2005 Top League Challenge Series

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.

2005 Top League Challenge Series
CountriesJapan
Date16 – 29 January 2005
ChampionsFukuoka Sanix Bombs (1st title)
Runners-upSecom Rugguts
PromotedFukuoka Sanix Bombs
Secom Rugguts
Matches played6

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.

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
1Toyota Industries Shuttles761048662+4246032
2Honda Heat7601438155+2835029
3NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes7502331150+1814125
4Osaka Police7412259126+1333122
5JR West Railers7304222333−1113015
6Chubu Electric Power7205143265−1223011
7Mitsubishi Red Evolutions7106128430−302318
8Unitika Phoenix (P)700794580−486101
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
1Secom Rugguts (R)9900483149+3349045
2Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars9801420138+2828040
3NTT Communications Shining Arcs9603278192+867031
4Tokyo Gas9504294255+396228
5Kamaishi Seawaves9414282294−126024
6Kurita Water9405283269+145223
7Shimizu Blue Sharks9315178320−1422016
8Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars9216180361−1813013
9JAL Wings9207158340−1822010
10Insurance Meiji Life Yasuda9018151389−238215
2004 Top East League (North) standings
1Akita Northern Bullets6501391104+2875025
2NTT Burns650137392+2815125
3Funaoka SDF Wild Boars6204165185−202010
4North Force600624572−548000
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:

Round 1 23 December 2004 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 26–35 Akita Northern Bullets  
Round 2 3 January 2005 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 71–12 Akita Northern Bullets  

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
1Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (R)770064879+5697035
2Coca-Cola West Red Sparks7601423106+3176131
3Kyuden Voltex750246785+3826127
4Mazda Blue Zoomers7403325216+1095021
5Chugoku Electric Power7304206378−1724016
6JR Kyūshū Thunders7205101487−3862010
7Mitsubishi Heavy Industries710665471−406004
8Mitsubishi Mizushima700752465−413123
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
1Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (R)22008341+422010
2Coca-Cola West Red Sparks210161610206
3Kyuden Voltex20023779−42000
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
1Fukuoka Sanix Bombs22007536+392010
2Secom Rugguts21012451−27004
3Toyota Industries Shuttles20025365−12123
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]

16 January 2005 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 34–0 Secom Rugguts  
23 January 2005 Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 41–36 Toyota Industries Shuttles  
29 January 2005 Toyota Industries Shuttles 17–24 Secom Rugguts  

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
1Honda Heat21015969−10206
2Coca-Cola West Red Sparks21017742+35105
3Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars21016893−25105
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]

16 January 2005 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 62–14 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
23 January 2005 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 15–28 Honda Heat  
29 January 2005 Honda Heat 31–54 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  

See also

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. "Top League Challenge 2004/05". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
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