The 2013 The All-Japan Rugby Football Championship (日本ラグビーフットボール選手権大会 Nihon Ragubi-Futtobo-ru Senshuken Taikai) took place from Feb 2nd up to the final on Feb 24th.
Qualifying
Top League The top four teams (Suntory Sungoliath, Toshiba Brave Lupus, Panasonic Wild Knights, Kobelco Steelers) in the 2012–13 Top League automatically qualified for the competition, and competed in a playoff competition.
Toshiba Brave Lupus and Suntory Sungoliath eventually played in the Final, with Suntory Sungoliath winning 19–3. As Top League finalists they gained automatic entry to the Championship Semi-finals.
The Top League Wildcard Tournament was contested by the fifth to tenth teams in the final table for the last two places for this league in the Championship. This was competed by Toyota Verblitz, Yamaha Júbilo, Kintetsu Liners, NEC Green Rockets, NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Ricoh Black Rams and eventually taken by Toyota Verblitz and Yamaha Júbilo.
Top Challenge One In the 2012–13 Challenge series, the teams from Top Challenge One (Kubota Spears, Toyota Industries Shuttles, Coca-Cola West Red Sparks) and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars (Top Challenge Two Winner) competed over 3 rounds to gain the first place (as Top Challenger One) for qualification to the Championship. This was eventually won by the Coca-Cola West Red Sparks.
University In the 49th Japan National University Rugby Championship final Teikyo University defeated Tsukuba University 39–22. Both teams gained entry to the Championship as finalists.
Club In the 20th All Japan Rugby Club Championship, Rokko Fighting Bull gained the Top Club side entry to the Championship.
Qualifying Teams
Top League Playoff Finalists - Suntory Sungoliath, Toshiba Brave Lupus Top League Playoff Semi-Finalists - Panasonic Wild Knights, Kobelco Steelers Top League Wild Card Playoff - Toyota Verblitz, Yamaha Júbilo All Japan University Rugby Championship - Teikyo University, Tsukuba University All Japan Rugby Club Championship - Rokko Fighting Bull Top Challenge Series - Coca-Cola West Red Sparks
Knockout stages
First round
RoundDateTeamScoreTeamVenueAttendanceFirstFeb 2, 2013 12:00Toyota Verblitz5 – 20Kobelco SteelersKintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium,Osakan/aFirstFeb 2, 2013 14:00Panasonic Wild Knights56 – 14Yamaha Júbilo Hanazono,Osakan/aFirstFeb 2, 2013 12:00Tsukuba University15 – 47Coca-Cola West Red SparksChichibunomiya Rugby Stadium,Tokyon/aFirstFeb 2, 2013 14:00Teikyo University115 – 5Rokko Fighting BullChichibunomiya,Tokyon/a
Quarter-final
RoundDateTeamScoreTeamVenueAttendanceQuarter FinalFeb 10, 2013 12:00Coca-Cola West Red Sparks29 – 45Kobelco SteelersChichibunomiya,Tokyon/aQuarter FinalFeb 10, 2013 14:00Panasonic Wild Knights54 – 21Teikyo UniversityChichibunomiya,Tokyon/a
Semi-final
Suntory Sungoliath and Toshiba Brave Lupus bypassed the first two rounds into the semi-finals by reaching the final of the Top League playoffs in 2013.
RoundDateTeamScoreTeamVenueAttendanceSemi FinalFeb 16, 2013 12:00Suntory Sungoliath26 – 13Panasonic Wild KnightsChichibunomiya,Tokyon/aSemi Final Feb 16, 2013 14:00Kobelco Steelers31 – 29Toshiba Brave LupusHanazono,Osakan/a
Final
RoundDateWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendanceFinalFeb 24, 2013 14:00Suntory Sungoliath36 – 20Kobelco SteelersNational Olympic Stadium,Tokyo14,155
See also Rugby Union in Japan
References
External links Official JRFU Scores and Details (Japanese)