The Top League Championship is Japan's highest-level knockout tournament for rugby union clubs. Held annually, the leading teams from the Top League regular season qualify for the playoffs to decide the Cup title. From 2018 onward, the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship has doubled as the Top League Championship Cup. Previously, teams competed for the Lixil Cup, from 2014 to 2016, and Microsoft Cup.
Saitama Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team formerly based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which played in the Top League. In 2021 it relocated 13 kilometers south to Kumagaya, Saitama prefecture, and rebranded as Saitama Wild Knights accordingly. It now plays in Japan Rugby League One.
Digby Ioane is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who played for the Colorado Raptors in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Ryan Lee Hall is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for Leeds Rhinos in Super League, and has represented England and Great Britain at international level.
Ricky Walford is an Indigenous Australian former professional and state representative rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played for the Sydney Roosters, North Sydney Bears and the St. George Dragons. He was a goal-kicking Winger.
Fumiaki Tanaka is a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half for Japan on international level and for the NEC Green Rockets and the Sunwolves at domestic level.
Tomoki Yoshida is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays as a scrum-half.
Keita Inagaki is a Japanese professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights and the Japan national team.
Kenki Fukuoka is a Japanese former rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He was selected for Japan's 2016 Olympic sevens squad and included in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, held in Japan for the first time. Fukuoka won the man of the match award in Japan's victory against Scotland in the 2019 World Cup on 13 October 2019; a victory that saw Japan reach the competition's knockout stage for the first time. In 2021, he entered the Medical school of Juntendo University for professional doctor career.
Kentaro Kodama is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the wing position. He currently plays for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan's domestic Top League.
Tomoki Iwata is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City and the Japan national team.
Shunsuke Nunomaki is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a flanker. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan's domestic Top League.
Hosea Saumaki is a Tongan rugby union player who plays as a wing. He previously played for Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League, and for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby.
Yuji Kitagawa is a Japanese rugby union player who played as a lock. He represented Japan internationally from 2007 to 2011 and played for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League. He made his international debut for Japan against Korea on 22 April 2007.
Tatsukichi Nishiura is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a prop. He spent his whole career playing for Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 50 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 3 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 14 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring one try against Italy.
Yuji Matsubara is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a hooker. He spent his whole career playing for Kobelco Steelers in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 35 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 3 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 20 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring two tries.
Hare Makiri is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a flanker. He played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Munakata Sanix Blues in the Top League. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 4 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 22 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring five tries, before late coaching Japan Sevens.
Takamichi Sasaki is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a flanker. He played for both Suntory Sungoliath and Hino Red Dolphins in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 100 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 1 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 12 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring four tries.
Shotaro Onishi is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a centre. He spent his whole career playing for both Kintetsu Liners and Toyota Industries Shuttles in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 560 times. He was named in the Japan squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making 3 appearances in the tournament. He made a further 30 appearances for Japan in his career, scoring 71 points.
Taku Inokuchi is a former Japanese rugby union player who played as a hooker. He spent his whole career playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's domestic Top League, playing over 10 times. He was named as a backup player for Japan for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, making two appearances in the tournament. He made a further 5 appearances for Japan, scoring a try.
