The 2003–04 Top League was the first season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. Toshiba Brave Lupus won the league by finishing on top of the round-robin competition.
Toshiba Brave Lupus lost the final of Microsoft Cup to NEC Green Rockets, but the cup was considered a separate competition to the Top League prior to 2007.
Teams TeamRegionFukuoka Sanix BombsFukuoka, KyushuKintetsu LinersOsaka, KansaiKobelco SteelersHyogo, KansaiKubota SpearsChiba, KantoNEC Green RocketsChiba, KantoRicoh Black RamsTokyo, KantoSanyo Wild KnightsGunma, KantoSecom RuggutsSayama, Saitama Suntory SungoliathTokyo, KantoToshiba Brave LupusTokyo, KantoWorld Fighting Bull Kobe, Kansai Yamaha JubiloShizuoka, Tokai
Top League season Final standings Top League TableClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1Kobelco Steelers 11 9 0 2 439 286 153 11 0 472Toshiba Brave Lupus 11 8 1 2 503 283 220 9 1 443Yamaha Jubilo 11 8 2 1 334 223 111 6 0 424Suntory Sungoliath 11 8 0 3 408 265 143 9 1 425World Fighting Bull 11 6 0 5 349 285 64 7 1 326NEC Green Rockets 11 5 2 4 411 274 137 6 0 307Sanyo Wild Knights 11 4 1 6 319 331 −12 6 0 248Kubota Spears 11 4 0 9 262 362 −100 4 2 229Ricoh Black Rams 11 3 0 9 273 402 −129 5 2 1910Kintetsu Liners 11 3 0 9 292 510 −218 6 0 1811Secom Rugguts 11 3 0 9 260 405 −145 3 0 1512Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 11 2 0 9 230 454 −224 4 2 14 The top 8 teams qualified to the Microsoft Cup play-offs. The top 4 teams also qualified to for entry into the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship. Teams 9 and 10 went through to the promotion and relegation play-offs against regional challengers. Teams 11 and 12 were automatically relegated.Source: The Rugby Archive
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
Fixtures and results
Microsoft Cup play-offs The top eight teams in the league played off for the Microsoft Cup (2004) knock out tournament, which was won by NEC Green Rockets.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top League Challenge Series
IBM Big Blue and Toyota Verblitz won promotion to the 2004–05 Top League via the 2004 Top League Challenge Series, while Kyuden Voltex and Toyota Industries Shuttles progressed to the promotion play-offs.
Promotion and relegation play-offs Two promotion/relegation matches (Irekaesen) were played with the winners qualifying for the 2004–05 Top League. The 10th-placed team from the Top League against the 3rd-placed team from Challenge 1. The 9th-placed team from the Top League against the 1st-placed team from Challenge 2.
So Kinetsu and Ricoh stayed in the Top League for the 2004–05 season.
References
External links