2021 Top League

2021 Top League
Kubota halfback Daisuke Inoue in February 2021
Countries	Japan
Date	20 February 2021 – 23 May 2021
Champions	Panasonic Wild Knights (5th title)
Runners-up	Suntory Sungoliath
Matches played	73
Attendance	250,022 (average 3,425 per match)
Highest attendance	8,747 (Suntory Sungoliath v Kubota Spears, 3 April 2021)
Top point scorer	Beauden Barrett (168)
Top try scorer	Malo Tuitama (14)
Official website
www.top-league.jp
←  2020 2022  →

The 2021 Top League was the 18th season of Japan's top tier domestic rugby union competition. The original schedule was for a three stage competition that included all 16 Top League teams plus the top four sides from the Top Challenge League, in preparation for the three-tier professional league planned for 2022. ^[1] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan the season was postponed and re-formatted. ^[2]

Under the revised format, the two leagues were played separately. The Top League sides were split into two conferences of eight teams for the first stage, followed by a 16-team knockout stage to decide the champion team.

Teams

Verblitz

Steelers

Jubilo

Red Hurricanes

Heat

Blues

Kantō  teams:
Black Rams
Brave Lupus
Dynaboars
Eagles
Green Rockets
Red Dolphins
Shining Arcs
Spears
Sungoliath
Wild Knights

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2021 Top League Teams

Club	Region	Head Coach	Captain
Canon Eagles	Machida, Tokyo	Keisuke Sawaki	Yu Tamura
Hino Red Dolphins	Hino, Tokyo	Takuro Miuchi	Kyosuke Horie
Honda Heat	Suzuka, Mie	Danny Lee	Ryota Kobayashi
Kobelco Steelers	Kobe	Dave Dillon	Tom Franklin
Kubota Spears	Abiko, Chiba	Frans Ludeke	Harumichi Tatekawa
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	Sagamihara	Greg Cooper	Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
Munakata Sanix Blues	Munakata, Fukuoka	Corey Brown	Ryuichiro Fukutsubo
NEC Green Rockets	Abiko, Chiba	Ryota Asano	Ryoi Kamei
NTT Communications Shining Arcs	Chiba Prefecture	Hugh Reece-Edwards	Shokei Kin
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	Osaka	Johan Ackermann	Lourens Erasmus
Panasonic Wild Knights	Ōta, Gunma	Robbie Deans	Atsushi Sakate
Ricoh Black Rams	Setagaya	Damien Hill	Shuhei Matsuhashi
Suntory Sungoliath	Fuchū, Tokyo	Milton Haig	Ryoto Nakamura
Toshiba Brave Lupus	Fuchū, Tokyo	Todd Blackadder	Michael Leitch
Toyota Verblitz	Toyota City	Simon Cron	Kaito Shigeno
Yamaha Jubilo	Iwata, Shizuoka	Naoya Okubo	Yuya Odo

Stage One

The 16 Top League sides will be split between a red conference and a white conference. They will only play against teams from their conference. ^[3]

Red Conference

Ladder

Red Conference Standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
1	Suntory Sungoliath	7	7	0	0	420	129	291	6	34
2	Toyota Verblitz	7	6	0	1	288	186	102	4	28
3	Kubota Spears	7	5	0	2	236	130	106	5	25
4	NTT Communications Shining Arcs	7	3	1	3	236	254	-18	3	17
5	Toshiba Brave Lupus	7	3	0	4	224	229	-5	4	16
6	Honda Heat	7	1	0	5	133	240	-107	2	6
7	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	7	1	1	5	123	309	-186	0	6
8	Munakata Sanix Blues	7	1	0	6	139	322	-183	1	5

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

20 February 2021 13:00

NTT Communications Shining Arcs	41 - 13	Honda Heat
	Report

Yumenoshima Stadium Attendance: 950

20 February 2021 14:00

Kubota Spears	43 - 17	Munakata Sanix Blues
	Report

Nakadai Sports Park Athletic Stadium Attendance: 1488

20 February 2021 14:00

Toyota Verblitz	34 - 33	Toshiba Brave Lupus
	Report

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 4305

21 February 2021 14:00

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	7 - 75	Suntory Sungoliath
	Report

Sagamihara Gion Stadium Attendance: 4058

Round 2

27 February 2021 12:00

Toshiba Brave Lupus	7 - 39	Kubota Spears
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4150

27 February 2021 14:00

Munakata Sanix Blues	23 - 30	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
	Report

Global Arena Attendance: 1280

28 February 2021 13:00

NTT Communications Shining Arcs	29 - 47	Toyota Verblitz
	Report

Yumenoshima Stadium Attendance: 2940

28 February 2021 14:00

Honda Heat	14 - 31	Suntory Sungoliath
	Report

Mie Sports Garden Attendance: 2817

Round 3

6 March 2021 12:00

Kubota Spears	34 - 24	NTT Communications Shining Arcs
	Report

Edogawa Stadium Attendance: 2459

6 March 2021 14:00

Suntory Sungoliath	75 - 10	Munakata Sanix Blues
	Report

Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium Attendance: 2407

6 March 2021 14:00

Toshiba Brave Lupus	58 - 7	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
	Report

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1513

6 March 2021 14:00

Toyota Verblitz	45 - 3	Honda Heat
	Report

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 4116

Round 4

13 March 2021 13:00

Munakata Sanix Blues	29 - 61	Toyota Verblitz
	Report

Global Arena Attendance: 2001

20 March 2021 12:00

Toshiba Brave Lupus	5 - 73	Suntory Sungoliath
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3986

14 March 2021 13:00

Kubota Spears	38 - 7	Honda Heat
	Report

ZA Oripri Stadium Attendance: 2115

14 March 2021 14:00

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	26 - 26	NTT Communications Shining Arcs
	Report

Sagamihara Gion Stadium Attendance: 3122

Round 5

26 March 2021 19:30

Toshiba Brave Lupus	19 - 45	NTT Communications Shining Arcs
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 6125

27 March 2021 14:00

Toyota Verblitz	36 - 39	Suntory Sungoliath
	Report

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 4251

28 March 2021 12:00

Kubota Spears	32 - 17	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
	Report

Edogawa Stadium Attendance: 2057

28 March 2021 13:00

Honda Heat	24 - 25	Munakata Sanix Blues
	Report

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 1265

Round 6

3 April 2021 12:00

NTT Communications Shining Arcs	40 - 21	Munakata Sanix Blues
	Report

Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium Attendance: 862

3 April 2021 13:00

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	29 - 40	Toyota Verblitz
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 1562

3 April 2021 14:00

Suntory Sungoliath	33 - 26	Kubota Spears
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 8747

4 April 2021 12:00

Honda Heat	17 - 53	Toshiba Brave Lupus
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 1685

Round 7

10 April 2021 14:00

Honda Heat	55 - 7	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
	Report

Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu Attendance: 1039

11 April 2021 12:00

Suntory Sungoliath	94 - 31	NTT Communications Shining Arcs
	Report

Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium Attendance: 8233

11 April 2021 13:00

Toyota Verblitz	25 - 24	Kubota Spears
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4252

11 April 2021 13:00

Munakata Sanix Blues	14 - 49	Toshiba Brave Lupus
	Report

Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu Attendance: 2825

White Conference

Ladder

White Conference Standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
1	Panasonic Wild Knights	7	6	1	0	318	76	242	5	31
2	Kobelco Steelers	7	6	1	0	289	138	151	3	29
3	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	7	4	0	3	175	175	0	1	17
4	Ricoh Black Rams	7	3	0	4	179	184	-5	5	17
5	Canon Eagles	7	3	1	3	176	230	-54	2	16
6	Yamaha Júbilo	7	3	0	4	239	240	-1	3	15
7	Hino Red Dolphins	7	1	1	5	90	238	-148	1	7
8	NEC Green Rockets	7	0	0	7	139	324	-185	1	1

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

20 February 2021 14:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	55 - 14	Ricoh Black Rams
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3941

20 February 2021 14:00

Kobelco Steelers	47 - 38	NEC Green Rockets
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3752

21 February 2021 14:00

Canon Eagles	24 - 26	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
	Report

Machida Stadium Attendance: 2989

21 February 2021 14:00

Hino Red Dolphins	17 - 52	Yamaha Júbilo
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 2084

Round 2

27 February 2021 14:00

NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	38 - 19	NEC Green Rockets
	Report

Yanmar Stadium Nagai Attendance: 2232

28 February 2021 12:00

Yamaha Júbilo	22 - 23	Ricoh Black Rams
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 1856

28 February 2021 14:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	60 - 12	Hino Red Dolphins
	Report

Kumagaya Rugby Ground Attendance: 4380

28 February 2021 14:00

Kobelco Steelers	73 - 10	Canon Eagles
	Report

Noevir Stadium Kobe Attendance: 4407

Round 3

6 March 2021 12:00

NEC Green Rockets	31 - 59	Yamaha Júbilo
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3760

6 March 2021 14:00

NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	22 - 17	Ricoh Black Rams
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 2592

6 March 2021 14:00

Kobelco Steelers	52 - 7	Hino Red Dolphins
	Report

Noevir Stadium Kobe Attendance: 2504

6 March 2021 14:00

Canon Eagles	0 - 47	Panasonic Wild Knights
	Report

Showa Denko Dome Oita Attendance: 7008

Round 4

21 March 2021 12:00

NEC Green Rockets	7 - 10	Hino Red Dolphins
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 865

14 March 2021 14:00

Ricoh Black Rams	19 - 20	Kobelco Steelers
	Report

Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium Attendance: 4204

14 March 2021 14:00

Yamaha Júbilo	32 - 40	Canon Eagles
	Report

Yamaha Stadium Attendance: 6436

14 March 2021 14:00

NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	13 - 26	Panasonic Wild Knights
	Report

Yanmar Stadium Nagai Attendance: 4735

Round 5

27 March 2021 12:00

Ricoh Black Rams	28 - 31	Canon Eagles
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 6302

27 March 2021 13:00

Yamaha Júbilo	22 - 53	Kobelco Steelers
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 6267

28 March 2021 13:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	62 - 5	NEC Green Rockets
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 6772

28 March 2021 14:00

Hino Red Dolphins	25 - 26	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 2395

Round 6

3 April 2021 13:00

Yamaha Júbilo	33 - 21	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
	Report

Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium Attendance: 3580

4 April 2021 13:00

Hino Red Dolphins	Cancelled [a 1]	Canon Eagles

Soyu Stadium

4 April 2021 13:00

NEC Green Rockets	15 - 37	Ricoh Black Rams
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3710

4 April 2021 14:00

Kobelco Steelers	13 - 13	Panasonic Wild Knights
	Report

Noevir Stadium Kobe Attendance: 8523

Round 7

10 April 2021 12:00

NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes	29 - 31	Kobelco Steelers
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4879

10 April 2021 13:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	55 - 19	Yamaha Júbilo
	Report

Kumagaya Rugby Ground Attendance: 8389

10 April 2021 13:00

Ricoh Black Rams	41 - 19	Hino Red Dolphins
	Report

Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium Attendance: 3092

11 April 2021 14:00

Canon Eagles	71 - 24	NEC Green Rockets
	Report

Kumagaya Rugby Ground Attendance: 2211

Playoff Stage

All sixteen Top League sides plus the top four finishing sides from the 2021 Top Challenge League will be included in the playoff stage. All matches of the playoff stage are knockouts with lower ranked Top League conference teams and the top four Top Challenge League teams playing in the first round to qualify to the round of sixteen. ^[4]

First round

17 April 2021 12:00

Toyota Industries Shuttles	24 - 25	NEC Green Rockets
	Report

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 941

17 April 2021 14:00

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars	24 - 17	Coca-Cola Red Sparks
	Report

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 1019

18 April 2021 12:00

Munakata Sanix Blues	21 - 31	Kintetsu Liners
	Report

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4285

18 April 2021 14:00

Shimizu Blue Sharks	20 - 48	Hino Red Dolphins
	Report

Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium Attendance: 1036

Bracket

	Round of 16				Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Sungoliath	76
	Green Rockets	31
					Sungoliath	Bye
					Black Rams
	Brave Lupus	24
	Black Rams	27
									Sungoliath	26
									Spears	9
	Spears	46
	Jubilo	12
					Spears	23
					Steelers	21
	Steelers	50
	Dynaboars	17
													Sungoliath	26
													Wild Knights	31
	Verblitz	49
	Red Dolphins	29
					Verblitz	33
					Red Hurricanes	29
	Red Hurricanes	21
	Heat	13
									Verblitz	21
									Wild Knights	48
	Eagles	43
	Shining Arcs	13
					Eagles	17
					Wild Knights	32
	Wild Knights	54
	Liners	7

Round of 16

24 April 2021 12:00

Toshiba Brave Lupus	24 - 27	Ricoh Black Rams
Try: Jone Naikabula (2) 3' m 64' c Daigo Hashimoto 61' m Takahiro Ogawa 80+2' c Con: Jack Stratton (0/2) Takahiro Ogawa (2/2) 65' 80+3'	Report	Try: Takei Hinata 15' c Toshiya Takahashi 24' c Shota Yamamoto 78' c Con: Matt McGahan (3/3) 16' 25' 79' Pen: Matt McGahan (2/2) 9' 39'

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 2558

24 April 2021 12:00

Kubota Spears	46 - 12	Yamaha Júbilo
Try: Bernard Foley 12' c Finau Tupa 25' c Penalty Try 29' Lappies Labuschagné (3) 53' m 74' c 77' c Con: Bernard Foley (2/3) 14' 26' Gerhard van den Heever (2/2) 75' 78' Pen: Bernard Foley (2/2) 22' 60'	Report	Try: Chikara Ito 3' c Kakeru Okumura 72' Con: Kakeru Okumura (1/2) 4' Pen: Kakeru Okumura (0/1)

Edogawa Stadium Attendance: 2033

24 April 2021 14:30

Suntory Sungoliath	76 - 31	NEC Green Rockets
Try: Beauden Barrett (2) 2' c 74' c Shota Emi 6' m Sean McMahon 12' m Takaaki Nakazuru (2) 28' m 33' m Yukio Morikawa 38' c Penalty Try 42' Yutaka Nagare 43' c Seiya Ozaki 56' c Samu Kerevi 64' c Con: Beauden Barrett (4/8) 3' 34' 40' 44' Hikaru Tamura (3/3) 57' 65' 75'	Report	Try: Daiki Nakajima (3) 22' m 53' c 80' c Pat Tafa 62' c Keisuke Yamada 78' m Con: Alex Goode (2/4) 53' 63' Benhard Janse van Rensburg (1/1) 80+1'

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4182

24 April 2021 14:30

Kobelco Steelers	50 - 17	Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Try: Richard Buckman 9' c Ryohei Yamanaka 14' m Lui Naeata 21' m Ataata Moeakiola 41' c Hikaru Hashimoto (2) 50' c 68' m Brodie Retallick 60' c Hirotaka Hirabara 72' c Con: Timothy Lafaele (0/1) Aaron Cruden (4/6) 11' 42' 51' 61' Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 73' Pen: Aaron Cruden (0/1)	Report	Try: Ippei Yamamoto 26' c Michael Little 57' c Con: James Wilson (2/2) 27' 58' Pen: James Wilson (1/1) 17'

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 2990

25 April 2021 12:00

NTT Communications Shining Arcs	13 - 43	Canon Eagles
Try: Doga Maeda 51' c Con: Greig Laidlaw (1/1) 52' Pen: Greig Laidlaw (2/2) 9' 17'	Report	Try: Kobus van Dyk 5' c SP Marais (2) 23' c 73' c Jesse Kriel 40+1' m Ed Quirk 55' c Amanaki Saumaki 78' c Con: Yu Tamura (4/5) 6' 57' 74' 80' Jumpei Ogura (1/1) 24' Pen: Yu Tamura (1/1) 44'

Edogawa Stadium Attendance: 1983

25 April 2021 12:00

Honda Heat	13 - 21	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Try: Nobutaka Ubukata 61' m Franco Mostert 67' m Con: Gwangtee Oh (0/2) Pen: Gwangtee Oh (1/1) 17' Matt Duffie (0/1)	Report	Try: Makazole Mapimpi 26' c Lourens Erasmus 39' c TJ Perenara 57' c Con: Ei Kawamuko (3/3) 27' 40' 58'

Paloma Mizuho Stadium Attendance: 3260

25 April 2021 14:30

Panasonic Wild Knights	54 - 7	Kintetsu Liners
Try: Jack Cornelsen (2) 28' c 44' m Itsuki Onishi 52' c Dylan Riley 68' c Ryuji Noguchi 71' c Kenki Fukuoka 75' m 78' c Con: Rikiya Matsuda (3/4) 29' 53' 68' Takuya Yamasawa (2/3) 72' 79' Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (3/3) 50' 56' 60'	Report	Try: Joshua Nohra 16' c Con: Patrick Stehlin (1/1) 17'

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3989

25 April 2021 14:30

Toyota Verblitz	49 - 29	Hino Red Dolphins
Try: Jamie Henry 15' c Taichi Takahashi (2) 20' c 78' c Male Sa'u 27' c Fetuani Lautaimi 48' c Rob Thompson 67' c Takehito Namekawa 75' c Con: Lionel Cronjé (7/7) 16' 21' 27' 48' 68' 76' 79'	Report	Try: Chance Peni (2) 4' c 59'c Taiki Kawai 63' c Yuki Go 80+2' m Con: Taro Togo (3/3) 6' 60' 64' Toshizumi Kitagawa (0/1) Pen: Taro Togo (1/1) 23'

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 3849

Quarter-finals

8 May 2021 13:00

Toyota Verblitz	33 - 29	NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Try: Kieran Read 41' c Jamie Henry (2) 62' c 71' m Con: Lionel Cronjé (2/3) 42' 63' Pen: Lionel Cronjé (3/3) 9' 22' 48'	Report	Try: Tom Marshall 15' m Mifiposeti Paea 27' c Wimpie van der Walt 43' c Kouk Shigeno 52' c Con: Marty Banks (3/4) 28' 45' 54' Pen: Marty Banks (1/2) 1'

Egao Kenko Stadium Attendance: 2534

8 May 2021 15:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	32 - 17	Canon Eagles
Try: Dylan Riley 2' c Keisuke Uchida 14' c Kenki Fukuoka 61' m Shota Fukui 66' c Con: Rikiya Matsuda (2/3) 3' 15' Takuya Yamasawa (1/1) 67' Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (2/2) 29' 32'	Report	Try: Yu Tamura 47' c Naoya Minamihashi 68' c Con: Yu Tamura (2/2) 48' 69' Pen: Yu Tamura (1/1) 8'

Kumagaya Rugby Ground Attendance: 4651

9 May 2021 12:45

Kobelco Steelers	21 - 23	Kubota Spears
Try: Hayden Parker 39' c Atsushi Hiwasa 63' c Rakuhei Yamashita 70' c Con: Hayden Parker (1/1) 40' Aaron Cruden (2/2) 64' 71' Pen: Hayden Parker (0/1)	Report	Try: Sione Vatuvei 3' c Honeti Taumohaapai 9' c Con: Bernard Foley (2/2) 4' 10' Pen: Bernard Foley (1/2) 24' Gerhard van den Heever (2/3) 61' 76'

Shizuoka Stadium Attendance: 5543

9 May 2021 14:00

Suntory Sungoliath	Cancelled [5]	Ricoh Black Rams

Showa Denko Dome Oita

Semi-finals

15 May 2021 14:00

Panasonic Wild Knights	48 - 21	Toyota Verblitz
Try: Kenki Fukuoka (3) 1' m 69' c 77' c Takuya Yamasawa 60' c Dylan Riley 75' c Con: Rikiya Matsuda (3/4) 62' 70' 76' Takuya Yamasawa (1/1) 78' Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (4/6) 21' 27' 33' 46' Drop: Rikiya Matsuda 24'	Report	Try: Masato Furukawa 5' m Taichi Takahashi (2) 9' m 16' m Con: Lionel Cronjé (0/3) Pen: Lionel Cronjé (2/3) 35' 47'

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 0

16 May 2021 13:10

Suntory Sungoliath	26 - 9	Kubota Spears
Try: Shota Emi 33' m Con: Beauden Barrett (0/1) Pen: Beauden Barrett (6/7) 25' 30' 42' 49' 55' 59' Drop: Beauden Barrett 20'	Report	Pen: Gerhard van den Heever (3/3) 8' 23' 47'

Hanazono Rugby Stadium Attendance: 0

Final

See also: All-Japan Rugby Football Championship

23 May 2021 13:10 JST

Suntory Sungoliath	26 - 31	Panasonic Wild Knights
Try: Ryoto Nakamura 35' c Takaaki Nakazuru 42' m Naoto Saito 70' c Seiya Ozaki 78' c Con: Beauden Barrett (3/4) 37' 71' 79' Pen: Beauden Barrett (0/1)	Report	Try: Dylan Riley 5' c Kenki Fukuoka 30' c Asaeli Ai Valu 55' m Con: Rikiya Matsuda (2/3) 6' 31' Pen: Rikiya Matsuda (3/3) 14' 25' 39' Takuya Yamasawa (1/2) 73'

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Attendance: 4668 Referee: Akihisa Aso

FB 15 Seiya Ozaki RW 14 Takaaki Nakazuru OC 13 Shogo Nakano IC 12 Ryoto Nakamura (c) LW 11 Shota Emi FH 10 Beauden Barrett SH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Sean McMahon OF 7 Naoki Ozawa BF 6 Hendrik Tui RL 5 Harry Hockings LL 4 Tom Savage TP 3 Shinnosuke Kakinaga HK 2 Shunta Nakamura LP 1 Yukio Morikawa Substitutions: HK 16 Kosuke Horikoshi PR 17 Shintaro Ishihara PR 18 Sam Talakai LK 19 Joe Latta FL 20 Tevita Tatafu SH 21 Naoto Saito FH 22 Hikaru Tamura CE 23 Yusuke Kajimura Coach: Milton Haig

FB 15 Ryuji Noguchi RW 14 Semisi Tupou OC 13 Dylan Riley IC 12 Hadleigh Parkes LW 11 Kenki Fukuoka FH 10 Rikiya Matsuda SH 9 Keisuke Uchida N8 8 Jack Cornelsen OF 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki BF 6 Ben Gunter RL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Daniel Heenan TP 3 Shohei Hirano HK 2 Atsushi Sakate (c) LP 1 Keita Inagaki Substitutions: HK 16 Shota Horie PR 17 Craig Millar PR 18 Asaeli Ai Valu LK 19 Ryota Hasegawa FL 20 Itsuki Onishi SH 21 Taiki Koyama FH 22 Takuya Yamasawa CE 23 Shota Fukui Coach: Robbie Deans

Notes

1. Matches cancelled due to Covid-19 result in a 0-0 draw.

References

1. "Top League revises format, schedule for 2021 campaign". The Japan Times. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
2. "Top League delays start of season due to COVID-19 outbreak". The Japan Times. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
3. "Top League 2021 Stage One". Top League. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
4. "Japan Rugby Top League 2021 Announces New Tournament Format and Season Calendar". Japan Rugby Football Union. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
5. "Beauden Barrett's Suntory Sungoliath progress to Top League semi-finals after match cancelled due to COVID". RugbyPass. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.