2016–17 Top League Challenge Series

The 2016–17 Top League Challenge Series was the 2016–17 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 2017–18 season. The competition was contested from 13 December 2016 to 24 January 2017.

2016–17 Top League Challenge Series
CountriesJapan
Date3 December 2016 – 15 January 2017
ChampionsNTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (2nd title)
Runners-upMitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars
PromotedNTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Matches played12

NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes won promotion to the 2017–18 Top League, while Hino Red Dolphins, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars progressed to the promotion play-offs. Chubu Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Kamaishi Seawaves and Mazda Blue Zoomers all earned a place in the new 2017 Top Challenge League.

Competition rules and information

The top three 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, the runners-up participated in Challenge 2 and the third-placed teams participated in Challenge 3. The winner of Challenge 2 also progressed to a four-team Challenge 1.

The top team in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2017–18 Top League, while the other three teams qualified to the promotion play-offs.

Qualification

The teams qualified to the Challenge 1, Challenge 2 and Challenge 3 series through the 2016 regional leagues.

Top West League

The final standings for the 2016 Top West League were:[1]

2016 Top West League First Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (R)550046322+4415025
2Chubu Electric Power5302125112+132115
3Osaka Police530210410402115
4JR West Railers530282179−970012
5Osaka Gas (P)510470273−203004
6Unitika Phoenix500578232−154033
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.
2016 Top West League Second Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (R)22001847+1772010
2Chubu Electric Power21012099−79004
3Osaka Police200211109−98011
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.

Top East League

The final standings for the 2016 Top East League were:[2]

2016 Top East League standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars990046880+3889045
2Hino Red Dolphins9801420107+3135037
3Kamaishi Seawaves9702367179+1884032
4Kurita Water9603393214+1795231
5Tokyo Gas9405304321−173120
6Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars9405204353−1493019
7Akita Northern Bullets9306237355−1183116
8Yakult Levins9306242249−71114
9Secom Rugguts9108118486−368004
10IBM Big Blue9009106515−409011
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 Kyūshū League

The final standings for the 2016 Top Kyūshū League were:[3]

2016 Top Kyūshū League First Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Chugoku Electric Power660029784+2135029
2Kyuden Voltex650134747+3004125
3Mazda Blue Zoomers640235686+2704121
4JR Kyūshū Thunders6303148139+93015
5Mitsubishi Heavy Industries620499291−192008
6Fukuoka Bank610586343−257004
7Nippon Steel Yawata600661404−343022
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.
2016 Top Kyūshū League Second Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Kyuden Voltex22005226+26008
2Chugoku Electric Power21014531+14105
3Mazda Blue Zoomers20021959−40000
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 2016–17 Top League Challenge 1 were:[4]

2016–17 Top League Challenge 1 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes330013738+992014
2Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars31025556−1116
3Hino Red Dolphins31025097−47105
4Kyuden Voltex31023182−51004
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 2016–17 Top League Challenge 1:[4]

Challenge 2

Standings

The final standings for the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 2 were:[4]

2016–17 Top League Challenge 2 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Hino Red Dolphins22001070+1072010
2Chubu Electric Power21013891−53004
3Chugoku Electric Power20022781−54000
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 2016–17 Top League Challenge 2:[4]

Challenge 3

Standings

The final standings for the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 3 were:[4]

2016–17 Top League Challenge 3 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1Kamaishi Seawaves22007648+28109
2Mazda Blue Zoomers21016643+23105
3Osaka Police20024394−51011
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 2016–17 Top League Challenge 3:[4]

See also

References

  1. "West Regional Top League 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  2. "East Regional Top League 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. "Kyushu Regional Top League 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. "Top League Challenge 2016/17". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
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