2009 Top League Challenge Series

The 2009 Top League Challenge Series was the 2009 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2009–10 season. The competition was contested from 11 to 25 January 2009.

2009 Top League Challenge Series
CountriesJapan
Date11 – 25 January 2009
ChampionsRicoh Black Rams (1st title)
Runners-upHonda Heat
PromotedHonda Heat
Ricoh Black Rams
Matches played6

Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams won promotion to the 2009–10 Top League, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and Toyota Industries Shuttles progressed to the promotion play-offs.

Competition rules and information

The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2.

The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2009–10 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs.

Qualification

The teams qualified to the Challenge 1 and Challenge 2 series through the 2008 regional leagues.

Top West League

The final standings for the 2008 Top West League were:[1]

2008 Top West League First Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Honda Heat550022058+1624024
2Toyota Industries Shuttles540123889+1493019
3World Fighting Bull5302192107+853116
4NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes520395154−592010
5Chubu Electric Power510454224−170105
6Osaka Police500567234−167000
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.
2008 Top West League Second Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Honda Heat22008542+43109
2Toyota Industries Shuttles21015762−5217
3World Fighting Bull20023977−38112
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.

Top East League

The final standings for the 2008 Top East League were:[2]

2008 Top East League standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Ricoh Black Rams (R)101000546139+40710050
2NTT Communications Shining Arcs10802375170+2057140
3Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars (R)10703404229+1758036
4Tokyo Gas10703378205+1736034
5Secom Rugguts10604427177+2506232
6Kamaishi Seawaves10703240221+193031
7Suntory Foods10406168415−2473120
8Kurita Water10307188265−772115
9JAL Wings10208230386−1563011
10Hino Red Dolphins (P)10109129525−396116
11Akita Northern Bullets100010118471−353112
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.
(R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. (P) indicates a team newly promoted from lower leagues.

The following match was played:

Top Kyūshū League

The final standings for the 2008 Top Kyūshū League were:[3]

2008 Top Kyūshū League First Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Mazda Blue Zoomers550032254+2685025
2Mitsubishi Heavy Industries530219169+1223116
3Chugoku Electric Power5302122138−162014
4JR Kyūshū Thunders520348188−140008
5Toshiba Oita510461163−102127
6Yaskawa (P)510444176−132015
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.
(P) indicates a team newly promoted from lower leagues.
2008 Top Kyūshū League Second Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Mazda Blue Zoomers22007014+562010
2Mitsubishi Heavy Industries21013453−19105
3Chugoku Electric Power20023673−37000
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.

Challenge 1

Standings

The final standings for the 2009 Top League Challenge 1 were:[4]

2009 Top League Challenge 1 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Ricoh Black Rams220013520+1152010
2Honda Heat21018079+1105
3Mazda Blue Zoomers200225141−116000
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.

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2009 Top League Challenge 1:[4]

Challenge 2

Standings

The final standings for the 2009 Top League Challenge 2 were:[4]

2009 Top League Challenge 2 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Toyota Industries Shuttles220016157+1042010
2NTT Communications Shining Arcs210115741+116206
3Mitsubishi Heavy Industries200224244−220000
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.

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2009 Top League Challenge 2:[4]

See also

References

  1. "West Regional Top League 2008/09". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  2. "East Regional Top League 2008/09". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. "Kyushu Regional Top League 2008/09". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. "Top League Challenge 2008/09". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
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