The 2026–27 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1 (), known as the NTT 2026–27 Japan Rugby League One for sponsorship reasons, is the sixth season of the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO) and the 23rd season in top-flight Japanese rugby. The season schedule was released in early July 2026, with the season scheduled to begin on 12 December, with the season to conclude in a play-off final on 6 June 2027. The competition consists of twelve teams. The team composition remained unchanged from the previous season with the two teams in the relegation zone (Sagamihara DynaBoars, Urayasu D-Rocks) defeating their Division 2 opponents in the relegation play-offs.
The Kobe Steelers are the defending champions, having defeated the Kubota Spears in the final 22–13 at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. It was their third title in top-flight Japanese rugby, and their first since the inception of the JRLO in 2022.
Background Format Unlike the previous seasons of the Japan Rugby League One – Division 1, the 2026–27 had removed the conference system format, which had been in place since the inaugural 2022 season.
On 9 September 2026, the Japan Rugby League One released the fixture list for all three divisions. Division 1 set each team to face 11 different opponents, playing seven of them twice and the remaining four once, to give a total of 18 matches per team across the league. The top six placed teams on the league ladder at the end of these matches would then advance to the play-offs to challenge for the Japanese title, with the top two having a bye round into the semi-finals. The teams whom finished 11th and 12th, respectively, would advance into a relegation play-off against the top-two placed teams in Division 2 for a place in the top division.
Team name and location changes Ahead of the season, two clubs changed their names with one additionally changing locations. The first team to formally change their name was the Tochigi Honda Heat (), formerly known as the Mie Honda Heat (). Initially announced in 2024, the team's general manager stated in an interview that the location move and name change was largely motivated by the league's policy of commercial viability. With Suzuka being difficult in attracting spectators and having a smaller population size, the teams decision was to relocate closer to Tokyo (where most of the Division 1 clubs are located).
In late September 2026, the Toshiba Brave Lupus () followed suit and changed their club name to the Toshiba Brave Lupus Musashi (), with the formal change taking place on 1 October 2026. The change was made in an effort to tie the club closer to the historic Japanese province of Musashi, a region which was first established during the Asuka period.
Teams and personnel
Personnel Team Coach Captain Kit manufacturer Owner Black Rams Tokyo Tabai Matson Adidas Ricoh Kobe Steelers Andy Ellis Adidas Kobelco Kubota Spears Frans Ludeke rowspan=5 BLK Kubota Sagamihara DynaBoars Glenn Delaney Canterbury Mitsubishi Saitama Wild Knights Atsushi Kanazawa Under Armour Panasonic Shizuoka Blue Revs BLK Yamaha Motor Company Tochigi Honda Heat Marius Goosen BLK Honda Tokyo Sungoliath Keisuke Sawaki Naoto Saitō Adidas Suntory Toshiba Brave Lupus Josh Syms Canterbury Toshiba Toyota Verblitz Ian Foster Canterbury Toyota Urayasu D-Rocks Graham Rowntree rowspan=2 Under Armour NTT Yokohama Canon Eagles Leon MacDonald Canterbury Canon Inc.
Personnel changes Team Outgoing coach Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment Tokyo Sungoliath Kosei Ono June 2026 Keisuke Sawaki June 2026 Tochigi Honda Heat Kieran Crowley June 2026 Marius Goosen July 2026 Toshiba Brave Lupus Todd Blackadder July 2026 Josh Syms July 2026 Kobe Steelers Dave Rennie June 2026 Andy Ellis August 2026 Toyota Verblitz Steve Hansen June 2026 Ian Foster September 2026
International players
In the Japan Rugby League One, Category C players are internationally Test-capped players who are not eligible to represent Japan. There are three that are allowed in each teams matchday squad.
In September 2026, the Toshiba Brave Lupus announced the signing of a fourth Category C player. However, this signing was as an injury cover player, and he would not be eligible to play unless this circumstance were to occur.
+ 2026–27 Japan Rugby League One – Division 1 Category C players Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Black Rams Tokyo Liam Gill TJ Perenara Paddy Ryan Kobe Steelers George Bridge Brodie Retallick Grant Williams Kubota Spears Malcolm Marx Ruan Nortjé Shaun Stevenson Sagamihara DynaBoars Lukhanyo Am Kurt-Lee Arendse Brad Weber Saitama Wild Knights Damian de Allende Lood de Jager Mark Nawaqanitawase Shizuoka Blue Revs Hunter Paisami Semi Radradra Kwagga Smith Tochigi Honda Heat Tevita Ikanivere Pablo Matera Franco Mostert Tokyo Sungoliath Sam Cane James Lowe Sean McMahon Toshiba Brave Lupus Jack Dempsey Aphelele Fassi David Havili Toyota Verblitz Aaron Smith Mark Tele'a Pieter-Steph du Toit Urayasu D-Rocks Samu Kerevi Jordan Petaia Jasper Wiese Yokohama Canon Eagles Samipeni Finau Jesse Kriel Stephen Perofeta
Ladder
Fixtures The season fixtures were released on 9 September 2026.
Promotion/Relegation play-offs The relegation play-offs dates have yet to be announced.
Overview
Play-offs The season play-offs are scheduled for May and June 2027.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Third place match
Final
Notes
References
External links Japan Rugby League One site