2005 Top League Challenge Series

Last updated
2005 Top League Challenge Series
Countries Japan
Date 16 – 29 January 2005
Champions Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (1st title)
Runners-up Secom Rugguts
Promoted Fukuoka Sanix Bombs
Secom Rugguts
Matches played 6
←  2004
2006  →

The 2005 Top League Challenge Series was the 2005 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 2005–06 season. The competition was contested from 16 to 29 January 2005.

Japan Constitutional monarchy in East Asia

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south.

Top League

The Top League is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of rugby competition in the country. The Japan Rugby Football Union created the competition in 2003, by absorbing the Japan Company Rugby Football Championship, to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The chief architect of the league was Hiroaki Shukuzawa who strongly felt the urgency of improving Japanese domestic company rugby to a professional level which would allow Japan to compete more convincingly at Rugby World Cups.

The 2005–06 Top League was the third season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League.

Contents

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

Secom Rugguts

Secom Rugguts is a Japanese rugby union team founded in 1985 by SECOM. Its name is a portmanteau of "Rugger" and "Guts". The club was in the Top League for the first season of the league but was demoted at the end of the season. As the top team of the Top East league and by then coming second after Fukuoka Sanix Bombs in the three-way Top League Challenge Series, Secom got back into the Top League for the 2005-6 season but was relegated again in 2006-7.

Honda Heat

Honda Heat is a Japanese rugby union team based in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. The owner of the club is Honda Motor.

Toyota Industries Shuttles

Toyota Industries Shuttles is a Japanese rugby team owned by Toyota Industries. They were promoted to Japan's top-flight league Top League for the first time in the 2010-11 season. Its home base is Kariya City.

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 2005–06 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 2004 regional leagues.

Top West League

The final standings for the 2004 Top West League were: [1]

2004 Top West League standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Toyota Industries Shuttles 7 6 1 0 486 62 +424 6 0 32
2 Honda Heat 7 6 0 1 438 155 +283 5 0 29
3 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 7 5 0 2 331 150 +181 4 1 25
4 Osaka Police 7 4 1 2 259 126 +133 3 1 22
5 JR West Railers 7 3 0 4 222 333 −111 3 0 15
6 Chubu Electric Power 7 2 0 5 143 265 −122 3 0 11
7 Mitsubishi Red Evolutions 7 1 0 6 128 430 −302 3 1 8
8 Unitika Phoenix (P) 7 0 0 7 94 580 −486 1 0 1
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.

Top East League

The final standings for the 2004 Top East League were: [2]

2004 Top East League (East) standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Secom Rugguts (R) 9 9 0 0 483 149 +334 9 0 45
2 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 9 8 0 1 420 138 +282 8 0 40
3 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 9 6 0 3 278 192 +86 7 0 31
4 Tokyo Gas 9 5 0 4 294 255 +39 6 2 28
5 Kamaishi Seawaves 9 4 1 4 282 294 −12 6 0 24
6 Kurita Water 9 4 0 5 283 269 +14 5 2 23
7 Shimizu Blue Sharks 9 3 1 5 178 320 −142 2 0 16
8 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 9 2 1 6 180 361 −181 3 0 13
9 JAL Wings 9 2 0 7 158 340 −182 2 0 10
10 Insurance Meiji Life Yasuda 9 0 1 8 151 389 −238 2 1 5
2004 Top East League (North) standings
1 Akita Northern Bullets 6 5 0 1 391 104 +287 5 0 25
2 NTT Burns 6 5 0 1 373 92 +281 5 1 25
3 Funaoka SDF Wild Boars 6 2 0 4 165 185 −20 2 0 10
4 North Force 6 0 0 6 24 572 −548 0 0 0
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.

The following matches were played:

Top Kyūshū League

The final standings for the 2004 Top Kyūshū League were: [3]

2004 Top Kyūshū League First Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (R) 7 7 0 0 648 79 +569 7 0 35
2 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 7 6 0 1 423 106 +317 6 1 31
3 Kyuden Voltex 7 5 0 2 467 85 +382 6 1 27
4 Mazda Blue Zoomers 7 4 0 3 325 216 +109 5 0 21
5 Chugoku Electric Power 7 3 0 4 206 378 −172 4 0 16
6 JR Kyūshū Thunders 7 2 0 5 101 487 −386 2 0 10
7 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7 1 0 6 65 471 −406 0 0 4
8 Mitsubishi Mizushima 7 0 0 7 52 465 −413 1 2 3
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.
2004 Top Kyūshū League Second Phase standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (R) 2 2 0 0 83 41 +42 2 0 10
2 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 2 1 0 1 61 61 0 2 0 6
3 Kyuden Voltex 2 0 0 2 37 79 −42 0 0 0
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.

Challenge 1

Standings

The final standings for the 2005 Top League Challenge 1 were: [4]

2005 Top League Challenge 1 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 2 2 0 0 75 36 +39 2 0 10
2 Secom Rugguts 2 1 0 1 24 51 −27 0 0 4
3 Toyota Industries Shuttles 2 0 0 2 53 65 −12 1 2 3
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 2005 Top League Challenge 1: [4]

Challenge 2

Standings

The final standings for the 2005 Top League Challenge 2 were: [4]

2005 Top League Challenge 2 standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Honda Heat 2 1 0 1 59 69 −10 2 0 6
2 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 2 1 0 1 77 42 +35 1 0 5
3 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 2 1 0 1 68 93 −25 1 0 5
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 2005 Top League Challenge 2: [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Munakata Sanix Blues

Munakata Sanix Blues, formerly Fukuoka Sanix Blues and Fukuoka Sanix Bombs, is a Japanese rugby union team based in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Founded in April 1994, the team rose rapidly through the Kyūshū leagues and was in the Top League for the first season (2003-4) as Kyūshū's sole representative, but lost a relegation battle with Kintetsu Liners 42-45 and was demoted. But Sanix managed to return to the Top League for the 2005-6 season, beating Secom Rugguts and Toyota Jido Shokki in the Top League Challenge Series 2005.

Coca-Cola Red Sparks Association football team in Japan

The Coca-Cola Red Sparks are a Japanese company-owned rugby union team based in Fukuoka city, Kyūshū. The coach is currently Shogo Mukai, the former Japan national rugby union team coach during the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

2007–08 Top League

The 2007–08 Top League was the fifth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. The Sanyo Wild Knights became the first ever team in the Top League to win all their league games, but were defeated for the Top League title by Suntory Sungoliath 14-10 in the Microsoft Cup final on February 24, 2008 at Chichibunomiya.

2012–13 Top League

The 2012–13 Top League was the tenth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 31 August 2012. The final was held on 27 January 2013 and won by Suntory Sungoliath to claim their third Top League title.

2013–14 Top League

The 2013–14 Top League was the 11th season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 30 August 2013. The final was held on 9 February 2014 and won by Panasonic Wild Knights.

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.

2014–15 Top League

The 2014–15 Top League was the 12th season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 30 August 2014. The final was held on 8 February 2015 and won by Panasonic Wild Knights, 30–12 over Yamaha Júbilo.

2016–17 Top League

The 2016–17 Top League is the 14th season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 26 August 2016 and the final round of league matches were played on 14 January 2017.

The 2004 Top League Challenge Series was the 2004 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 2004–05 season. The competition was contested from 10 to 24 January 2004.

The 2006 Top League Challenge Series was the 2006 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 2006–07 season. The competition was contested from 15 to 28 January 2006.

The 2007 Top League Challenge Series was the 2007 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 2007–08 season. The competition was contested from 14 to 27 January 2007.

The 2008 Top League Challenge Series was the 2008 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 2008–09 season. The competition was contested from 27 January to 10 February 2008.

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.

The 2010–11 Top League Challenge Series was the 2010–11 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 2011–12 season. The competition was contested from 19 December 2010 to 29 January 2011.

The 2012–13 Top League Challenge Series was the 2012–13 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 2013–14 season. The competition was contested from 9 December 2012 to 20 January 2013.

The 2013–14 Top League Challenge Series was the 2013–14 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 2014–15 season. The competition was contested from 7 December 2013 to 26 January 2014.

The 2015–16 Top League Challenge Series was the 2015–16 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 2016–17 season. The competition was contested from 13 December 2015 to 24 January 2016.

References

  1. ↑ "West Regional Top League 2004/05". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "East Regional Top League 2004/05". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kyushu Regional Top League 2004/05". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Top League Challenge 2004/05". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.