles 17
Wild Knights 32
Wild Knights 54
Liners 7

Round of 16

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24 April 2021
12:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus24 - 27Ricoh Black Rams
Try: Jone Naikabula (2) 3' m 64' c
Daigo Hashimoto 61' m
Takahiro Ogawa 80+2' c
Con: Jack Stratton (0/2)
Takahiro Ogawa (2/2) 65' 80+3'		ReportTry: Takei Hinata 15' c
Toshiya Takahashi 24' c
Shota Yamamoto 78' c
Con: Matt McGahan (3/3) 16' 25' 79'
Pen: Matt McGahan (2/2) 9' 39'
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 2558
24 April 2021
12:00
Kubota Spears46 - 12Yamaha Júbilo
Try: Bernard Foley 12' c
Finau Tupa 25' c
Penalty Try 29'
Lappies Labuschagné (3) 53' m 74' c 77' c
Con: Bernard Foley (2/3) 14' 26'
Gerhard van den Heever (2/2) 75' 78'
Pen: Bernard Foley (2/2) 22' 60'		ReportTry: Chikara Ito 3' c
Kakeru Okumura 72'
Con: Kakeru Okumura (1/2) 4'
Pen: Kakeru Okumura (0/1)
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 2033
24 April 2021
14:30
Suntory Sungoliath76 - 31NEC Green Rockets
Try: Beauden Barrett (2) 2' c 74' c
Shota Emi 6' m
Sean McMahon 12' m
Takaaki Nakazuru (2) 28' m 33' m
Yukio Morikawa 38' c
Penalty Try 42'
Yutaka Nagare 43' c
Seiya Ozaki 56' c
Samu Kerevi 64' c
Con: Beauden Barrett (4/8) 3' 34' 40' 44'
Hikaru Tamura (3/3) 57' 65' 75'		ReportTry: Daiki Nakajima (3) 22' m 53' c 80' c
Pat Tafa 62' c
Keisuke Yamada 78' m
Con: Alex Goode (2/4) 53' 63'
Benhard Janse van Rensburg (1/1) 80+1'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4182
24 April 2021
14:30
Kobelco Steelers50 - 17Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Try: Richard Buckman 9' c
Ryohei Yamanaka 14' m
Lui Naeata 21' m
Ataata Moeakiola 41' c
Hikaru Hashimoto (2) 50' c 68' m
Brodie Retallick 60' c
Hirotaka Hirabara 72' c
Con: Timothy Lafaele (0/1)
Aaron Cruden (4/6) 11' 42' 51' 61'
Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 73'
Pen: Aaron Cruden (0/1)		ReportTry: Ippei Yamamoto 26' c
Michael Little 57' c
Con: James Wilson (2/2) 27' 58'
Pen: James Wilson (1/1) 17'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2990
25 April 2021
12:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs13 - 43Canon Eagles
Try: Doga Maeda 51' c
Con: Greig Laidlaw (1/1) 52'
Pen: Greig Laidlaw (2/2) 9' 17'		ReportTry: Kobus van Dyk 5' c
SP Marais (2) 23' c 73' c
Jesse Kriel 40+1' m
Ed Quirk 55' c
Amanaki Saumaki 78' c
Con: Yu Tamura (4/5) 6' 57' 74' 80'
Jumpei Ogura (1/1) 24'
Pen: Yu Tamura (1/1) 44'
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 1983
25 April 2021
12:00
Honda Heat13 - 21NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Try: Nobutaka Ubukata 61' m
Franco Mostert 67' m
Con: Gwangtee Oh (0/2)
Pen: Gwangtee Oh (1/1) 17'
Matt Duffie (0/1)		ReportTry: Makazole Mapimpi 26' c
Lourens Erasmus 39' c
TJ Perenara 57' c
Con: Ei Kawamuko (3/3) 27' 40' 58'
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 3260
25 April 2021
14:30
Panasonic Wild Knights54 - 7Kintetsu Liners
Try: Jack Cornelsen (2) 28' c 44' m
Itsuki Onishi 52' c
Dylan Riley 68' c
Ryuji Noguchi 71' c
Kenki Fukuoka 75' m 78' c
Con: Rikiya Matsuda (3/4) 29' 53' 68'
Takuya Yamasawa (2/3) 72' 79'
Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (3/3) 50' 56' 60'		ReportTry: Joshua Nohra 16' c
Con: Patrick Stehlin (1/1) 17'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3989
25 April 2021
14:30
Toyota Verblitz49 - 29Hino Red Dolphins
Try: Jamie Henry 15' c
Taichi Takahashi (2) 20' c 78' c
Male Sa'u 27' c
Fetuani Lautaimi 48' c
Rob Thompson 67' c
Takehito Namekawa 75' c
Con: Lionel Cronjé (7/7) 16' 21' 27' 48' 68' 76' 79'		ReportTry: Chance Peni (2) 4' c 59'c
Taiki Kawai 63' c
Yuki Go 80+2' m
Con: Taro Togo (3/3) 6' 60' 64'
Toshizumi Kitagawa (0/1)
Pen: Taro Togo (1/1) 23'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3849

Quarter-finals

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8 May 2021
13:00
Toyota Verblitz33 - 29NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Try: Kieran Read 41' c
Jamie Henry (2) 62' c 71' m
Con: Lionel Cronjé (2/3) 42' 63'
Pen: Lionel Cronjé (3/3) 9' 22' 48'		ReportTry: Tom Marshall 15' m
Mifiposeti Paea 27' c
Wimpie van der Walt 43' c
Kouk Shigeno 52' c
Con: Marty Banks (3/4) 28' 45' 54'
Pen: Marty Banks (1/2) 1'
Egao Kenko Stadium
Attendance: 2534
8 May 2021
15:00
Panasonic Wild Knights32 - 17Canon Eagles
Try: Dylan Riley 2' c
Keisuke Uchida 14' c
Kenki Fukuoka 61' m
Shota Fukui 66' c
Con: Rikiya Matsuda (2/3) 3' 15'
Takuya Yamasawa (1/1) 67'
Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (2/2) 29' 32'		ReportTry: Yu Tamura 47' c
Naoya Minamihashi 68' c
Con: Yu Tamura (2/2) 48' 69'
Pen: Yu Tamura (1/1) 8'
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 4651
9 May 2021
12:45
Kobelco Steelers21 - 23Kubota Spears
Try: Hayden Parker 39' c
Atsushi Hiwasa 63' c
Rakuhei Yamashita 70' c
Con: Hayden Parker (1/1) 40'
Aaron Cruden (2/2) 64' 71'
Pen: Hayden Parker (0/1)		ReportTry: Sione Vatuvei 3' c
Honeti Taumohaapai 9' c
Con: Bernard Foley (2/2) 4' 10'
Pen: Bernard Foley (1/2) 24'
Gerhard van den Heever (2/3) 61' 76'
Shizuoka Stadium
Attendance: 5543
9 May 2021
14:00
Suntory SungoliathCancelled [5]Ricoh Black Rams
Showa Denko Dome Oita

Semi-finals

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15 May 2021
14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights48 - 21Toyota Verblitz
Try: Kenki Fukuoka (3) 1' m 69' c 77' c
Takuya Yamasawa 60' c
Dylan Riley 75' c
Con: Rikiya Matsuda (3/4) 62' 70' 76'
Takuya Yamasawa (1/1) 78'
Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (4/6) 21' 27' 33' 46'
Drop: Rikiya Matsuda 24'		ReportTry: Masato Furukawa 5' m
Taichi Takahashi (2) 9' m 16' m
Con: Lionel Cronjé (0/3)
Pen: Lionel Cronjé (2/3) 35' 47'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 0
16 May 2021
13:10
Suntory Sungoliath26 - 9Kubota Spears
Try: Shota Emi 33' m
Con: Beauden Barrett (0/1)
Pen: Beauden Barrett (6/7) 25' 30' 42' 49' 55' 59'
Drop: Beauden Barrett 20'		ReportPen: Gerhard van den Heever (3/3) 8' 23' 47'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 0

Final

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See also: All-Japan Rugby Football Championship
23 May 2021
13:10 JST
Suntory Sungoliath26 - 31Panasonic Wild Knights
Try: Ryoto Nakamura 35' c
Takaaki Nakazuru 42' m
Naoto Saito 70' c
Seiya Ozaki 78' c
Con: Beauden Barrett (3/4) 37' 71' 79'
Pen: Beauden Barrett (0/1)		ReportTry: Dylan Riley 5' c
Kenki Fukuoka 30' c
Asaeli Ai Valu 55' m
Con: Rikiya Matsuda (2/3) 6' 31'
Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (3/3) 14' 25' 39'
Takuya Yamasawa (1/2) 73'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4668
Referee: Akihisa Aso
FB 15   Seiya Ozaki
RW 14   Takaaki Nakazuru
OC 13   Shogo Nakano
IC 12   Ryoto Nakamura (c)
LW 11   Shota Emi
FH 10   Beauden Barrett
SH 9   Yutaka Nagare
N8 8   Sean McMahon
OF 7   Naoki Ozawa
BF 6   Hendrik Tui
RL 5   Harry Hockings
LL 4   Tom Savage
TP 3   Shinnosuke Kakinaga
HK 2   Shunta Nakamura
LP 1   Yukio Morikawa
Substitutions:
HK 16   Kosuke Horikoshi
PR 17   Shintaro Ishihara
PR 18   Sam Talakai
LK 19   Joe Latta
FL 20   Tevita Tatafu
SH 21   Naoto Saito
FH 22   Hikaru Tamura
CE 23   Yusuke Kajimura
Coach:
  Milton Haig
FB 15   Ryuji Noguchi
RW 14   Semisi Tupou
OC 13   Dylan Riley
IC 12   Hadleigh Parkes
LW 11   Kenki Fukuoka
FH 10   Rikiya Matsuda
SH 9   Keisuke Uchida
N8 8   Jack Cornelsen
OF 7   Shunsuke Nunomaki
BF 6   Ben Gunter
RL 5   George Kruis
LL 4   Daniel Heenan
TP 3   Shohei Hirano
HK 2   Atsushi Sakate (c)
LP 1   Keita Inagaki
Substitutions:
HK 16   Shota Horie
PR 17   Craig Millar
PR 18   Asaeli Ai Valu
LK 19   Ryota Hasegawa
FL 20   Itsuki Onishi
SH 21   Taiki Koyama
FH 22   Takuya Yamasawa
CE 23   Shota Fukui
Coach:
  Robbie Deans

Notes

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  1. ^ Matches cancelled due to Covid-19 result in a 0-0 draw.

References

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  1. ^ "Top League revises format, schedule for 2021 campaign". The Japan Times. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Top League delays start of season due to COVID-19 outbreak". The Japan Times. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Top League 2021 Stage One". Top League. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Japan Rugby Top League 2021 Announces New Tournament Format and Season Calendar". Japan Rugby Football Union. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Beauden Barrett's Suntory Sungoliath progress to Top League semi-finals after match cancelled due to COVID". RugbyPass. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
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