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2017 Top Challenge League

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2017 Top Challenge League
CountriesJapan
Date9 September – 23 December 2017
ChampionsHonda Heat
Runners-upHino Red Dolphins
PromotedHonda Heat,
Hino Red Dolphins
RelegatedChubu Electric Power
Matches played40
← 2016–17
2018 →

The 2017 Top Challenge League was the inaugural season of Japan's second-tier domestic rugby union competition, the Top Challenge League.[1]

It was played from 9 September to 23 December 2017, with eight participating teams. Honda Heat won the competition for the second time – having previously won in 2014–15 – and won promotion to the 2018–19 Top League. Hino Red Dolphins, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars and Kyuden Voltex finished second, third and fourth respectively to qualify for the promotion play-offs, while Kamaishi Seawaves finished seventh to qualify for the relegation play-offs. Chubu Electric Power finished eighth to be relegated to the third tier regional leagues for 2018.

Competition rules

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In January 2017, the JRFU announced the format of the Top Challenge League competition. The competition was played in two stages. The First Stage was a round-robin format, where all eight teams played each other once.

The top four teams in the First Stage progressed to Group A of the Second Stage, while the bottom four teams progressed to Group B. Each of these groups was another round-robin, with all four teams playing each other once.

The team that finished top of Group A won automatic promotion to the 2018–19 Top League, while the other three teams in Group A progressed to promotion play-offs against the teams placed 13th, 14th and 15th in the 2017–18 Top League.

The team that finished bottom of Group B were relegated to the regional leagues for 2018. The winners of the Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League competed in a Regional Challenge, with the winner replacing the relegated team in the 2018 Top Challenge League. The second-bottom team in Group B progressed to a promotion / relegation play-off match against the runner-up of the Regional Challenge.[2]

Teams

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Location of teams in the 2017 Top Challenge League

The following teams took part in the 2017 Top Challenge League competition:

2017 Top Challenge League teams
Team name Based
Chubu Electric Power Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture
Chugoku Red Regulions Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hino Red Dolphins Hino, Tokyo Metropolis
Honda Heat Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
Kamaishi Seawaves Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture
Kyuden Voltex Fukuoka, Kyūshū
Mazda Blue Zoomers Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture

First stage

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Standings

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The final standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League First Stage were:

2017 Top Challenge League First Stage standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Honda Heat 7 7 0 0 506 71 +434 7 0 35
2 Hino Red Dolphins 7 6 0 1 285 157 +128 4 0 28
3 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 7 5 0 2 242 125 +117 3 1 24
4 Kyuden Voltex 7 4 0 3 209 178 +31 2 0 18
5 Kamaishi Seawaves 7 2 1 4 162 188 −26 2 1 13
6 Mazda Blue Zoomers 7 2 1 4 176 217 −41 1 0 11
7 Chugoku Red Regulions 7 1 0 6 88 369 −281 1 0 5
8 Chubu Electric Power 7 0 0 7 76 439 −363 0 0 0
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

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Round one

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9 September 2017 Chugoku Red Regulions 17–52 Hino Red Dolphins  
16:00 Report[3] Attendance: 1,200


9 September 2017 Honda Heat 53–12 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
16:00 Report[4] Attendance: 1,400


9 September 2017 Kyuden Voltex 47–17 Chubu Electric Power  
17:00 Report[5] Attendance: 600


10 September 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 7–19 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
15:00 Report[6] Attendance: 1,811

Round two

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16 September 2017 Hino Red Dolphins 55–7 Chubu Electric Power  
15:00 Report[7]


16 September 2017 Kyuden Voltex 59–3 Chugoku Red Regulions  
16:00 Report[8]


17 September 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 3–60 Honda Heat  
12:30 Report[9]


17 September 2017 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 19–5 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
15:00 Report[10]

Round three

[edit]
24 September 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 20–22 Kyuden Voltex  
12:00 Report[11]


24 September 2017 Mazda Blue Zoomers 19–68 Hino Red Dolphins  
13:00 Report[12]


24 September 2017 Chubu Electric Power 24–68 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
14:30 Report[13]


24 September 2017 Chugoku Red Regulions 0–103 Honda Heat  
15:00 Report[14]

Round four

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7 October 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 11–24 Hino Red Dolphins  
11:30 Report[15]
Bye/s: Chubu Electric Power, Chugoku Red Regulions, Honda Heat, Kyuden Voltex, Mazda Blue Zoomers, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars

Round five

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14 October 2017 Honda Heat 155–0 Chubu Electric Power  
13:00 Report[16]


14 October 2017 Kyuden Voltex 31–20 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
13:00 Report[17]


15 October 2017 Chugoku Red Regulions 7–48 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
11:30 Report[18]
Bye/s: Hino Red Dolphins, Kamaishi Seawaves

Round six

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21 October 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 31–18 Chugoku Red Regulions  
13:00 Report[19]


21 October 2017 Mazda Blue Zoomers 20–7 Chubu Electric Power  
13:00 Report[20]


22 October 2017 Honda Heat 31–7 Kyuden Voltex  
13:00 Report[21]


22 October 2017 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 16–22 Hino Red Dolphins  
14:00 Report[22]

Round seven

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11 November 2017 Chugoku Red Regulions 8–69 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
13:00 Report[23]


11 November 2017 Kyuden Voltex 10–45 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
13:00 Report[24]
Bye/s: Chubu Electric Power, Hino Red Dolphins, Honda Heat, Kamaishi Seawaves

Round eight

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18 November 2017 Mazda Blue Zoomers 31–31 Kamaishi Seawaves  
13:00 Report[25]


19 November 2017 Hino Red Dolphins 42–33 Kyuden Voltex  
11:30 Report[26]


19 November 2017 Chubu Electric Power 7–35 Chugoku Red Regulions  
14:00 Report[27]


19 November 2017 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 27–50 Honda Heat  
14:00 Report[28]

Round nine

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25 November 2017 Chubu Electric Power 14–59 Kamaishi Seawaves  
11:30 Report[29]


25 November 2017 Honda Heat 54–22 Hino Red Dolphins  
14:00 Report[30]
Bye/s: Chugoku Red Regulions, Kyuden Voltex, Mazda Blue Zoomers, Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars

Second Stage Group A

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Standings

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The standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A are:

2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group A standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD S1B TB LB Pts
1 Honda Heat 3 3 0 0 200 23 +177 3 3 0 18
2 Hino Red Dolphins 3 2 0 1 66 79 −13 2 0 0 10
3 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 3 1 0 2 63 92 −29 1 1 0 6
4 Kyuden Voltex 3 0 0 3 31 166 −135 0 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

Matches

[edit]

Round one

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10 December 2017 Hino Red Dolphins 27–10 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
11:30 Report[31]


10 December 2017 Honda Heat 92–5 Kyuden Voltex  
14:00 Report[32]

Round two

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17 December 2017 Hino Red Dolphins 29–14 Kyuden Voltex  
11:30 Report[33]


17 December 2017 Honda Heat 53–8 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  
14:00 Report[34]

Round three

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24 December 2017 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 45–12 Kyuden Voltex  
11:30 Report[35]


24 December 2017 Honda Heat 55–10 Hino Red Dolphins  
14:00 Report[36]

Second Stage Group B

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Standings

[edit]

The standings for the 2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B are:

2017 Top Challenge League Second Stage Group B standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD S1B TB LB Pts
5 Mazda Blue Zoomers 3 3 0 0 113 44 +69 2 1 0 15
6 Chugoku Red Regulions 3 2 0 1 95 67 +28 1 1 0 10
7 Kamaishi Seawaves 3 1 0 2 126 55 +71 3 1 2 10
8 Chubu Electric Power 3 0 0 3 15 183 −168 0 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, S1B = Stage 1 Bonus Points, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

Matches

[edit]

Round one

[edit]
9 December 2017 Mazda Blue Zoomers 29–17 Chugoku Red Regulions  
11:30 Report[37]


9 December 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 76–0 Chubu Electric Power  
14:00 Report[38]

Round two

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16 December 2017 Mazda Blue Zoomers 60–5 Chubu Electric Power  
11:30 Report[39]


16 December 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 28–31 Chugoku Red Regulions  
14:00 Report[40]

Round three

[edit]
23 December 2017 Chugoku Red Regulions 47–10 Chubu Electric Power  
11:30 Report[41]


23 December 2017 Kamaishi Seawaves 22–24 Mazda Blue Zoomers  
14:00 Report[42]

Promotion and relegation

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Relegation play-offs

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At the end of the season, the team placed seventh will play against the regional team placed second for a place in the 2018 Top Challenge League.


13 January 2018 Kamaishi Seawaves 55–19 Osaka Police  
12:00 Report[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Japan to add second-tier rugby league in 2017". Japan Times. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  2. ^ ジャパンラグビー トップチャレンジリーグ 2017-2018シーズン、参加8チーム決定 [Japan Rugby Top Challenge League 2017-2018 season, participating 8 teams determined] (Press release) (in Japanese). Top League. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 中電 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  4. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 Honda 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  5. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 九州電力 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  6. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第1週 釜石SW 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  7. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第2週 日野自動車 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  8. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第2週 九州電力 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  9. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第2週 釜石SW 対 Honda 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  10. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第2週 三菱重工相模原 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  11. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第3週 釜石SW 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  12. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第3週 マツダ 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  13. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第3週 中部電力 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  14. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第3週 中電 対 Honda 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  15. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第4週 釜石SW 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  16. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第5週 Honda 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  17. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第5週 九州電力 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  18. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第5週 中電 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  19. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第6週 釜石SW 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  20. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第6週 マツダ 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  21. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第6週 Honda 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  22. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第6週 三菱重工相模原 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  23. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第7週 中電 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  24. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第7週 九州電力 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  25. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第8週 マツダ 対 釜石SW 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  26. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第8週 日野自動車 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  27. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第8週 中部電力 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  28. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第8週 三菱重工相模原 対 Honda 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  29. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第9週 中部電力 対 釜石SW 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  30. ^ "リーグ戦 1stステージ第9週 Honda 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  31. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第1節 日野自動車 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  32. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第1節 Honda 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  33. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第2節 日野自動車 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  34. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第2節 Honda 対 三菱重工相模原 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  35. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第3節 三菱重工相模原 対 九州電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  36. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージAグループ第3節 Honda 対 日野自動車 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  37. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第1節 マツダ 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  38. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第1節 釜石SW 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  39. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第2節 マツダ 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  40. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第2節 釜石SW 対 中電 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  41. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第3節 中電 対 中部電力 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  42. ^ "リーグ戦 2ndステージBグループ第3節 釜石SW 対 マツダ 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  43. ^ "リーグ戦 入替戦 釜石SW 対 大阪府警 大会結果配信表". Japan Rugby Football Union (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
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