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 their first Top League title.
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 Toyota Industries Shuttles and NTT Communications Shining Arcs were promoted to the Top League, replacing Honda Heat and Kyuden Voltex who were relegated.
Teams TeamRegionSeasonCoca-Cola West Red SparksFukuoka, Kyushu5Fukuoka Sanix BluesFukuoka, Kyushu7Kintetsu LinersOsaka, Kansai5Kobelco SteelersHyogo, Kansai8Kubota SpearsChiba, Kanto8NEC Green RocketsChiba, Kanto8NTT Shining ArcsChiba, Chiba1Ricoh Black RamsTokyo, Kanto7Sanyo Wild KnightsGunma, Kanto8Suntory SungoliathTokyo, Kanto8Toshiba Brave LupusTokyo, Kanto8Toyota VerblitzAichi, Tokai7Toyota Industries ShuttlesAichi, Mizuho1Yamaha JubiloShizuoka, Tokai8
Regular season Final standings Top League TableClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1 Toshiba Brave Lupus131102483210+273 572 Sanyo Wild Knights131102545163+382 553 Toyota Verblitz131102446261+185 554 Suntory Sungoliath131003395279+22 365 Kobelco Steelers13706395279+116 366 NEC Green Rockets13706276332−37 347 Ricoh Black Rams13607364389−25 328 Fukuoka Sanix Blues13517357472−115 329 Kintetsu Liners13607277344−67 3110 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks13508250438−188 2811 Yamaha Jubilo13508327504−177 2712 NTT Shining Arcs13409271343−72 2413 Kubota Spears 131111224443−219 1114 Toyota Industries Shuttles131012229558−329 11 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.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
Fixtures and results
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
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.
Top Ten Points Scorers
End-of-season awards
References
External links 2010–11 draw and Match Attendance Team Profiles (Japanese) Top League official site (Japanese) Top League video digest Table (Japanese)
ja:ジャパンラグビートップリーグ2009-2010