2004–05 Top League

The 2004–05 Top League was the second season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. Toshiba Brave Lupus won both the league round-robin and the Microsoft Cup knockout competitions.

2004–05 Top League
Countries Japan
Date
ChampionsToshiba Brave Lupus
Runners-upYamaha Jubilo
Top try scorer Ruatangi Vatuvei (18 tries)

Teams
Team Region
IBM Big Blue Chiba, Kanto
Kintetsu Liners Osaka, Kansai
Kobelco Steelers Hyogo, Kansai
Kubota Spears Chiba, Kanto
NEC Green Rockets Chiba, Kanto
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, Kanto
Sanyo Wild Knights Gunma, Kanto
Suntory Sungoliath Tokyo, Kanto
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Kanto
Toyota Verblitz Aichi, Tokai
World Fighting Bull Kobe, Kansai
Yamaha Jubilo Shizuoka, Tokai

Top League season

Final standings
Top League Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Toshiba Brave Lupus 1110014631662979150
2Yamaha Jubilo 119023802181628145
3NEC Green Rockets 119024072531547144
4Toyota Verblitz 118034272242039243
5Kobelco Steelers 11605326356-308234
6Kubota Spears 11506277334-576127
7Sanyo Wild Knights 11407346296504424
8Suntory Sungoliath 11407307282254424
9World Fighting Bull 11407230366-1363120
10Ricoh Black Rams 11407207370-1631118
11Kintetsu Liners 11209261514-2534113
12IBM Big Blue 111010243495-2524210

 • The top 8 teams qualified to the Microsoft Cup play-offs.
 • The top 4 teams also qualified to for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 9 and 10 went through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers.
 • Teams 11 and 12 were automatically relegated.

[1]

Four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for four tries or more (BP1) and one bonus point for losing by seven or less (BP2).
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
 • Difference between points for and against
 • Total number of points for
 • Number of matches won
 • Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
 • Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

    Microsoft Cup play-offs

    The top eight teams in the league played off for the Microsoft Cup (2005) knock out tournament, which was won by Toshiba Brave Lupus.

    Quarter-finals

    Semi-finals

    The number of tries and goals being equal, the result was decided in favour of Yamaha by a lottery held at Hanazono after the game.

    Final

    In the season Toshiba Brave Lupus were top of the Top League, and Yamaha were second.

    Top League Challenge Series
    Main article: 2005 Top League Challenge Series

    Fukuoka Sanix Bombs and Secom Rugguts won promotion to the 2005–06 Top League via the 2005 Top League Challenge Series, while Honda Heat and Toyota Industries Shuttles progressed to the promotion play-offs.

    Promotion and relegation play-offs

    Two promotion/relegation matches (Irekaesen) were played with the winners qualifying for the 2005–06 Top League. The 10th-placed team from the Top League against the 3rd-placed team from Challenge 1. The 9th-placed team from the Top League against the 1st-placed team from Challenge 2.

    So Ricoh and World stayed in the Top League for the 2005–06 season.

    References
    1. "2004/05 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
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