2021 Top League

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]

2021 Top League
Kubota halfback Daisuke Inoue in February 2021
CountriesJapan
Date20 February 2021 – 23 May 2021
ChampionsPanasonic Wild Knights (5th title)
Runners-upSuntory Sungoliath
Matches played73
Attendance250,022
(average 3,425 per match)
Highest attendance8,747 (Suntory Sungoliath v Kubota Spears, 3 April 2021)
Top point scorerBeauden Barrett (168)
Top try scorerMalo Tuitama (14)
Official website
www.top-league.jp

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
2021 Top League Teams
Club Region Head Coach Captain
Canon Eagles Machida, Tokyo Japan Keisuke Sawaki Japan Yu Tamura
Hino Red Dolphins Hino, Tokyo Japan Takuro Miuchi Japan Kyosuke Horie
Honda Heat Suzuka, Mie New Zealand Danny Lee Japan Ryota Kobayashi
Kobelco Steelers Kobe New Zealand Dave Dillon New Zealand Tom Franklin
Kubota Spears Abiko, Chiba South Africa Frans Ludeke Japan Harumichi Tatekawa
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars Sagamihara New Zealand Greg Cooper New Zealand Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
Munakata Sanix Blues Munakata, Fukuoka New Zealand Corey Brown Japan Ryuichiro Fukutsubo
NEC Green Rockets Abiko, Chiba Japan Ryota Asano Japan Ryoi Kamei
NTT Communications Shining Arcs Chiba Prefecture South Africa Hugh Reece-Edwards Japan Shokei Kin
NTT DoCoMo ​Red Hurricanes Osaka South Africa Johan Ackermann South Africa Lourens Erasmus
Panasonic Wild Knights Ōta, Gunma New Zealand Robbie Deans Japan Atsushi Sakate
Ricoh Black Rams Setagaya Australia Damien Hill Japan Shuhei Matsuhashi
Suntory Sungoliath Fuchū, Tokyo New Zealand Milton Haig Japan Ryoto Nakamura
Toshiba Brave Lupus Fuchū, Tokyo New Zealand Todd Blackadder Japan Michael Leitch
Toyota Verblitz Toyota City New Zealand Simon Cron Japan Kaito Shigeno
Yamaha Jubilo Iwata, Shizuoka Japan Naoya Okubo Japan 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]

Ladder
Red Conference Standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1Suntory Sungoliath7700420129291634
2Toyota Verblitz7601288186102428
3Kubota Spears7502236130106525
4NTT Communications Shining Arcs7313236254-18317
5Toshiba Brave Lupus7304224229-5416
6Honda Heat7105133240-10726
7Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars7115123309-18606
8Munakata Sanix Blues7106139322-18315

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

20 February 2021
13:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs41 - 13Honda Heat
Report
Yumenoshima Stadium
Attendance: 950
20 February 2021
14:00
Kubota Spears43 - 17Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Nakadai Sports Park Athletic Stadium
Attendance: 1488
20 February 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz34 - 33Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4305
21 February 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars7 - 75Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Sagamihara Gion Stadium
Attendance: 4058

Round 2

27 February 2021
12:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus7 - 39Kubota Spears
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4150
27 February 2021
14:00
Munakata Sanix Blues23 - 30Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Global Arena
Attendance: 1280
28 February 2021
13:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs29 - 47Toyota Verblitz
Report
Yumenoshima Stadium
Attendance: 2940
28 February 2021
14:00
Honda Heat14 - 31Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Mie Sports Garden
Attendance: 2817

Round 3

6 March 2021
12:00
Kubota Spears34 - 24NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 2459
6 March 2021
14:00
Suntory Sungoliath75 - 10Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
Attendance: 2407
6 March 2021
14:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus58 - 7Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1513
6 March 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz45 - 3Honda Heat
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4116

Round 4

13 March 2021
13:00
Munakata Sanix Blues29 - 61Toyota Verblitz
Report
Global Arena
Attendance: 2001
20 March 2021
12:00
Toshiba Brave Lupus5 - 73Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3986
14 March 2021
13:00
Kubota Spears38 - 7Honda Heat
Report
ZA Oripri Stadium
Attendance: 2115
14 March 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars26 - 26NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Sagamihara Gion Stadium
Attendance: 3122

Round 5

26 March 2021
19:30
Toshiba Brave Lupus19 - 45NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6125
27 March 2021
14:00
Toyota Verblitz36 - 39Suntory Sungoliath
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 4251
28 March 2021
12:00
Kubota Spears32 - 17Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Edogawa Stadium
Attendance: 2057
28 March 2021
13:00
Honda Heat24 - 25Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 1265

Round 6

3 April 2021
12:00
NTT Communications Shining Arcs40 - 21Munakata Sanix Blues
Report
Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium
Attendance: 862
3 April 2021
13:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars29 - 40Toyota Verblitz
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1562
3 April 2021
14:00
Suntory Sungoliath33 - 26Kubota Spears
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 8747
4 April 2021
12:00
Honda Heat17 - 53Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1685

Round 7

10 April 2021
14:00
Honda Heat55 - 7Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
Report
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 1039
11 April 2021
12:00
Suntory Sungoliath94 - 31NTT Communications Shining Arcs
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 8233
11 April 2021
13:00
Toyota Verblitz25 - 24Kubota Spears
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4252
11 April 2021
13:00
Munakata Sanix Blues14 - 49Toshiba Brave Lupus
Report
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 2825

Ladder
White Conference Standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1Panasonic Wild Knights761031876242531
2Kobelco Steelers7610289138151329
3NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes74031751750117
4Ricoh Black Rams7304179184-5517
5Canon Eagles7313176230-54216
6Yamaha Júbilo7304239240-1315
7Hino Red Dolphins711590238-14817
8NEC Green Rockets7007139324-18511

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

20 February 2021
14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights55 - 14Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3941
20 February 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers47 - 38NEC Green Rockets
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3752
21 February 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles24 - 26NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Machida Stadium
Attendance: 2989
21 February 2021
14:00
Hino Red Dolphins17 - 52Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2084

Round 2

27 February 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes38 - 19NEC Green Rockets
Report
Yanmar Stadium Nagai
Attendance: 2232
28 February 2021
12:00
Yamaha Júbilo22 - 23Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 1856
28 February 2021
14:00
Panasonic Wild Knights60 - 12Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 4380
28 February 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers73 - 10Canon Eagles
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 4407

Round 3

6 March 2021
12:00
NEC Green Rockets31 - 59Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3760
6 March 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes22 - 17Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2592
6 March 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers52 - 7Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 2504
6 March 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles0 - 47Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Showa Denko Dome Oita
Attendance: 7008

Round 4

21 March 2021
12:00
NEC Green Rockets7 - 10Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 865
14 March 2021
14:00
Ricoh Black Rams19 - 20Kobelco Steelers
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 4204
14 March 2021
14:00
Yamaha Júbilo32 - 40Canon Eagles
Report
Yamaha Stadium
Attendance: 6436
14 March 2021
14:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes13 - 26Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Yanmar Stadium Nagai
Attendance: 4735

Round 5

27 March 2021
12:00
Ricoh Black Rams28 - 31Canon Eagles
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6302
27 March 2021
13:00
Yamaha Júbilo22 - 53Kobelco Steelers
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6267
28 March 2021
13:00
Panasonic Wild Knights62 - 5NEC Green Rockets
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 6772
28 March 2021
14:00
Hino Red Dolphins25 - 26NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 2395

Round 6

3 April 2021
13:00
Yamaha Júbilo33 - 21NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Report
Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium
Attendance: 3580
4 April 2021
13:00
Hino Red DolphinsCancelled [a 1]Canon Eagles
Soyu Stadium
4 April 2021
13:00
NEC Green Rockets15 - 37Ricoh Black Rams
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 3710
4 April 2021
14:00
Kobelco Steelers13 - 13Panasonic Wild Knights
Report
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 8523

Round 7

10 April 2021
12:00
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes29 - 31Kobelco Steelers
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4879
10 April 2021
13:00
Panasonic Wild Knights55 - 19Yamaha Júbilo
Report
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
Attendance: 8389
10 April 2021
13:00
Ricoh Black Rams41 - 19Hino Red Dolphins
Report
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 3092
11 April 2021
14:00
Canon Eagles71 - 24NEC 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 Shuttles24 - 25NEC Green Rockets
Report
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 941
17 April 2021
14:00
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars24 - 17Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Report
Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 1019
18 April 2021
12:00
Munakata Sanix Blues21 - 31Kintetsu Liners
Report
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Attendance: 4285
18 April 2021
14:00
Shimizu Blue Sharks20 - 48Hino 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 Lupus24 - 27Ricoh 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Spears46 - 12Yamaha 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Sungoliath76 - 31NEC 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Steelers50 - 17Mitsubishi 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)    		ReportTry: 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 Arcs13 - 43Canon Eagles
    Try: Doga Maeda 51' c
    Con: Greig Laidlaw (1/1) 52'
    Pen: Greig Laidlaw (2/2) 9' 17'    		ReportTry: 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 Heat13 - 21NTT 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)    		ReportTry: 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 Knights54 - 7Kintetsu 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'    		ReportTry: Joshua Nohra 16' c
    Con: Patrick Stehlin (1/1) 17'
    Hanazono Rugby Stadium
    Attendance: 3989
    25 April 2021
    14:30
    Toyota Verblitz49 - 29Hino 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Verblitz33 - 29NTT 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Knights32 - 17Canon 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Steelers21 - 23Kubota 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)    		ReportTry: 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 SungoliathCancelled [5]Ricoh Black Rams
    Showa Denko Dome Oita

    Semi-finals
    15 May 2021
    14:00
    Panasonic Wild Knights48 - 21Toyota 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'    		ReportTry: 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 Sungoliath26 - 9Kubota 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'    		ReportPen: 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 Sungoliath26 - 31Panasonic 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)    		ReportTry: 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
    FB15Japan Seiya Ozaki
    RW14Japan Takaaki Nakazuru
    OC13Japan Shogo Nakano
    IC12Japan Ryoto Nakamura (c)
    LW11Japan Shota Emi
    FH10New Zealand Beauden Barrett
    SH9Japan Yutaka Nagare
    N88Australia Sean McMahon
    OF7Japan Naoki Ozawa
    BF6Japan Hendrik Tui
    RL5Australia Harry Hockings
    LL4England Tom Savage
    TP3Japan Shinnosuke Kakinaga
    HK2Japan Shunta Nakamura
    LP1Japan Yukio Morikawa
    Substitutions:
    HK16Japan Kosuke Horikoshi
    PR17Japan Shintaro Ishihara
    PR18Australia Sam Talakai
    LK19New Zealand Joe Latta
    FL20Japan Tevita Tatafu
    SH21Japan Naoto Saito
    FH22Japan Hikaru Tamura
    CE23Japan Yusuke Kajimura
    Coach:
    New Zealand Milton Haig
    FB15Japan Ryuji Noguchi
    RW14Australia Semisi Tupou
    OC13Japan Dylan Riley
    IC12Wales Hadleigh Parkes
    LW11Japan Kenki Fukuoka
    FH10Japan Rikiya Matsuda
    SH9Japan Keisuke Uchida
    N88Japan Jack Cornelsen
    OF7Japan Shunsuke Nunomaki
    BF6Japan Ben Gunter
    RL5England George Kruis
    LL4Japan Daniel Heenan
    TP3Japan Shohei Hirano
    HK2Japan Atsushi Sakate (c)
    LP1Japan Keita Inagaki
    Substitutions:
    HK16Japan Shota Horie
    PR17Japan Craig Millar
    PR18Japan Asaeli Ai Valu
    LK19Japan Ryota Hasegawa
    FL20Japan Itsuki Onishi
    SH21Japan Taiki Koyama
    FH22Japan Takuya Yamasawa
    CE23Japan Shota Fukui
    Coach:
    New Zealand 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.
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