Wikipedia

2014–15 Top League

The 2014–15 Top League was the 12th season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 30 August 2014. The final was held on 8 February 2015 and won by Panasonic Wild Knights, 30–12 over Yamaha Júbilo.

2014–15 Top League
Panasonic win the Lixil Cup for season 2014–15.
CountriesJapan Japan
Date22 August 2014 – 1 February 2015
ChampionsPanasonic Wild Knights
(3rd title)
Runners-upYamaha Júbilo
Matches played115
Top point scorerAustralia Berrick Barnes
(156 pts)

 Panasonic Wild Knights
Top try scorerFiji Nemani Nadolo
(11 tries)

 NEC Green Rockets
Japan Rakuhei Yamashita
(11 tries)

 Kobelco Steelers
Japan Kyosuke Horie
(11 tries)

 Yamaha Júbilo

Teams edit

The only change to the make-up of the league was the Top Kyushu champion team Fukuoka Sanix replacing Kyuden Voltex.[1][2]

Team Region Coach Captain
Canon Eagles Machida, Tokyo, Kantō   Zane Hilton   Taku Wada
Coca-Cola Red Sparks Fukuoka, Kyūshū   Akihiro Usui   Masakazu Toyota
Fukuoka Sanix Blues Fukuoka, Kyūshū   Yuichiro Fujii   Eito Tamura
Kintetsu Liners Higashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai   Ryusuke Maeda   Daiki Toyota
Kobelco Steelers Kobe, Kansai   Gary Gold   Daiki Hashimoto
Kubota Spears Funabashi, Chiba, Kantō   Toutai Kefu   Naomichi Tatekawa
NEC Green Rockets Abiko, Chiba, Kantō   Masao Amino   Sunao Takizawa
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka, Kansai   Masahiro Shimoki   Hiroki Yoshioka
NTT Com Shining Arcs Chiba, Chiba, Kantō   Rob Penney   Yuya Mizoguchi
Panasonic Wild Knights Ota, Gunma, Kantō   Robbie Deans   Shota Horie
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, Kantō   Damien Hill   Daisuke Komatsu
Suntory Sungoliath Fuchū, Tokyo, Kantō   Andy Friend   Shinya Makabe
Toshiba Brave Lupus Fuchū, Tokyo, Kantō   Teppei Tomioka   Yoshikazu Morita
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, Mizuho   Tai McIsaac   Koichi Umeda
Toyota Verblitz Toyota, Aichi, Tokai   Filo Tiatia   Kojiro Yoshida
Yamaha Júbilo Iwata, Shizuoka, Tokai   Katsuyuki Kiyomiya   Yuhimaru Mimura

Regular season edit

For the Pool stage, the 16 teams were placed into 2 pools of 8 teams each and a round-robin tournament was played within each of the pools.

Then, for the Group stage, the top 4 teams from each pool went through to Group 1, and the bottom 4 teams from each pool went through to Group 2. The teams were given starting points based on where they finished in their pool. - i.e. starting points of 4, 3, 2, and 1, for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively; and starting points of 4, 3, 2, and 1, for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively.

Another round-robin was played for each of the groups. The Top League teams in Group 1 ranked 1st to 4th qualified for the title play-offs to fight for the Microsoft Cup and the Top League title. The top 4 also qualified directly into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

The teams in Group 1 ranked 5th to 8th, and teams in Group 2 ranked 1st to 4th went through to the wildcard play-offs for qualification into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

The teams in Group 2 ranked 5th to 7th went through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers to fight to remain in the Top League. The team in Group 2 ranked 8th was automatically relegated to the regional leagues for 2015–16.

Standings edit

Group stage tables edit

Top League - Group Stage
Group 1
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Start Points Points
1 Kobelco Steelers 7 5 0 2 242 113 +129 4 1 4 29
2 Panasonic Wild Knights 7 5 0 2 218 131 +87 5 0 4 29
3 Toshiba Brave Lupus 7 5 0 2 213 147 +66 4 1 3 28
4 Yamaha Júbilo 7 5 0 2 165 134 +31 4 1 2 27
5 Suntory Sungoliath 7 5 0 2 171 157 +14 3 0 3 26
6 Toyota Verblitz 7 2 0 5 126 198 -72 2 0 1 11
7 Canon Eagles 7 1 0 6 116 224 -108 1 1 2 8
8 NTT Com Shining Arcs 7 0 0 7 99 246 -147 0 1 1 2
Updated: 11 January 2015

Source: rugbyarchive.net[3]
 • The top 4 teams (Green background) qualify for the title play-offs, and also play in the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 5 to 8 (Blue background) qualify for the wildcard play-offs for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 1st in each pool have 4 starting points.  • Teams 2nd in each pool have 3 starting points.
 • Teams 3rd in each pool have 2 starting points.  • Teams 4th in each pool have 1 starting point.

Group 2
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Start Points Points
1 Ricoh Black Rams 7 6 0 1 199 102 +97 4 1 3 32
2 NEC Green Rockets 7 5 0 2 148 114 +34 3 1 3 27
3 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 7 5 0 2 235 166 +69 4 1 1 26
4 Kintetsu Liners 7 4 0 3 167 168 -1 4 1 4 25
5 Kubota Spears 7 4 0 3 151 127 +24 2 2 4 24
6 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 7 2 0 5 143 194 -51 4 1 2 15
7 Toyota Industries Shuttles 7 1 0 6 110 193 -83 1 1 2 8
8 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 7 1 0 6 147 236 -89 2 1 1 8
Updated: 11 January 2015

Source: rugbyarchive.net[3]
 • Teams 1 to 4 (Blue background) qualify for the wildcard play-offs for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 5 to 7 (Yellow background) go through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers to retain their places in the Top League.
 • Team 8 (Red background) is automatically relegated to the regional leagues for 2015–16.
 • Teams 5th in each pool have 4 starting points.  • Teams 6th in each pool have 3 starting points.
 • Teams 7th in each pool have 2 starting points.  • Teams 8th in each pool have 1 starting point.

Source: rugbyarchive.net[3]
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

Pool stage tables edit

Pool stage edit

Round 1 edit

22 August 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 26–39 Toshiba Brave Lupus Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Pietersen 11' c
Hayashi 80' c
Con: Barnes (2) 11', 80'
Pen: Barnes (4) 2', 23', 33', 64' 		Try: Oshima 19' c
Asahara 35' c
Bates 55'
Ogawa 60' c, 64' c
Con: Ogawa (3) 19', 35', 60'
Futoshi Mori (1) 64'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 15', 66'
22 August 2014 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 17–21 Kintetsu Liners Kincho Stadium  
Try: Nakaya 71' c
Watanabe 79' c
Con: Motegi (1) 71',
Saiguchi (1) 80'
Pen: Motegi (1) 41' 		Try: Shigemitsu 24' c
Toyoda 32' c
Ratuila 48' c
Con: Shigemitsu (3) 24', 32', 48'
23 August 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 25–11 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Nishibashi 27' c
Tsuruda 55' c
Mafi 68'
Con: Jantjies (2) 27', 55'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 5', 74' 		Try: Sweeney 48'
Pen: Tashiro (2) 8', 43'
23 August 2014 NEC Green Rockets 24–3 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Ohigashi 14' c
Murata 26' c
Onodera 38' c
Con: Tamura (3) 14', 26', 38'
Pen: Tamura (1) 65' 		Pen: Tatekawa (1) 51'
23 August 2014 Yamaha Júbilo 38–9 Toyota Industries Shuttles Yamaha Stadium  
Try: Miyazawa 48' c
Krishnan 52', 71' c
Yatomi 80' c
Con: Goromaru (3) 48', 71', 80'
Pen: Goromaru (4) 4', 15', 18', 34' 		Pen: Onishi (3) 7', 21', 38'
23 August 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 13–17 Suntory Sungoliath Umakana Yokana Stadium  
Try: King 41' c
Con: Fukuda (1) 41'
Pen: Fukuda (2) 9', 53' 		Try: Sasaki 49'
Nakazuru 65'
Narita 80' c
Con: Pisi (1) 80'
24 August 2014 Toyota Verblitz 23–16 Canon Eagles Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium  
Try: Carpenter 1' c
Takeda 43' c
Con: Monji (2) 1', 43'
Pen: Monji (3) 10', 18', 62' 		Try: Yamamoto 27' c
Con: Mitomo (1) 27'
Pen: Mitomo (3) 35', 59', 80'
24 August 2014 Kobelco Steelers 19–17 Ricoh Black Rams Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium  
Try: Taniguchi 59' c
Con: Tanabe (1) 59'
Pen: Tanabe (4) 13', 18', 64', 78' 		Try: Mau 36' c
Komatsu 74' c
Con: Peters (2) 36', 74'
Pen: Peters (1) 2'

Round 2 edit

29 August 2014 Toshiba Brave Lupus 23–16 NTT Com Shining Arcs Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Penalty Try 31' c
Hirose 63' c
Con: Ogawa (2) 31', 63'
Pen: Ogawa (3) 12', 19', 43' 		Try: Nishibashi 66'
Karauria-Henry 76'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 14', 45'
30 August 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 47–22 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Kawano 11' c
Tanaka 20'
Sasakura 26' c
Heenan 36'
Uchida 49'
Kawamata 64'
Shimomura 80' c
Con: Barnes (1) 11'
Hayashi (1) 26'
Miwa (1) 80'
Pen: Barnes (2) 3', 8' 		Try: Toeava 45'
Moriwaki 53' c
Finau 80' c
Con: Tatekawa (2) 53', 80'
Pen: Tatekawa (1) 5'
30 August 2014 Canon Eagles 33–21 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Thomson 10' c, 23' c, 27'
Hashino 36' c
Bennetts 46' c
Con: Mitomo (4) 10', 23', 36', 46' 		Try: Pohiva 18' c
Yanagawa 69'
Con: Peters (1) 18'
Pen: Peters (3) 3', 7', 21'
30 August 2014 Toyota Industries Shuttles 31–14 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Toyota Stadium  
Try: Gerrard 6' c
Sakai 13' c, 57' c
Penalty Try 77' c
Con: Barnes (4) 6', 13', 57', 77'
Pen: Barnes (1) 34' 		Try: Arai 25'
Hamazato 35' c
Con: Tashiro (2) 25', 35'
30 August 2014 Toyota Verblitz 10–13 Suntory Sungoliath Toyota Stadium  
Try: Thomas 29' c
Con: Monji (1) 29'
Pen: Monji (1) 4' 		Try: Nakazuru 55' c
Con: Pisi (1) 55'
Pen: Ono (2) 9', 40'
30 August 2014 Kobelco Steelers 26–3 Kintetsu Liners Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium  
Try: Shomen 38' c
Taniguchi 49' c
Con: Tanabe (2) 38', 49'
Pen: Tanabe (4) 21', 32', 41', 76' 		Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 18'
30 August 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 15–9 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Level-5 Stadium  
Try: Kawaguchi 5'
Toyota 53' c
Con: Fukuda (1) 53'
Pen: Fukuda (1) 40' 		Pen: Viljoen (3) 18', 25', 28'
31 August 2014 NEC Green Rockets 7–55 Yamaha Júbilo Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium  
Try: Goto 19' c
Con: Tamura (1) 19' 		Try: Hino 4', 59' c
Miyazawa 10',
Piutau 42' c, 49' c, 66' c, 73' c
Tuliai'i 71' c
Con: Goromaru (6) 42', 49', 59', 66', 71', 73'
Drop: Sogabe (1) 79'

Round 3 edit

5 September 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 20–17 Canon Eagles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Hatakeyama 31' c
Burger 72' c
Con: Pisi (2) 31', 72'
Pen: Pisi (2) 6', 21' 		Try: Fukui 38' c
Thomson 44' c
Con: Mitomo (2) 38', 44'
Pen: Mitomo (1) 12'
6 September 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 30–6 Toyota Industries Shuttles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Nishibashi 10'
Tomoigawa 33' c,
Tsuruya 58'
Bin 71' c
Con: Jantjies (1) 33'
Numajiri (1) 71'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 4', 26' 		Pen: Goodman (2) 8', 32'
6 September 2014 Toshiba Brave Lupus 18–23 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
Try: Matsunobu 2', 20' c
Con: Ogawa (1) 2'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 50', 77' 		Try: Tanaka 29' c
Toeava 53' c
Con: Tatekawa (2) 29', 53'
Pen: Tatekawa (3) 8', 47', 72'
6 September 2014 Kintetsu Liners 28–23 Ricoh Black Rams Kincho Stadium  
Try: Fairbanks 32' c
Taufa 53' c
Ratuila 60'
Con: Shigemitsu (2) 32', 53'
Pen: Taylor (1) 15'
Shigemitsu (2) 24', 30' 		Try: Komatsu 19' c
Peters 47' c
Con: Peters (2) 19', 47'
Pen: Peters (3) 3', 27', 75'
6 September 2014 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 19–31 Toyota Verblitz Kincho Stadium  
Try: Brüssow 14' c
Kohiyama 29'
Watanabe 36' c
Con: Viljoen (2) 14', 36' 		Try: Ueno 1' c
Namekawa 19' c
Yates 39' c
Matsushita 49' c
Con: Monji (4) 1', 19', 39', 49'
Pen: Monji (1) 59'
6 September 2014 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 36–31 NEC Green Rockets Level-5 Stadium  
Try: Potgieter 17' c, 49' c
Yagi 34', 47' c
Lemalu 69' c
Con: Sweeney (3) 17', 47', 49'
Hamazoto 69'
Pen: Sweeney (1) 11' 		Try: Yoshihiro 5' c
Kubota 12'
Brew 29' c
Morita 53' c
Takizawa 77'
Con: Tamura (3) 5', 29', 53'
6 September 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 0–31 Kobelco Steelers Level-5 Stadium  
Try: Kizu 23', 64' c
Yamashita 68' c
Bekker 73' c
Yamazaki 78'
Con: Yamanaka (3) 64', 68', 73'
6 September 2014 Yamaha Júbilo 9–14 Panasonic Wild Knights Yamaha Stadium  
Pen: Goromaru (3) 14', 40', 72' Try: Ueno 29'
Pen: Barnes (2) 1', 10'
Miwa (1) 69'

Round 4 edit

12 September 2014 Toshiba Brave Lupus 30–26 NEC Green Rockets Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Natsui 2'
Toyosima 18' c, 66'
Kahui 48' c
Con: Ogawa (2) 18', 48'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 14', 27' 		Try: Brew 35' c
Nadolo 75' c
Con: Tamura (1) 35'
Nadolo (1) 75'
Pen: Tamura (4) 40', 55', 60', 64'
13 September 2014 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 12–52 Yamaha Júbilo Tosu Stadium  
16:40 Try: Ahio 24'
Hesketh 74' c
Con: Hamazato (1) 74' 		Try: Tuiali'i 4' c, 31'
Horie 15' c, 39' c
Koike 45' c,
Havili 54' c, 67'
Nakazono 80' c
Con: Goromaru (5) 4', 15', 39', 45', 80'
Otao (1) 54'
13 September 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 23–25 Toyota Verblitz Tosu Stadium  
19:00 Try: Bateman 35' c
Egashira 59' c
Con: Fukuda (2) 35', 59'
Pen: Fukuda (3) 4', 13', 40' 		Try: Thomas 8'
Monji 47' c
Kusaka 52' c
Con: Monji (2) 47', 52'
Pen: Monji (2) 33', 57'
13 September 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 38–26 Ricoh Black Rams Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium  
18:00 Try: Nakazuru 17' c
Nishikawa 27' c
Murata 33' c
Tui 46' c,
Burger 61' c
Con: Pisi (3) 17', 27', 33'
Ono 46', 61'
Pen: Pisi (1) 20' 		Try: Komatsu 41', 67' c
Bourke 71' c
Yamamoto 77' c
Con: Peters (3) 67', 71', 77'
13 September 2014 Toyota Industries Shuttles 5–54 Panasonic Wild Knights Suzuka Sports Garden  
19:05 Try: Vaka 25' Try: Heenan 2' c
Miwa 33' c
Yamada 39' c, 58' c
Tanaka 54' c
Yatabe 80' c
Con: Miwa (6) 2', 33', 39', 54', 58', 80'
Pen: Miwa (4) 15', 23', 29', 31'
13 September 2014 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 26–36 Kobelco Steelers Restoration Centennial Park  
18:00 Try: Shigeno 54' c, 75' c
Watanabe 59' c, 64'
Con: Viljoen (2) 54', 59'
Saiguchi 75' c 		Try: Bekker 13'
Yamashita 33' c
Penalty Try 46' c
Nakahama 50' c
Anderson 66' c
Con: Morita (4) 33', 46', 50', 66'
Pen: Morita (1) 32', 57'
14 September 2014 Canon Eagles 36–31 Kintetsu Liners K's denki Stadium Mito  
16:00 Try: Jyou 8' c
Mitomo 19' c
Wada 45' c
Thomson 58'
Bond 73' c
Con: Mitomo (4) 8', 19', 45', 73'
Pen: Mitomo (1) 43' 		Try: Fairbanks 41' c, 52' c
Samo 66' c
Yamaguchi 80' c
Con: Shigemitsu (4) 41', 52', 66', 80'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 22'
14 September 2014 Kubota Spears 29–27 NTT Com Shining Arcs K's denki Stadium Mito  
18:20 Try: Finau 26' c
Tamura 41'
Tanaka 54'
Con: Tatekawa (1) 26'
Pen: Tatekawa (4) 10', 51', 64', 80' 		Try: M. Tsuruya 17' c
Saunders 34' c
Mafi 66' c
Con: Jantjies (3) 17', 34', 66'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 14', 58'

Round 5 edit

19 September 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 22–29 Kobelco Steelers Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Nakazuru 38' c
Sasaki 32' c
Kakinaga 80'
Con: Pisi (2) 38', 62'
Pen: Pisi (1) 44' 		Try: Yasui 41' c
Mapakaitolo 52' c
Yamashita 58'
Murakami 77' c
Con: Yamanaka (3) 41', 52', 77'
Pen: Yamanaka (1) 30'
20 September 2014 Ricoh Black Rams 53–5 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
16:40 Try: Yamamoto 2' c
Komatsu 9' c, 74' c
Peters 15'
Pohiva 34'
Hoshino 46' c, 77'
Makita 53' c
Con: Peters (4) 2', 9', 46', 53'
Perera (1) 74'
Pen: Peters (1) 40' 		Try: Kuwazuru 49'
20 September 2014 Canon Eagles 24–10 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Thomson 40' c
Penalty Try 50' c
Moriya 61'
Bond 78'
Con: Mitomo (2) 40', 50' 		Try: Watanabe 36'
Tsujino 59'
20 September 2014 Toyota Industries Shuttles 10–35 Toshiba Brave Lupus Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
16:40 Try: Fifita 63'
Teaupa 75' 		Try: Bates 26', 41' c, 54' c
Yamaguchi 80' c
Con: Ogawa (3) 41', 54', 80'
Pen: Steyn (1) 9'
Ogawa (2) 39', 44'
20 September 2014 Toyota Verblitz 31–38 Kintetsu Liners Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Hirosaka 12' c
Thomas 25' c, 55' c
Taumoepeau 77' c
Con: Monji (4) 12', 25', 55', 77'
Pen: Monji (1) 33' 		Try: Toyoda 17' c
Ierome 38' c
Taylor 49'
Penalty Try 69' c
Con: Shigemitsu (3) 17', 38', 69'
Pen: Shigemitsu (4) 7', 44', 58', 80'
21 September 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 32–31 NEC Green Rockets Ishinomaki Stadium  
13:00 Try: Tsuruda 31'
Ueda 52' c
Penalty Try 58' c
Kobayashi 61' c
Con: Jantjies (3) 52', 58', 61'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 37'
Drop: Jantjies (1) 75' 		Try: Forau 10' c
Nadolo 28', 67'
Latu 65' c
Yoshihiro 69' c
Con: Nadolo (1) 10'
Tamura (2) 65', 69'
21 September 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 80–7 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Ashikaga City Sports Park Stadium  
15:00 Try: Kitagawa 15' c, 19' c, 36', 55'
Shimamura 23' c
Whitelock 30' c, 66' c, 73' c
Holani 45' c
Horie 48' c
Sakai 62' c
Barnes 80' c
Con: Miwa (6) 15', 19', 23', 30', 45', 48'
Barnes (4) 62', 66', 73', 80' 		Try: Robins 9' c
Con: Hamazato (1) 9'
21 September 2014 Kubota Spears 28–28 Yamaha Júbilo Denka Big Swan Stadium  
15:00 Try: Tanaka 27' c
Motegi 33' c
Finau 46' c
Toeava 64' c
Con: Tatekawa (4) 27', 33', 46', 64' 		Try: Horie 4' c, 71' c
Ohdo 12' c
Tuiali'i 37' c
Con: Goromaru (4) 4', 12', 37', 41'

Round 6 edit

11 October 2014 Ricoh Black Rams 31–24 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Morioka Minami Stadium  
12:00 Try: Takizawa 6' c
Mau 41' c
Pohiva 46', 59'
Bourke 62' c
Con: Peters (3) 6', 41', 62' 		Try: Brüssow 15'
Shigeno 54'
Iongi 65' c
Moliteika 68' c
Con: Yamanaka (2) 65', 68'
11 October 2014 Kubota Spears 24–29 Toyota Industries Shuttles Morioka Minami Stadium  
14:05 Try: Finau 26' c
Tatekawa 61' c
Tamura 65'
Tanaka 75'
Con: Tatekawa (2) 26', 61' 		Try: Oyamada 50' c
Gerrard 56' c
Con: Onishi (2) 50', 56'
Pen: Onishi (2) 12', 16'
Gerrard (3) 44', 64', 79'
11 October 2014 Kobelco Steelers 24–24 Toyota Verblitz Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Imamura 46' c, 62' c
Yamashita 52' c
Con: Morita (1) 46'
Yamanaka (2) 52', 62'
Pen: Morita (1) 14' 		Try: Matsushita 11' c
Takeda 25' c
Sato 65' c
Con: Monji (3) 11', 25', 65'
Pen: Monji (1) 72'
11 October 2014 Kintetsu Liners 30–31 Suntory Sungoliath Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Tanaka 34' c, 61'
Ratuila 55'
Yamaguchi 77' c
Con: Shigemitsu (2) 34', 77'
Pen: Shigemitsu (2) 25', 42' 		Try: Ozawa 12' c, 57' c
Miyamoto 50' c
Hiwasa 70' c
Con: Pisi (3) 12', 50', 57'
Miyamoto (1) 70'
Pen: Pisi (1) 31'
11 October 2014 NEC Green Rockets 21–44 Panasonic Wild Knights Kashiwanoha Park Stadium  
13:00 Try: Goto 34' c, 65' c
Nadolo 76' c
Con: Tamura (3) 34', 65', 76' 		Try: Kitagawa 5' c
Shimomura 16' c
Barnes 28' c
Yamada 56' c,
Kawamata 79' c
Con: Barnes (4) 5', 16', 28', 56'
Miwa (1) 79'
Pen: Barnes (3) 25', 38', 70'
12 October 2014 Canon Eagles 44–20 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Ōita Bank Dome  
13:00 Try: Harada 7'
Thomson 14' c, 20', 33' c
Bruce 27'
Kikutani 67' c
Con: Mitomo (4) 14', 27', 33', 67'
Pen: Mitomo (2) 40', 59' 		Try: Haradome 23' c
Tsuiki 55' c
Con: Fukuda (2) 23', 55'
Pen: Fukuda (2) 5', 12'
12 October 2014 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 21–59 Toshiba Brave Lupus Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium  
14:05 Try: Takayama 47' c
Thomson 68' c
Everingham 78' c
Con: Sweeney (2) 47', 78'
Tashiro (1) 68' 		Try: Kahui 1' c, 60' c
Hirose 13' c
Matsunobu 20' c, 39'
Yoshida 34', 44' c, 52' c, 80' c
Con: Ogawa (6) 1', 13', 20', 44', 52', 60'
Masuda (1) 80'
12 October 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 29–26 Yamaha Júbilo Toyama Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Tomoigawa 32' c
Sugiura 37'
Yamashita 47' c
Kurihara 67' c
Con: Jantjies (2) 32', 47'
Kawamoto (1) 67'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 16' 		Try: Ohdo 4' c
Horie 11' c
Hino 25' c
Sa'u 43'
Con: Goromaru (3) 4', 11', 25'

Round 7 edit

19 October 2014 Ricoh Black Rams 12–13 Toyota Verblitz Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Yanagawa 2'
Lotoahea 78' c
Con: Peters (1) 78' 		Try: Hirosaka 72' c
Con: Monji (1) 72'
Pen: Monji (2) 39', 49'
19 October 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 61–12 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Pisi 32' c, 42' c, 50' c
Murata 38' c
Tsukamoto 53' c, 72' c
Nakazuru 61', 78' c
Takemoto 67' c
Con: Pisi (5) 32', 38', 42', 50', 53'
Ono (3) 67', 72', 78' 		Try: Paea 3', 22' c
Con: Viljoen (1) 22'
19 October 2014 Kintetsu Liners 31–14 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Sakamoto 12' c
Ierome 37' c
Tani 41' c
Li 56' c
Con: Shigemitsu (4) 12', 37', 41', 56'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 50' 		Try: Kuwazuru 30' c
Tani 80' c
Con: Haradome (1) 30'
Yamada (1) 80'
19 October 2014 Yamaha Júbilo 19–14 Toshiba Brave Lupus Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Havili 35' c
Con: Goromaru (1) 35'
Pen: Goromaru (4) 5', 11', 19', 29' 		Try: Oshima 53'
Pen: Ogawa (3) 2', 15', 33'
19 October 2014 NEC Green Rockets 54–33 Toyota Industries Shuttles ND Soft Stadium Yamagata  
13:00 Try: Murata 16' c,
Forau 26' c
Kamaike 49' c, 78' c
Nadolo 56' c, 59', 72' c
Yoshihiro 76' c
Con: Tamura (7) 16', 26', 49', 56', 72', 76', 78' 		Try: Vaka 22' c, 65' c
Kankowski 69' c
Con: Onishi (3) 22', 65', 69'
Pen: Gerrard (3) 1', 13', 39'
Onishi (1) 32'
19 October 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 43–13 NTT Com Shining Arcs Ota Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Hayashi 2' c, 60' c
Miwa 72' c
Tani 75' c
Con: Barnes (2) 2', 60'
Miwa (2) 72', 75'
Pen: Barnes (4) 8', 10', 44', 51'
Miwa (1) 79' 		Try: Bin 4' c
Con: Kawamoto (1) 4'
Pen: Kawamoto (2) 23', 40'
19 October 2014 Kobelco Steelers 17–14 Canon Eagles Ningineer Stadium  
13:00 Try: Bekker 1'
Mapakaitolo 20'
Yamanaka 39' c
Con: Wing (1) 39' 		Try: Bennetts 29' c
Harada 59'
Con: Mitomo (2) 29', 59'
19 October 2014 Kubota Spears 42–28 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Tenri Shinsato Stadium  
13:00 Try: Daniel 1', 48' c
Toeava 37' c
Takitaki 44'
Poki 53'
Tanaka 56' c
Con: Tatekawa (3) 37', 48', 56'
Pen: Tatekawa (2) 5', 77' 		Try: Everingham 9' c
Arai 11' c
Hesketh 67' c,
Robins 73' c
Con: Robins (2) 9', 11'
Sweeney (2) 67', 73'

Group stage edit

Round 1 edit

28 November 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 11–35 Canon Eagles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Sugiura 6'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 20', 47' 		Try: Penalty Try 37' c
Harada 77' c
Con: Mitomo (2) 37', 77'
Pen: Mitomo (7) 17', 26', 34', 44', 52', 67', 73'
29 November 2014 Kubota Spears 18–8 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Tatekawa 46' c
Takitaki 73'
Con: Tatekawa (1) 46'
Pen: Tatekawa (2) 55', 64' 		Try: Yoshizawa 79'
Pen: Lafaele (1) 39'
29 November 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 16–12 Yamaha Júbilo Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Matsushima 11' c
Con: Pisi (1) 11'
Pen: Pisi (3) 21', 40', 67' 		Pen: Goromaru (4) 8', 17', 26', 48'
29 November 2014 Toyota Industries Shuttles 17–38 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Vatuvei 56' c, 80' c
Con: Onishi (2) 56', 80'
Pen: Onishi (1) 21' 		Try: Saiguchi 7' c
Shigeno 13'
Watanabe 36'
Viljoen 49'
Kiyose 64' c
Con: Saiguchi (1) 7'
Viljoen (1) 64'
Pen: Saiguchi (3) 43', 48', 76'
29 November 2014 Toyota Verblitz 10–30 Panasonic Wild Knights Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Taumoepeau 66' c
Con: McIntyre (1) 66'
Pen: Monji (1) 18' 		Try: Kitagawa 2', 58'
Nishiara 21' c
Holani 29' c
Con: Barnes (2) 21', 29'
Pen: Barnes (1) 45'
Miwa (1) 71'
29 November 2014 Kintetsu Liners 12–8 NEC Green Rockets Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Pen: Shigemitsu (3) 19', 70', 75'
Taylor (1) 77' 		Try: Latu 50'
Pen: Tamura (1) 72'
29 November 2014 Kobelco Steelers 20–30 Toshiba Brave Lupus Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Yamashita 15'
Kizu 54' c
Maekawa 65'
Con: Yamanaka (1) 54'
Pen: Tanabe (1) 48' 		Try: Penalty Try 24' c
Nishiara 69' c
Bates 74' c
Con: Ogawa (1) 24'
Oshima (2) 69', 74'
Pen: Ogawa (3) 7', 14', 42'
30 November 2014 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 16–21 Ricoh Black Rams Global Arena  
13:00 Try: Everingham 78' c
Con: Hamazato (1) 78'
Pen: Sweeney (3) 5', 14', 48' 		Try: Peters 21'
Bourke 67' c
Con: Peters (1) 67'
Pen: Peters (3) 12', 34', 51'

Round 2 edit

6 December 2014 Canon Eagles 13–36 Yamaha Júbilo Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
12:00 Try: Moriya 17' c
Con: Mitomo (1) 17'
Pen: Mitomo (2) 6', 28' 		Try: Ohdo 2'
Tuiali'i 41' c
Horie 54', 75'
Krishnan 78'
Con: Goromaru (1) 41'
Pen: Goromaru (3) 25', 47', 63'
6 December 2014 Toshiba Brave Lupus 33–13 Panasonic Wild Knights Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
14:05 Try: Hirose 34' c
Oshima 57' c
Yuhara 63' c
Con: Steyn (1) 34'
Oshima (2) 57', 63'
Pen: Steyn (4) 11', 15', 41', 44' 		Try: Whitelock 74'
Con: Miwa (1) 74'
Pen: Barnes (2) 1', 50'
7 December 2014 Kubota Spears 17–6 Toyota Industries Shuttles Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Mori 7' c, 62' c
Con: Tatekawa (2) 7', 62'
Pen: Tatekawa (1) 53' 		Pen: Gerrard (2) 4', 31'
7 December 2014 Toyota Verblitz 37–15 NTT Com Shining Arcs Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Hikosaka 15' c, 74' c
Takeda 20' c
Makihara 78' c
Con: McIntyre (2) 15', 20'
Monji (2) 74', 78'
Pen: McIntyre (3) 6', 11', 50' 		Try: Kobayashi 29'
Suto 70'
Con: Jantjies (1) 29'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 54'
7 December 2014 Kintetsu Liners 8–34 Ricoh Black Rams Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Taufa 80'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 30' 		Try: Yamamoto 25' c, 34' c
Makita 51' c
Pohiva 57' c
Con: Peters (4) 25', 34', 51', 57'
Pen: Peters (2) 5', 16'
7 December 2014 Kobelco Steelers 20–10 Suntory Sungoliath Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Bekker 68' c
Wing 77' c
Con: Yamanaka (2) 68', 77'
Pen: Yamanaka (1) 40'
Drop: Shomen (1) 26' 		Try: Sasaki 54' c
Con: Ono (1) 54'
Pen: Ono (1) 22'
7 December 2014 NEC Green Rockets 34–17 Fukuoka Sanix Blues City Park Stadium  
12:00 Try: Nadolo 18' c, 55' c
Usui 46' c
Miyamae 49' c
Con: Tamura (4) 18', 46', 49', 55'
Monji (2) 74', 78'
Pen: Tamura (2) 3', 15' 		Try: Hamazato 22' c
Lemalu 68' c
Con: Sweeney (1) 22'
Hamazato (1) 68'
Pen: Sweeney (1) 10'
7 December 2014 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 41–5 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Ojiyama Stadium  
13:00 Try: Tsujino 15' c, 74' c
Watanabe 20', 26'
Viljoen 30' c
Paea 55' c
Kiyose 64' c
Con: Saiguchi (4) 15', 30', 55', 64'
Pen: Saiguchi (1) 38' 		Try: Bateman 5'

Round 3 edit

13 December 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 32–16 Toshiba Brave Lupus Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Murata 32' c
Nakazuru 34', 59', 65'
Hatakeyama 67' c
Con: Nicholas (1) 32'
Ono (1) 67'
Pen: Nicholas (1) 52' 		Try: Kahui 73' c
Con: Ogawa (1) 73'
Pen: Steyn (2) 3', 8'
Drop: Steyn (1) 31'
13 December 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 29–27 Kobelco Steelers Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Yamada 54'
Horie 58' c
Pietersen 62' c
Inagaki 70' c
Con: Barnes (3) 58', 62', 70'
Pen: Barnes (1) 20' 		Try: Nakahama 13' c
Bekker 14' c
Yamashita 34' c
Con: Yamanaka (3) 13', 14', 34'
Pen: Yamanaka (2) 23', 33'
13 December 2014 Kubota Spears 36–11 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Konno 6'
Toe'ava 18', 44'
Daniel 46' c, 48' c
Miyata 67' c
Con: Tatekawa (3) 46', 48', 67' 		Try: K. Hamazato 34'
Pen: Sweeney (2) 23', 39'
13 December 2014 Kintetsu Liners 30–27 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Nanto 16'
Taufa 49'
Kim 71' c
Tadanobu 73' c
Con: Tadanobu (2) 71', 73'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 24'
Tadanobu (1) 80' 		Try: Iongi 20' c
Viljoen 35' c
Yamashita 55' c
Con: Saiguchi (3) 20', 35', 55'
Pen: Saiguchi (1) 52'
Drop: Paea (1) 59'
13 December 2014 Yamaha Júbilo 26–9 NTT Com Shining Arcs Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Ito 35' c
Penalty Try 74' c
Con: Goromaru (2) 35', 74'
Pen: Goromaru (4) 5', 17', 51', 72' 		Pen: Jantjies (3) 21', 28', 43'
13 December 2014 NEC Green Rockets 32–28 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Gionsu Stadium  
13:00 Try: Latu 14'
Miyamae 20'
Yoshihiro 22' c
Nadolo 44' c, 54'
Con: Tamura (2) 22', 44'
Pen: Tamura (1) 34' 		Try: Bateman 30' c
Tsuiki 60' c
Kinoshita 71' c
Kayashima 73' c
Con: Yoshihara (1) 30'
Yamada (3) 60', 71' 73'
14 December 2014 Ricoh Black Rams 36–0 Toyota Industries Shuttles Kansuta Stadium  
14:00 Try: Bourke 27' c
Makita 69' c
Hoshino 71' c
Takahira 74'
Kauhenga 78' c
Con: Peters (4) 27', 69', 71', 78'
Pen: Peters (1) 10'
14 December 2014 Canon Eagles 9–14 Toyota Verblitz Nagara Stadium  
13:00 Pen: Mitomo (3) 21', 34', 80' Try: Taniguchi 60' c
Pen: McIntyre (3) 13', 28', 74'

Round 4 edit

20 December 2014 Ricoh Black Rams 26–27 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Kauhenga 1' c
Yamamoto 27' c
Pohiva 51'
Penalty Try 70' c
Con: Peters (3) 1', 27', 70' 		Try: Midorikawa 35' c
Watanabe 41' c
Park 45' c
Con: Saiguchi (3) 35', 41', 45'
Pen: Saiguchi (2) 5', 73'
20 December 2014 NTT Com Shining Arcs 14–45 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Nishibashi 29' c
Suto 80' c
Con: Jantjies (2) 29', 80' 		Try: Yamada 4' c, 41' c
Nishiara 25' c
Penalty Try 34' c
Kawamata 40' c
Uchida 76' c
Con: Barnes (5) 4', 25', 34', 40', 41'
Miwa (1) 76'
Pen: Ealey (1) 58'
21 December 2014 Toyota Industries Shuttles 46–14 Fukuoka Sanix Blues Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Gerrard 10' c, 36' c
Vatuvei 34' c
Umeda 42' c, 73' c
Okazaki 59'
Con: Onishi (5) 10', 34', 36', 42', 73'
Pen: Onishi (2) 30', 65' 		Try: Hesketh (2) 46' c, 62' c
Con: S. Hamazato (1) 46'
Takayama (1) 62'
21 December 2014 Toyota Verblitz 29–44 Toshiba Brave Lupus Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Hikosaka 13' c, 39' c
Takeda 30'
McIntyre 42' c
Con: McIntyre (3) 13', 39', 42'
Pen: McIntyre (1) 57' 		Try: Penalty Try 20' c
Ito 49' c
Leitch 54' c, 69' c
Yamamoto 73' c
Con: Ogawa (3) 20', 49', 54'
Steyn (2) 69', 73'
Pen: Ogawa (3) 10', 37', 62'
21 December 2014 Suntory Sungoliath 47–28 Canon Eagles Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium  
13:00 Try: Burger 1' c, 10'
Aruga 39' c
Sasaki 42' c
Tui 64' c
Matsushima 68' c
Pisi 77' c
Con: Ono (3) 1', 39', 42'
Pisi (3) 64', 68', 77' 		Try: Bond 23' c
Mitomo 52' c
Shimada 57' c
Lowe 74' c
Con: Mitomo (3) 23', 52', 57'
Harada (1) 74'
21 December 2014 Kubota Spears 20–22 NEC Green Rockets Fukuda Denshi Arena  
13:00 Try: Toe'ava 11'
Miyata 52' c
Mori 62'
Con: Tatekawa (1) 52'
Pen: Tatekawa (1) 33' 		Try: Miyamae 13' c
Con: Webb (1) 13'
Pen: Webb (5) 36', 59', 67', 72', 78'
21 December 2014 Kobelco Steelers 40–10 Yamaha Júbilo Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium  
13:00 Try: Yamashita 22' c, 36'
Yamanaka 41'
Nakahama 50' c
Maekawa 65' c
Con: Yamamoto (3) 22', 50', 65'
Pen: Yamamoto (2) 10', 19'
Drop: Yamamoto (1) 63' 		Try: Ito 46' c
Con: Goromaru (1) 46'
Pen: Goromaru (1) 29'
21 December 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 31–24 Kintetsu Liners Miyazaki Athletic Stadium  
14:00 Try: Toyota 8' c, 24' c
Hirabara 15'
Katsuki 28' c
Yoshizawa 37'
Con: Yoshihara (3) 8', 24', 28' 		Try: Saita 43' c
Samo 67'
Penalty Try 72' c
Yatsugi 74'
Con: Shigemitsu (2) 43', 72'

Round 5 edit

27 December 2014 Yamaha Júbilo 26–10 Toyota Verblitz Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Hino 13' c, 32'
Penalty Try 65' c
Piutau 69' c
Con: Goromaru (3) 13', 65', 69' 		Try: Levave 80' c
Con: Monji (1) 80'
Pen: McIntyre (1) 44'
27 December 2014 Kobelco Steelers 54–19 NTT Com Shining Arcs Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium  
13:00 Try: Yamashita 7' c
Bekker 13' c, 21' c
Yamanaka 36' c
Shomen 48' c, 52'
Yasue 72' c, 80' c
Con: Yamamoto (7) 7', 13', 21', 36', 48', 72', 80' 		Try: Kazushi Hano 17' c
Ross 59' c
Clever 76' c
Con: Jantjies (2) 59', 76'
28 December 2014 NEC Green Rockets 40–14 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Penalty Try 26' c
Latu 36', 39' c
Tamura 52', 75' c
Con: Webb (3) 26', 39', 65'
Pen: Webb (3) 22', 62', 72' 		Try: Iongi 3' c
Paea 45' c
Con: Saiguchi (2) 3', 45'
28 December 2014 Kubota Spears 26–28 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Mori 25' c
Miyata 42' c
Tatekawa 66' c
Tamura 71'
Con: Tatekawa (1) 25'
Moriwaki (2) 42', 66' 		Try: Pohiva 5' c
Takahira 39'
Hasegawa 61' c
Con: Peters (2) 5', 61'
Pen: Peters (3) 19', 49', 76'
28 December 2014 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 32–43 Kintetsu Liners Level-5 Stadium  
11:40 Try: Ahio 10' c
Potgieter 55' c
K. Hamazato 75' c
Lemalu 79' c
Con: Kanagawa (3) 10', 55', 75'
Pen: Kanagawa (2) 28', 59' 		Try: Tsuji 17' c
Yatsugi 36' c
Taylor 38'
Shigemitsu 65' c, 69' c
Samo 77' c
Con: Shigemitsu (5) 17', 36', 65', 69', 77'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 45'
28 December 2014 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 39–17 Toyota Industries Shuttles Level-5 Stadium  
14:00 Try: Koyanagi 16'
Toyota 21' c, 49'
Uemoto 24' c
Kuwazuru 35'
Fuimaono-Sapolu 43' c
Con: Yoshihara (3) 21', 24', 43'
Pen: Yoshihara (1) 40' 		Try: Matsui 30'
Namioka 67' c
Akaishi 77'
Con: Ida (1) 67'
28 December 2014 Canon Eagles 10–31 Toshiba Brave Lupus Machida Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Thomson 24' c
Con: Mitomo (1) 24'
Pen: Mitomo (1) 7' 		Try: Usuzuki 20' c
Kahui 28' c
Oshima 60' c
Senba 70' c
Con: Ogawa (4) 20', 28', 60', 70'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 5'
28 December 2014 Panasonic Wild Knights 45–8 Suntory Sungoliath Ota Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Pietersen 20', 41' c, 58' c
Yamada 31' c, 53' c
Con: Barnes (4) 31', 41', 43', 58'
Pen: Barnes (4) 26', 35', 50', 64' 		Try: Pisi 22'
Pen: Pisi (1) 13'

Round 6 edit

3 January 2015 Toshiba Brave Lupus 28–29 Yamaha Júbilo Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Leitch 26' c
Toyosima 65' c, 72' c
Matsunobu 68' c
Con: Ogawa (1) 26'
Steyn (3) 65', 68', 72' 		Try: Sa'u 8'
Horie 12' c, 32' c, 53' c
Con: Goromaru (3) 12', 32', 53'
Pen: Goromaru (1) 60'
3 January 2015 NTT Com Shining Arcs 17–18 Suntory Sungoliath Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Tomoigawa 13' c
Kurihara 40' c
Con: Jantjies (2) 13', 40'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 59' 		Try: Ono 3'
Pisi 31'
Takemoto 66'
Pen: Pisi (1) 20'
4 January 2015 Ricoh Black Rams 16–3 NEC Green Rockets Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
12:00 Try: Takizawa 34' c
Con: Peters (1) 34'
Pen: Peters (3) 13', 73', 79' 		Pen: Webb (1) 2'
4 January 2015 Panasonic Wild Knights 38–13 Canon Eagles Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
14:05 Try: Barnes 14'
Yamada 37'
Heenan 42' c
Horie 56' c
Inagaki 63'
Con: Barnes (2) 42', 56'
Pen: Barnes (2) 8', 61'
Miwa (1) 71' 		Try: Leilua 11' c
Con: Harada (1) 11'
Pen: Harada (2) 17', 32'
4 January 2015 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 42–15 Kubota Spears Kincho Stadium  
11:40 Try: Shigeno 11' c
Setephano 22' c
Viljoen 42'
Tsujino 68' c
Iongi 72' c
Con: Saiguchi (4) 11', 22', 68', 72'
Pen: Saiguchi (2) 8', 40'
Drop: Paea (1) 78' 		Try: Penalty Try 2' c
Toe'ava 32'
Con: Tatekawa (1) 2'
Pen: Tatekawa (1) 8'
4 January 2015 Kobelco Steelers 34–7 Toyota Verblitz Kincho Stadium  
14:00 Try: Bekker 15' c, 45' c
Maekawa 63' c
Yamashita 75' c
Con: Yamamoto (4) 15', 45', 63', 75'
Pen: Yamamoto (2) 33', 80' 		Try: Yates 24' c
Con: Monji (1) 24'
4 January 2015 Toyota Industries Shuttles 17–40 Kintetsu Liners Suzuka Sports Garden  
13:00 Try: Hasegawa 40' c
Akaishi 73' c
Con: Gerrard (1) 40'
Sakai (1) 73'
Pen: Gerrard (1) 1' 		Try: Taylor 9' c, 19', 56' c
Tsuji 46' c
Taufa 54' c
Toyoda 80' c
Con: Shigemitsu (5) 9', 46', 54', 56' 80'
4 January 2015 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 24–10 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Global Arena  
13:00 Try: Lemalu 8' c
Sugiura 31' c
Ahio 62' c
Con: Tashiro (2) 8', 31'
Sweeney (1) 62'
Pen: Tashiro (1) 21' 		Try: Arita 39'
Koyanagi 73'

Round 7 edit

11 January 2015 Toshiba Brave Lupus 31–14 NTT Com Shining Arcs Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Penalty Try 18' c, 21' c
Bates 34'
Kajikawa 43' c
Latimer 65'
Con: Steyn (3) 18', 21', 53' 		Try: Tomoigawa 69' c
Jantjies 80' c
Con: Jantjies (2) 69', 80'
11 January 2015 Canon Eagles 8–47 Kobelco Steelers Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Kikutani 48'
Pen: Mitomo (1) 7' 		Try: H. Yamashita 8' c
R. Yamashita 28' c
Anderson 63' c, 65' c, 74' c
Con: Yamamoto (5) 8', 28', 63', 65', 74'
Pen: Yamamoto (3) 34', 38', 70'
Drop: Yamamoto (1) 17'
11 January 2015 Toyota Industries Shuttles 7–9 NEC Green Rockets Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Try: Matsuoka 1' c
Con: Onishi (1) 1' 		Pen: Tamura (3) 11', 68', 78'
11 January 2015 Toyota Verblitz 19–40 Suntory Sungoliath Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Mizuno 1' c, 29'
Kitagawa 7' c
Con: Monji (2) 1', 7' 		Try: Kakinaga 4' c
Nakazuru 16'
Matsushima 38' c, 63' c
Tui 55' c
Ono 80' c
Con: Ono (5) 4', 38', 55', 63', 80'
11 January 2015 Fukuoka Sanix Blues 33–46 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Level-5 Stadium  
11:40 Try: Sweeney 39'
Arai 48' c
K. Hamazato 55' c
S. Hamazato 73' c
Everingham 75' c
Con: Sweeney (4) 48', 55', 73', 75' 		Try: Setephano 4'
Shigeno 19' c
Paea 23' c, 34' c
Watanabe 45' c
Park 64' c
Con: Saiguchi (5) 19', 23', 34', 45', 64'
Pen: Saiguchi (2) 58', 79'
11 January 2015 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 22–38 Ricoh Black Rams Level-5 Stadium  
14:00 Try: King 10' c
Yamashita 18', 48'
Uemoto 40'
Con: Yoshihara (1) 10' 		Try: Takahira 3'
Ellison 25' c
Pohiva 34' c, 78'
Yanagawa 66' c
Kauhenga 72' c
Con: Peters (4) 25', 34', 66', 72'
11 January 2015 Kintetsu Liners 10–19 Kubota Spears Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Penalty Try 18' c
Con: Shigemitsu (1) 18'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 35' 		Try: Miyata 8'
Tamura 46' c
K. Suzuki 50' c
Con: Tatekawa (2) 46', 50'
11 January 2015 Yamaha Júbilo 26–18 Panasonic Wild Knights Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Ito 19' c, 59' c
Sa'u 25' c
Horie 46'
Con: Goromaru (3) 19', 25', 59' 		Try: Holani 51' c
Kitagawa 79'
Con: Barnes (1) 51'
Pen: Barnes (2) 2', 5'

Title play-offs edit

Top 4 sides of the regular season competed in the Lixil Cup knock out tournament to decide the Top League champion. The top 4 teams of 2014–15 were Kobelco Steelers, Panasonic Wild Knights, Toshiba Brave Lupus, and Yamaha Júbilo.

Semi-finals edit

24 January 2015 Kobelco Steelers 12–41 Yamaha Júbilo Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Shomen 32'
Yamamoto 57' c
Con: Yamamoto (1) 57' 		Try: Yatomi 12' c
Nakazono 19' c
Hino 41'
Krishnan 60' c
Mimura 74' c
Saita 76'
Con: Goromaru (4) 12', 19' 60', 74'
Pen: Goromaru (1) 36'


25 January 2015 Toshiba Brave Lupus 15–50 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Yuhara 45'
Penalty Try 63' c
Con: Steyn (1) 64'
Pen: Steyn (1) 5' 		Try: Nishihara 1' c
Yamada 16' c
Kitagawa 28' c, 38' c
Heenan 73' c
Con: Barnes (5) 1', 16', 28', 38', 73'
Pen: Barnes (5) 11', 25', 37', 50', 69'

Final edit

1 February 2015 Yamaha Júbilo 12–30 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo  
14:00 Try: Horie 8' c
Nakazono 11'
Con: Goromaru (1/2) 9' 		Try: Kitagawa 11', 76' c
Barnes 22'
Yamada 28' c
Con: Barnes (1/3) 29'
Miwa (1/1) 77'
Pen: Barnes (2/2) 3', 39'

Wildcard play-offs edit

The Top League Group 1 teams ranked 5–8 and Group 2 teams ranked 1–4 played off over two rounds, with the second round winners qualifying for the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

First round edit

24 January 2015 NTT Com Shining Arcs 12–16 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:40 Pen: Jantjies (4) 2', 7', 17', 58' Try: Hasegawa 26' c
Con: Peters (1) 27'
Pen: Peters (3) 11', 46', 69'
24 January 2015 Suntory Sungoliath 24–16 Kintetsu Liners Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Tui 22'
Murata 51'
Aruga 66'
Pen: Nakamura (1) 18'
Pisi (2) 72', 80' 		Try: Tanaka 1'
Taylor 30'
Pen: Shigemitsu (2) 27', 53'
25 January 2015 Canon Eagles 10–14 NEC Green Rockets Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Bond 53'
Bruce 79' 		Try: Usui 20'
Pen: Tamura (3) 8', 14', 62'
25 January 2015 Toyota Verblitz 27–36 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Ando 33' c, 61', 69' c
Yates 78'
Con: McIntyre (1) 34'
Matsushita (1) 69'
Pen: McIntyre (1) 12' 		Try: Paea 5' c
Shigeno 7' c
Watanabe 35', 42' c
Iongi 40' c
Con: Saiguchi (4) 5', 7', 40', 42'
Pen: Viljoen (1) 74'

Second round edit

31 January 2015 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 10–33 NEC Green Rockets Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
12:00 Try: Kawada 70' c
Con: Saiguchi (1) 70'
Pen: Saiguchi (1) 29' 		Try: Usui 19' c
Tamura 26' c
Morita 33' c
Brew 67' c
Doi 77'
Con: Tamura (4) 19', 26', 33', 67'
31 January 2015 Suntory Sungoliath 42–14 Ricoh Black Rams Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:05 Try: Aruga 3' c
Pisi 11' c, 16' c, 59' c
du Preez 39' c
Nakaduru 52' c
Con: Pisi (6) 4', 12', 17', 40', 53', 61' 		Try: Yamamoto 50' c
Kauhenga 74' c
Con: Peters (2) 50', 74'

So NEC Green Rockets and Suntory Sungoliath advanced to the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship.

Top League Challenge Series edit

Main article: 2014–15 Top League Challenge Series

Honda Heat won promotion to the 2015–16 Top League via the 2014–15 Top League Challenge Series, while Kamaishi Seawaves, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars progressed to the promotion play-offs.

Promotion and relegation play-offs edit

The Top League teams in Group 2 ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th, played-off against the Challenge 1 teams ranked 4th, 3rd, and 2nd, respectively, for the right to be included in the Top League for the following season.

14 February 2015 Kubota Spears 34–5 Kamaishi Seawaves Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
13:00
14 February 2015 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 53–8 Kyuden Voltex Level-5 Stadium  
13:00
14 February 2015 Toyota Industries Shuttles 53–7 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
13:00

So Kubota Spears, Coca-Cola Red Sparks and Toyota Industries Shuttles remained in the Top League for the next season.

End-of-season awards edit

Team awards edit

Award Winner
Top League winners: Panasonic Wild Knights
Fair Play award: Panasonic Wild Knights
Best fans: Kobelco Steelers
Toshiba Brave Lupus
Panasonic Wild Knights

Individual awards edit

Award Winner
Top League MVP: Berrick Barnes (Panasonic Wild Knights)
Rookie award: Rakuhei Yamashita (Kobelco Steelers)
Most tries: Nemani Nadolo (NEC Green Rockets) 11
Kyosuke Horie (Yamaha Júbilo) 11
Rakuhei Yamashita (Kobelco Steelers) 11
Top scorer: Berrick Barnes (Panasonic Wild Knights) 156
Best kicker: Berrick Barnes (Panasonic Wild Knights) 82.61%
Best referee: Akihisa Aso
Playoffs MVP: Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights)

Team of the season edit

# Winner Team
1.   Keita Inagaki Panasonic Wild Knights
2.   Shota Horie Panasonic Wild Knights
3.   Hiroshi Yamashita Kobelco Steelers
4.   Andries Bekker Kobelco Steelers
5.   Shoji Ito Kobelco Steelers
6.   Adam Thomson Canon Eagles
7.   Michael Leitch Toshiba Brave Lupus
8.   Kyosuke Horie Yamaha Júbilo
9.   Fumiaki Tanaka Panasonic Wild Knights
10.   Berrick Barnes Panasonic Wild Knights
11.   Rakuhei Yamashita Kobelco Steelers
12.   Kotaro Matsushima Suntory Sungoliath
13.   Jaque Fourie Kobelco Steelers
14.   Akihito Yamada Panasonic Wild Knights
15.   Ayumu Goromaru Yamaha Júbilo

References edit

  1. ^ "Draw made for 2014-15 opening stage after NTT Comms remain in Top League". jrfu.org. 22 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  2. ^ Hinato (21 April 2014). "Robbie Deans new manager of Panasonic Wild Knights!". Japon Rugby (in French). Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "2014/15 Top League". The Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015.
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