2010–11 Top League

The 2010–11 Top League was the eighth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. The Sanyo Wild Knights defeated Suntory Sungoliath 28-23 in the final of the Microsoft Cup to claim thei first Top League title.

2010–11 Top League
Kicker Masakazu Irie of Sanyo, the 2010–11 winners.
Countries Japan
Date3 September 2010 – 10 January 2011
ChampionsSanyo Wild Knights (1st title)
Runners-upSuntory Sungoliath

The Top League is a semi-professional competition which is at the top of the national league system in Japan, with promotion and relegation between the next level down.

Changes

Teams
Team Region Season
Coca-Cola West Red Sparks Fukuoka, Kyushu 5
Fukuoka Sanix Blues Fukuoka, Kyushu 7
Kintetsu Liners Osaka, Kansai 5
Kobelco Steelers Hyogo, Kansai 8
Kubota Spears Chiba, Kanto 8
NEC Green Rockets Chiba, Kanto 8
NTT Shining Arcs Chiba, Chiba 1
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, Kanto 7
Sanyo Wild Knights Gunma, Kanto 8
Suntory Sungoliath Tokyo, Kanto 8
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Kanto 8
Toyota Verblitz Aichi, Tokai 7
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, Mizuho 1
Yamaha Jubilo Shizuoka, Tokai 8

Regular season

Final standings
Top League Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Toshiba Brave Lupus 131102483210+27357
2 Sanyo Wild Knights 131102545163+38255
3 Toyota Verblitz 131102446261+18555
4 Suntory Sungoliath 131003395279+2236
5 Kobelco Steelers 13706395279+11636
6 NEC Green Rockets 13706276332−3734
7 Ricoh Black Rams 13607364389−2532
8 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 13517357472−11532
9 Kintetsu Liners 13607277344−6731
10 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 13508250438−18828
11 Yamaha Jubilo 13508327504−17727
12 NTT Shining Arcs 13409271343−7224
13 Kubota Spears 131111224443−21911
14 Toyota Industries Shuttles 131012229558−32911

 • The top 4 teams qualified to the title play-offs.
 • The top 4 teams also qualified for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 5 to 10 qualified to the wildcard play-offs for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 11 and 12 went through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers.
 • Teams 13 and 14 were automatically relegated to the regional leagues for 2011–12.

[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

    Round 1

    Round 2

    Round 3

    Round 4

    Round 5

    Round 6

    Round 7

    Round 8

    Round 9

    Round 10

    Round 11

    Round 12

    Round 13

    Title play-offs

    Top 4 sides of the regular season competed in the Microsoft Cup (2011) knock out tournament to fight for the Top League title. The top 4 teams of 2008–09 were Toshiba Brave Lupus, Sanyo Wild Knights, Toyota Verblitz and Suntory Sungoliath.

    Semi-finals

    Final

    Wildcard play-offs

    The two second round winners qualified for the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

    First round

    The Top League teams ranked 7th and 10th played-off for the right to meet the Top League team ranked 5th in the second round. The Top League teams ranked 8th and 9th played-off for the right to meet the Top League team ranked 6th in the second round.

    So Sanix and Ricoh progressed to the second round.

    Second round

    The Top League team ranked 5th played-off against the winner of the teams ranked 7th and 10th, and the Top League team ranked 6th played-off against the winner of the teams ranked 8th and 9th. The two winning second round teams advanced to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

    So Kobelco and NEC advanced to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

    Top League Challenge Series
    Main article: 2010–11 Top League Challenge Series

    Honda Heat and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes won promotion to the 2011–12 Top League via the 2010–11 Top League Challenge Series, while Canon Eagles and Kyuden Voltex progressed to the promotion play-offs.

    Promotion and relegation play-offs

    Two promotion/relegation matches (Irekaesen) were played. The Top League teams ranked 12th and 11th played-off against the Challenge 1 teams ranked 3rd and 4th respectively, for the right to be included in the Top League for the following season.

    So NTT and Yamaha remained in the Top League for the following season.

    References
    1. "2010/11 Top League". The Rugby Archive.
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