The 2016–17 Top League is the 14th season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. It kicked off on 26 August 2016 and the final round of league matches were played on 14 January 2017.[1]

2016–17 Top League
Captain Yutaka Nagare of Suntory, the 2016–17 winners.
CountriesJapan Japan
Date26 August 2016 – 14 January 2017
ChampionsSuntory Sungoliath
Runners-upYamaha Júbilo
RelegatedHonda Heat
Matches played120
Attendance584,640
(average 4,872 per match)
Top point scorerKosei Ono (187)
Top try scorerTakaaki Nakazuru (17)

Teams

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The only change to the make-up of the league was the Challenge One winner Munakata Sanix Blues replacing NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes.[2]

Team Region Coach Captain
Canon Eagles Machida, Tokyo, Kantō   Yoji Nagatomo   Yusuke Niwai
Coca-Cola Red Sparks Fukuoka, Kyushu   Akihiro Usui   Kouta Yamashita
Honda Heat Suzuka, Mie   Tomoaki Fujimoto   Daisuke Konishi
Kintetsu Liners Higashiosaka, Osaka, Kansai   Akira Tsuboi   Daiki Toyota
Kobelco Steelers Kobe, Kansai   Jim McKay   Daiki Hashimoto
Kubota Spears Abiko, Chiba, Kantō   Frans Ludeke   Harumichi Tatekawa
Munakata Sanix Blues Munakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu   Yuichiro Fujii   Eito Tamura
NEC Green Rockets Abiko, Chiba, Kantō   Peter Russell   Sunao Takizawa
NTT Com Shining Arcs Chiba, Chiba, Kantō   Rob Penney   Daisuke Kurihara
Panasonic Wild Knights Ota, Gunma, Kantō   Robbie Deans   Shota Horie
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, Kantō   Damien Hill   Takeshi Mabuchi
Suntory Sungoliath Fuchū, Tokyo, Kantō   Keisuke Sawaki   Yutaka Nagare
Toshiba Brave Lupus Fuchū, Tokyo, Kantō   Teppei Tomioka   Michael Leitch
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, Mizuho   Masaya Niu   Yuga Takada
Toyota Verblitz Toyota, Aichi, Tokai   Hiroshi Sugawara   Taiyo Ando
Yamaha Júbilo Iwata, Shizuoka, Tokai   Takanobu Horikawa   Takeshi Hino

Competition

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The regular season saw all 16 teams competing in a round-robin style tournament where they played each team in the league once.[3]

Unlike previous seasons, there were no title-play-offs, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stages was crowned the champion. The top three teams progressed to the 54th All Japan Rugby Football Championship.

Standings

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Top League - League Stage
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Suntory Sungoliath 15 15 0 0 563 184 379 11 0 71
2 Yamaha Júbilo 15 14 0 1 580 208 372 11 0 67
3 Panasonic Wild Knights 15 13 0 2 579 268 311 9 1 62
4 Kobelco Steelers 15 10 0 5 473 328 145 7 1 48
5 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 15 9 0 6 336 292 44 4 1 41
6 Ricoh Black Rams 15 8 0 7 390 362 28 4 4 40
7 Canon Eagles 15 8 0 7 379 336 43 2 3 37
8 Toyota Verblitz 15 7 0 8 353 332 21 4 4 36
9 Toshiba Brave Lupus 15 6 0 9 351 381 −30 4 6 34
10 NEC Green Rockets 15 6 1 8 337 401 −64 3 2 31
11 Munakata Sanix Blues 15 7 0 8 280 481 −201 0 1 29
12 Kubota Spears 15 6 1 8 271 387 −116 1 1 28
13 Kintetsu Liners 15 3 0 12 268 417 −149 0 6 18
14 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 15 3 0 12 239 478 −239 2 3 17
15 Toyota Industries Shuttles 15 3 0 12 292 539 −247 1 3 16
16 Honda Heat 15 1 0 14 274 571 −297 0 3 7
Updated: 15 January 2017
Source: itsrugby.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 March 2017)

 • Teams 1 to 3 (Green background) advance to the 54th All Japan Rugby Football Championship.
 • Teams 13 to 15 (Blue background) go on to the 2016–17 Top League relegation play-offs.
 • Team 16 (Red background) will be automatically relegated to the 2017 Top Challenge League.

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

  • Honda Heat were relegated to the new second-tier Top Challenge League.

Matches

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The following matches were played during the 2016–17 Top League competition:[4]

Round 1

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26 August 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 21–24 Yamaha Júbilo Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Yamada 27', 61'
Moriya 28'
Con: Barnes (3) 27', 28', 61'
Try: Sa'u 15'
Nakazono 24
Penalty try 48'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 15', 24', 48'
Pen: Van den Heever (1) 39'
Attendance: 9,243
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

26 August 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 14–13 Kintetsu Liners Yamaha Stadium  
19:30 Try: Nishikawa 72'
Pen: Ono (3) 25', 27', 64'
Try: Shigemitsu 49'
Con: Shigemitsu (1) 49'
Pen: Shigemitsu (2) 7', 47'
Attendance: 4,077
Referee: Akihisa Aso

27 August 2016 Ricoh Black Rams 23–20 NEC Green Rockets Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
16:30 Try: Matsuhashi 5'
Lotoahea 46'
Bourke 70'
Con: Peters (1) 46'
Pen: Peters (2) 29', 55'
Try: Usui 16'
Kamaike 24'
Penalty try 75'
Con: Morita (1) 75'
Pen: Tamura (1) 52'
Attendance: 5,644
Referee: Rui Shimizu

27 August 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 22–19 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Matsuoka 15', 57'
Masuda 73'
Con: Ogawa (2) 15', 57'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 35'
Try: Otukolo 30'
Ito 79'
Pen: Fouché (3) 12', 48', 51'
Attendance: 8,101
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

27 August 2016 Honda Heat 22–33 Munakata Sanix Blues Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
16:30 Try: Tupa 6'
Moto 24'
Lemeki 37'
Milo 73'
Con: Konishi (1) 6'
Try: Tashiro 9', 43'
Robins 15'
Ahio 47'
Con: Tashiro (2) 43', 47'
Pen: Tashiro (1) 1'
Taulagi (2) 58', 66'
Attendance: 2,136
Referee: Taku Otsuki

27 August 2016 Toyota Verblitz 39–18 Toyota Industries Shuttles Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Yates 4', 11', 25'
Kohara 47'
Penalty try 64'
Monji 72'
Con: Monji (3) 47', 64', 72'
Drop: Robinson 69'
Try: Engelbrecht 53'
Namioka 77'
Con: Sakai (1) 53'
Pen: Greene (1) 30'
Katagiri (1) 51'
Attendance: 5,794
Referee: Shinya Kato

27 August 2016 Kobelco Steelers 27–17 NTT Com Shining Arcs Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium  
17:00 Try: Anderson 38', 72'
Yamanaka 47'
Con: Rei (3) 38', 47', 72'
Pen: Rei (2) 53', 65'
Try: Ogura 7'
Ishibashi 19'
Con: Ogura (1) 7', 19'
Pen: Ogura (2) 24'
Attendance: 4,065
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

27 August 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 14–31 Canon Eagles Umakana Yokana Stadium  
19:00 Try: Penalty try 38'
Tupou 78'
Con: Lafaele (2) 38', 78'
Try: Bond 48', 74'
Niwai 63'
Con: Mitomo (1) 40'
Roos (1) 74'
Pen: Roos (3) 9', 51', 70'
Drop: Roos (1) 5'
Attendance: 3,153
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

Round 2

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2 September 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 25–8 NEC Green Rockets Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Tokunaga 3'
Toyoshima 40'
Messam 49'
Ogawa 68'
Con: Ogawa (1) 40'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 36'
Try: Takizawa 77'
Pen: Tamura (1) 58'
Attendance: 7,303
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

2 September 2016 Kobelco Steelers 6–30 Panasonic Wild Knights Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium  
19:30 Pen: Rei 11', 42' Try: Valu 26'
Tanaka 59'
Barnes 73'
Con: Barnes (3) 26', 59', 73'
Pen: Barnes (3) 40', 47', 68'
Attendance: 5.431
Referee: Akihisa Aso

2 September 2016 Canon Eagles 16–35 Yamaha Júbilo Machida Athletic Stadium  
19:00 Try: Havili 50'
Con: Roos (1) 50'
Pen: Roos (3) 25', 33', 53'
Try: Penalty try 10'
Yatomi 50'
Hino 39', 43'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 10', 15', 43'
Pen: Van den Heever (3) 38', 48', 62'
Attendance: 1,159

3 September 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 50–0 Honda Heat Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
16:30 Try: Tui 4', 44'
Smith 47'
Nagare 54'
Nishikawa 64', 75'
Tsukamoto 71'
Con: Ono (6) 4', 27', 44', 54' 64', 71'
Pen: Ono (1) 14'
Attendance: 5,856

3 September 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 28–13 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Karauria-Henry 35', 58'
Kurihara 41'
Ogura 68'
Con: Ogura (4) 35', 41', 58', 68'
Try: Lotoahea 79'
Con: Peters (1) 79'
Pen: Peters (2) 3', 24'
Attendance: 7,929

3 September 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 41–38 Toyota Industries Shuttles Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium  
16:30 Try: Lemalu 9'
Everingham 33', 43', 59'
Hesketh 72'
Con: Taulagi (1) 9'
Tashiro (1) 59'
Pen: Taulagi (2) 22', 27'
Tashiro (2) 62', 79'
Try: Hasegawa 3'
Konishi 16'
Matsui 40'
Engelbrecht 63'
Con: Greene (3) 3', 40', 63'
Pen: Greene (4) 24', 29', 53', 55'
Attendance: 1,695
Referee: Tadataka Yoshiura

3 September 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 19–26 Kintetsu Liners Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium  
19:00 Try: Wykes 24'
Yamashita 49'
Lafaele 55'
Con: Lafaele (2) 49', 55'
Try: Thompson 4'
Tanaka 7'
Cook 28'
Taylor 43'
Con: Shigemitsu (3) 4', 28', 43'
Attendance: 2,615
Referee: Taku Otsuki

4 September 2016 Kubota Spears 10–27 Toyota Verblitz Tsukisamu Rugby Stadium  
13:00 Try: Hattingh 11'
Con: Fouché (1) 11'
Pen: Fouché (1) 26'
Try: Taufa 29'
Hikosaka 39', 69'
Taumoepeau 43'
Con: Monji (2) 43', 69'
Pen: Monji (1) 7'
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

Round 3

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9 September 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 33–15 NEC Green Rockets Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Kurihara 16'
Karauria-Henry 27'
Koizumi 32'
Con: Ogura (3) 16', 27', 32'
Pen: Ogura (4) 3', 32', 47', 67'
Try: Tamura 5'
Matsura 37'
Con: Tamura (1) 37'
Pen: Tamura (1) 14'
Attendance: 6,376
Referee: Akihisa Aso

10 September 2016 Kubota Spears 24–22 Toyota Industries Shuttles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
16:30 Try: Hattingh 17'
Otukolo 35'
Tatekawa 73'
Con: Moriwaki (2) 17', 35'
Fouché (1) 73'
Drop: Fouché (1) 77'
Try: Saunders 15'
Sakai 28'
Kankowski 59'
Vatuvei 66'
Con: Greene (1) 59'
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

10 September 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 23–17 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Nakamura 32'
Takeshita 69'
Con: Ono (2) 32', 69'
Pen: Ono (3) 11', 40', 57'
Try: Ellison 7'
Matsuhashi 13'
Con: Nanai-Williams (2) 7', 13'
Pen: Nanai-Williams (1) 80'
Attendance: 5,167
Referee: Taku Otsuki

10 September 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 21–19 Canon Eagles International Stadium Yokohama  
18:00 Try: Matsuoka 4'
Toyoshima 73'
Con: Ogawa (1) 4'
Pen: Ogawa (3) 39', 58', 79'
Try: Kaneko 63'
Con: Roos (1) 63'
Pen: Roos (3) 40', 50', 70'
Drop: Roos (1) 29'
Attendance: 11,223
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

10 September 2016 Kintetsu Liners 20–32 Panasonic Wild Knights Osaka Expo '70 Stadium  
19:00 Try: Ratuila 43'
Taufa 80'
Con: Shigemitsu (1) 43'
Mihara (1) 80'
Pen: Shigemitsu (2) 12', 15'
Try: Mikami 5'
Tupou 24'
Moriya 62'
Naiyaravoro 68'
Con: Barnes (3) 5', 24', 62'
Pen: Barnes (2) 29', 33'
Attendance: 8,343

10 September 2016 Honda Heat 30–32 Toyota Verblitz Suzuka Sports Garden  
19:00 Try: Ioane 19', 37'
Lemeki 70'
Motomura 75'
Con: Lemeki (3) 37', 75'
Pen: Konishi (2) 28', 54'
Try: Yates 14'
Taumeaupoe 50'
Fujii 58'
Kido 81'
Con: Monji (2) 50', 58'
Lucas (1) 81'
Pen: Monji (1) 24'
Lucas (1) 68'
Attendance: 3,793
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

10 September 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 10–43 Yamaha Júbilo Saga Athletic Stadium  
18:00 Try: Everingham 76'
Con: Taulagi (1) 76'
Pen: Taulagi (1) 3'
Try: Krishnan 6'
Hino 14'
Tahituʻa 23', 58'
Van den Heever 35'
Sa'u 72'
Con: Van den Heever (4) 6', 14', 23', 58'
Otao (1) 35'
Pen: Van den Heever (1) 80'
Attendance: 2,463
Referee: Shinya Kato

10 September 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 7–48 Kobelco Steelers Ishikawa Athletics Stadium  
18:00 Try: Lafaele 57'
Con: Lafaele (1) 57'
Try: Vant Leven 4'
Yamashita 20', 74', 76'
Anderson 53'
Ito 71'
Con: Rei (3) 71', 74', 76'
Pen: Rei (4) 26', 33', 36', 69'
Attendance: 3,025
Referee: Rui Shimizu

Round 4

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16 September 2016 Canon Eagles 20–25 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Amano 38'
Shimada 42'
Con: Mitomo (2) 38', 42'
Pen: Mitomo (2) 2', 7'
Try: Matsutomo 9'
Yanagawa 58'
Matsuhashi 73'
Con: Peters (2) 9', 58'
Pen: Peters (2) 18', 46'
Attendance: 8,234
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

17 September 2016 NEC Green Rockets 23–7 Toyota Industries Shuttles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
16:30 Try: Onodera 20'
Amanaki 31'
Con: Tamura (2) 20', 31'
Pen: Tamura (3) 17', 52', 56'
Try: Greene 7'
Con: Greene (1) 7'
Attendance: 7,691
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

17 September 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 15–45 Suntory Sungoliath Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Horie 50'
Buckman 52'
Con: Barnes (1) 50'
Pen: Barnes (1) 12'
Try: Hatakeyama 29'
Nakazuru 36'
Ishihara 46'
Nakamura 60'
Tui 72'
Hiwasa 80'
Con: Ono (6) 29', 36', 46', 60', 72', 80'
Pen: Ono (1) 17'
Attendance: 11,318
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

17 September 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 18–3 Kintetsu Liners Yurtec Stadium Sendai  
14:00 Try: Ishibashi 34'
Suto 54'
Con: Ogura (1) 34'
Pen: Ogura (2) 13', 20'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 3' Attendance: 2,024

17 September 2016 Kubota Spears 18–15 Honda Heat Osaka Expo '70 Stadium  
19:00 Try: Hagisawa 30'
Ito 66'
Con: Fouché (1) 66'
Pen: Fouché (2) 53', 71'
Try: Nakata 8'
Lemeki 74'
Con: Park (1) 74'
Pen: Lemeki (1) 43'
Attendance: 4,278
Referee: Taku Otsuki

17 September 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 40–6 Toshiba Brave Lupus Yamaha Stadium  
18:00 Try: Yatomi 16', 40', 67'
Hino 24'
Miyazawa 55'
Tanaka 76'
Con: Van den Heever (1) 16'
Otao (4) 24', 55', 67', 76'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 21', 51' Attendance: 7,629
Referee: Akihisa Aso

17 September 2016 Toyota Verblitz 7–27 Kobelco Steelers Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
19:00 Try: Wada 76'
Con: Lucas (1) 76'
Try: Ryang 13'
Yamanaka 20'
Yamashita 51'
Yasui 54'
Con: Rei (2) 20', 51'
Pen: Rei (1) 37'
Attendance: 4,645
Referee: Shinya Kato

17 September 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 16–19 Munakata Sanix Blues Level5 Stadium  
19:00 Try: Wykes 42'
Maher 59'
Pen: Lafaele (2) 27', 39'
Try: Robins 22'
Ahio 47'
Everingham 51'
Con: Tashiro (2) 22', 47'
Attendance: 5,103

Round 5

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30 September 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 42–14 NTT Com Shining Arcs Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
19:30 Try: Sakate 19'
Heenan 25'
Sasakura 44'
Buckman 50'
Kitagawa 80'
Con: Barnes (3) 19', 25', 44'
Fujita (1) 80'
Pen: Barnes (3) 6', 10', 30'
Try: Gates 58'
Yamashita 70'
Con: Ogura (2) 58', 70'
Attendance: 8,853
Referee: Akihisa Aso

1 October 2016 Kubota Spears 20–29 Kintetsu Liners Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Tatekawa 41'
Goya 49'
Con: Fouché (2) 41', 49'
Pen: Fouché (2) 9', 45'
Try: Inami 25'
Yoshikawa 31'
Kashimoto 60'
Shigemitsu 72'
Con: Shigemitsu (3) 31', 60', 72'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 20'
Attendance: 3,891
Referee: Go Matsumoto

1 October 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 47–14 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Miyazawa 5'
Yatomi 12'
Tahituʻa 17'
Horie 31'
Otao 40'
Krishnan 51'
Van den Heever 80'
Con: Van den Heever (6) 5', 17', 31', 40', 51', 80'
Try: Matsuhashi 45'
Watanabe 74'
Con: Peters (2) 45', 74'
Attendance: 5,934
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

1 October 2016 Kobelco Steelers 41–5 Toyota Industries Shuttles Osaka Expo '70 Stadium  
14:00 Try: Rei 7', 52'
Ealey 10'
Jang 14'
Yamashita 24', 64'
Taniguchi 77'
Con: Rei (3) 14', 24', 77'
Try: Takada 72' Attendance: 3,343
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

1 October 2016 Honda Heat 14–42 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium  
11:30 Try: Moto 63'
Paku 68'
Con: Paku (2) 63', 68'
Try: Ishigaki 1'
Sarugaku 4', 25'
Toyota 27'
Tupou 56'
Yamada 71'
Con: Fukuda (6) 1', 4', 25', 27', 56', 71'
Attendance: 1,786
Referee: Shinya Kato

1 October 2016 NEC Green Rockets 22–17 Toyota Verblitz Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium  
14:00 Try: Miyajima 12'
Yoshihiro 15'
Enoki 74'
Con: Tamura (2) 12', 74'
Pen: Tamura (1) 79'
Try: Hikosaka 6'
Taufa 61'
Con: Robibson (2) 6', 61'
Pen: Robinson (1) 51'
Attendance: 2,942
Referee: Rui Shimizu

2 October 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 37–22 Canon Eagles Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium  
13:00 Try: Takeshita 11'
Matsushima 43'
Nakazuru 45', 77'
Con: Ono (4) 11', 43', 45', 77'
Pen: Ono (3) 25', 35', 73'
Try: Niwai 1'
Bennetts 37'
Leilua 69'
Con: Roos (2) 1', 37'
Drop: Roos (1) 29'
Attendance: 2,212

2 October 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 31–21 Toshiba Brave Lupus Global Arena  
13:00 Try: Yagi 16'
Kunamoto 19'
Everingham 47'
Hamazato 50'
Arai 57'
Con: Tashiro (3) 19', 47', 50'
Try: Kahui 7'
Ogawa 29'
Van Wyk 34'
Con: Ogawa (2) 7', 34'
Tamura (1) 29'
Attendance: 3,376
Referee: Taku Otsuki

Round 6

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8 October 2016 Canon Eagles 31–14 Toyota Industries Shuttles Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
11:30 Try: Leilua 1'
Bond 33'
Thomson 59'
Con: Roos (2) 1', 33'
Pen: Roos (3) 10, 25', 31', 40'
Try: Asami 72'
Takeuchi 76'
Con: Greene (2) 72', 76'
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Akihisa Aso

8 October 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 51–26 NEC Green Rockets Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
14:00 Try: Yamasawa 10'
Yatabe 27'
Kitagawa 47'
Tani 60'
Fujita 78'
Heenan 80'
Con: Yamasawa (6) 10', 27', 47', 60', 78', 80'
Pen: Yamasawa (3) 22', 40', 55'
Try: Matsura 3'
Higginbotham 41', 65'
Payne 79'
Con: Tamura (3) 41', 65', 79'
Attendance: 3,373
Referee: Taku Otsuki

8 October 2016 Kintetsu Liners 19–25 Toyota Verblitz Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Tanabe 77'
Noguchi 80'
Pen: Shigemitsu (3) 13', 40', 60'
Try: Taumeaupoe 19'
Yoshida 49'
Hikosaka 62'
Con: Kabashima (2) 19', 62'
Pen: Kabashima (2) 67', 71'
Attendance: 6,705
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

8 October 2016 Kobelco Steelers 45–39 Ricoh Black Rams Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Vaifu 8'
Yamashita 23'
Ellis 25'
Fourie 31'
Taniguchi 49'
Hashimoto 56'
Rei 78'
Con: Rei (5) 8', 23', 25', 49', 78'
Try: Broadhurst 18'
Hamano 36', 61'
Watanabe 53'
Fukumoto 66'
Con: Nanai-Williams (1) 18'
Takahira (1) 36'
Lotoahea (2) 61', 66'
Pen: Nanai-Williams (2) 43', 47'
Attendance: 8,756
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

8 October 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 8–41 Suntory Sungoliath Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki  
14:00 Try: Tamura 50'
Pen: Tashiro (1) 25'
Try: Nakazuru 18', 56', 70'
Takemoto 33'
Matsushima 40'
Tui 64'
Con: Ono (3) 33', 40', 64'
Nakamura (1) 70'
Pen: Ono (1) 41'
Attendance: 2,226

9 October 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 31–12 Honda Heat Iwaki Green Stadium  
13:00 Attendance: 3,013
Referee: Tadataka Yoshiura

9 October 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 17–14 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Tottori Athletics Stadium  
13:00 Attendance: 1,308
Referee: Go Matsumoto

9 October 2016 Kubota Spears 0–53 Yamaha Júbilo Konoike Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Attendance: 2,371
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

Round 7

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15 October 2016 NEC Green Rockets 14–33 Suntory Sungoliath Kashiwanoha Park Stadium  
13:00 Try: Hirosawa 65'
Tamura 71'
Con: Tamura (2) 65', 71'
Try: Ah Wong 8'
Takeshita 18'
Nakaduru 32'
Matsushima 48'
Tui 80'
Con: Ono (3) 8', 18', 48'
Nakamura (1) 80'
Attendance: 4,088
Referee: Akihisa Aso

15 October 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 47–25 Honda Heat Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Van den Heever 4'
Havili 13'
Ito 34', 40', 45'
Hino 68'
Helu 73'
Con: Van den Heever (6) 4', 13', 34', 45', 68', 73'
Try: Tupa 63'
Motomura 71'
Lemeki 76'
Con: Paku (2) 63', 76'
Pen: Paku (2) 20', 26'
Attendance: 5,025
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (NZL)

15 October 2016 Kubota Spears 28–27 Munakata Sanix Blues Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Tamura 3'
Goya 7', 43'
Saunders 74'
Con: Moriwaki (3) 3', 7', 43', 74'
Try: Potgieter 12'
Hamazato 32'
Taulagi 77'
Con: Tashiro (2) 12', 32'
Sweeney (1) 77'
Pen: Tashiro (1) 58'
Sweeney (1) 73'
Attendance: 3,752
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

15 October 2016 Kintetsu Liners 24–31 Ricoh Black Rams Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Shima 23'
Maeda 35'
Kim 34'
Con: Noguchi (3) 23', 34', 35'
Pen: Noguchi (1) 10'
Try: Matsuhashi 19'
Mau 57'
Yanagawa 62'
Mori 75'
Lotoahea 80'
Con: Nanai-Williams (1) 19'
Takahira 57', 75'
Attendance: 5,233
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

15 October 2016 Toyota Industries Shuttles 27–22 Toshiba Brave Lupus Kariya Municipal Athletic Park  
14:00 Try: Engelbrecht 11'
Gerrard 22'
Matsui 80'
Con: Greene (3) 11', 22', 80'
Pen: Greene (2) 38', 42'
Try: Toyoshima 19'
Mikami 55'
Tamura 75'
Con: Tamura (2) 55', 75'
Pen: Tamura (1) 67'
Attendance: 3,899
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

16 October 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 19–13 Toyota Verblitz Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
11:30 Try: Ogura 28'
Tomoigawa 49'
Koizumi 58'
Con: Ogura (2) 28', 49'
Try: Yates 34'
Con: Kabashima (1) 34'
Pen: Kabashima (2) 43', 78'
Attendance: 2,949
Referee: Shinya Kato

16 October 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 45–12 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
14:00 Try: Kitagawa 6'
Heenan 13'
Holani 20'
Tani 31'
Sakate 45'
Kawamata 52'
Buckman 62'
Con: Yamasawa (5) 6', 13', 31', 45', 52'
Try: Sarugaku 34'
Lafaele 66'
Con: Lafaele (1) 34'
Attendance: 4,776
Referee: Rui Shimizu

16 October 2016 Canon Eagles 25–44 Kobelco Steelers Oita Bank Dome  
13:00 Try: Shimada 26'
Bond 43'
Onozawa 78'
Con: Moriya (1) 26'
Harada (1) 78'
Pen: Moriya (2) 10', 21'
Try: Anderson 4', 33', 80'
Ealey 12'
Ellis 25'
Fourie 54'
Con: Rei (4) 2', 25', 54', 80'
Pen: Rei (2) 8', 23'
Attendance: 10,514
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

Round 8

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22 October 2016 Toyota Industries Shuttles 15–52 Suntory Sungoliath Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Gerrard 23'
Engelbrecht 25'
Con: Greene (1) 35'
Pen: Greene (1) 3'
Try: Nakaduru 4', 9', 44', 52'
Nakamura 20', 56'
Takeshita 48'
Tui 76'
Con: Ono (6) 9', 20', 48', 52', 56', 76'
Attendance: 3,787
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

22 October 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 21–17 NTT Com Shining Arcs Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Krishnan 28'
Horie 34'
Odo 62'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 28', 34', 62'
Try: Mafi 36', 80'
Con: Jantjies (1) 36'
Ogura (1) 80'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 53'
Attendance: 5,142
Referee: Akihisa Aso

22 October 2016 Honda Heat 24–37 Kobelco Steelers Suzuka Sports Garden  
14:00 Try: Tupa 36'
Lemeki 62'
Milo 75'
Con: Paku (2) 36', 62'
Lemeki (1) 75'
Pen: Paku (1) 34'
Try: Jang 11'
Hashimoto 14'
Ellis 30'
Yamashita 43'
Kizu 54'
Con: Rei (3) 11', 14', 43'
Pen: Rei (2) 22', 65'
Attendance: 3,363
Referee: Shinya Kato

22 October 2016 Kintetsu Liners 15–20 Munakata Sanix Blues Kimiidera Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Inami 5'
Latuila 56'
Con: Shigemitsu (1) 56'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 48'
Try: Hamazato 8'
Tsuruoka 28'
Robins 32'
Con: Sweeney (1) 8'
Pen: Sweeney (1) 38'
Attendance: 2,061
Referee: Tadataka Yoshiura

22 October 2016 Canon Eagles 16–29 Panasonic Wild Knights Machida Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Harada 24'
Con: Roos (1) 24'
Pen: Roos (2) 2', 49'
Harada (1) 79'
Try: Naiyaravoro 29', 51', 56'
Hasegawa 80'
Con: Yamasawa (3) 51', 56', 80'
Pen: Yamasawa (1) 6'
Attendance: 2,691
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

23 October 2016 Toyota Verblitz 57–3 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Technoport Fukui Stadium  
13:00 Try: Kitagawa 11'
Smith 25'
Hikosaka 34'
Yates 37'
Palu 53'
Lautaini 65'
Day 75'
Lucas 78'
Con: Kabashima (7) 11', 25', 37', 53', 65', 75', 78'
Pen: Kabashima (1) 3'
Pen: Fukuda (1) 18' Attendance: 1,626

23 October 2016 NEC Green Rockets 15–15 Kubota Spears Niigata City Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Tamura 10', 15'
Con: Tamura (1) 10'
Pen: Tamura (1) 40'
Try: Otukolo 67'
Takahashi 79'
Con: Moriwaki (1) 67'
Pen: Moriwaki (1) 42'
Attendance: 2,055
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (NZL)

23 October 2016 Ricoh Black Rams 33–28 Toshiba Brave Lupus Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium  
14:00 Try: Komatsu 5'
Matsushita 20', 59', 80'
Lotoahea 71'
Con: Peters (5) 7', 60', 72', 81'
Try: Jane 38'
Leitch 48'
Mori 61'
Toyoshima 65'
Con: Ogawa (1) 40', 49', 63', 66'
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

Round 9

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29 October 2016 Canon Eagles 35–5 Munakata Sanix Blues Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Amano 2'
Shimada 18', 45'
Harada 27'
Fujimoto 57'
Con: Mitomo (3) 2', 18', 27'
Roos (2) 45', 57'
Try: Arai 11' Attendance: 5,282
Referee: Rui Shimizu

29 October 2016 NEC Green Rockets 38–24 Kobelco Steelers Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Higginbotham 9'
Goto 29'
Payne 32'
Risale 41'
Con: Tamura (3) 10', 30', 33',
Pen: Tamura (4) 16', 20', 58', 67'
Try: Anderson 6'
Yamashita 11'
Yamanaka 47'
Rei 53'
Con: Rei (2) 7', 54'
Attendance: 9,949

29 October 2016 NTT Com Shining Arcs 34–29 Toshiba Brave Lupus Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium  
13:00 Try: Ogura 4'
Tomoigawa 17'
Ogawa 46', 71'
Con: Ogura (4) 5', 18', 47', 72'
Pen: Ogura (1) 14'
Drop: Ogura (1) 40'
Try: Yamamoto 1'
Watanabe 65'
Ogawa 75', 81'
Con: Ogawa (3) 2', 65', 76'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 34'
Attendance: 3,429

29 October 2016 Ricoh Black Rams 16–20 Toyota Verblitz Iwate Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Lotoahea 80'
Con: Bourke (1) 80'
Pen: Peters (3) 27', 44', 62'
Try: Robinson 5'
Palu 32'
Yates 75'
Con: Kabashima (1) 33'
Pen: Kabashima (1) 8'
Attendance: 3,797

29 October 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 11–50 Yamaha Júbilo Level5 Stadium  
13:00 Try: Latianarasoejima 62'
Pen: Fukuda (2) 16', 30'
Try: Hino 7'
Krishnan 12'
Helu 26', 52'
Sa'u 35', 74'
Penalty try 39'
Piutau 80'
Con: Van den Heever (4) 8', 27', 40', 52'
Otao (2) 75', 81'
Attendance: 2,322

30 October 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 38–0 Kubota Spears Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
13:00 Try: Nakaduru 11'
Aoki 24'
Matsushima 44'
Aruga 63'
Morikawa 76'
Con: Ono (4) 11', 21', 44', 76'
Attendance: 2,795
Referee: Taku Otsuki

30 October 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 60–7 Toyota Industries Shuttles Ota Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Moriya 21', 40'
Hasegawa 28'
Heenan 36', 49'
Shitara 44'
Yamada 61', 70'
Uchida 67'
Con: Yamasawa (3) 21', 36', 40'
Moriya (3) 49', 67', 70'
Pen: Yamasawa (1) 17'
Try: Saunders 47'
Con: Greene (1) 47'
Attendance: 3,320
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

30 October 2016 Kintetsu Liners 20–36 Honda Heat Konoike Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Thompson 19'
Stolberg 63'
Con: Shigemitsu (2) 19', 63'
Pen: Shigemitsu (2) 8', 29'
Try: Ubutaka 14'
Masaga 16'
Konishi 75'
Con: Paku (3) 14', 16', 75'
Pen: Paku (5) 23', 32', 47', 58', 70'
Attendance: 2,695
Referee: Akihisa Aso

Round 10

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3 December 2016 Kintetsu Liners 31–38 NEC Green Rockets Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Taylor 35', 66'
Morita 72'
Con: Noguchi (2) 35', 66'
Pen: Noguchi (4) 7', 9', 40', 43'
Try: Goto 10', 25'
Yoshihira 19'
Higginbotham 23'
Owada 57'
Payne 64'
Con: Tamura (4) 10', 23', 25', 57'
Attendance: 4,550
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

3 December 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 29–5 NTT Com Shining Arcs Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Ono 5'
Tui 13', 43'
Smith 40'
Con: Ono (3) 5', 13', 43'
Pen: Ono (1) 23'
Try: Nishibashi 59' Attendance: 5,919
Referee: Akihisa Aso

3 December 2016 Toyota Verblitz 25–21 Canon Eagles Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Kido 37'
Taumeaupoe 41'
Yates 76'
Con: Monji (2) 41', 76'
Pen: Monji (2) 2', 23'
Try: le Roux 7'
Hayashi 25'
Roos 78'
Con: Mitomo (2) 7', 25'
Roos (1) 78'
Attendance: 3,443
Referee: Taku Otsuki

3 December 2016 Honda Heat 10–34 Ricoh Black Rams Shizuoka Stadium  
11:30 Try: Ioane 46'
Con: Songi (1) 46'
Pen: Songi (1) 52'
Try: Nakamura 9'
Takahira 22'
Lotoahea 36'
Santoh 55'
Nanai-Williams 80'
Con: Takahira (3) 22', 36', 55'
Pen: Takahira (1) 40'
Attendance: 3,898
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

3 December 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 63–7 Toyota Industries Shuttles Shizuoka Stadium  
14:00 Try: Sa'u 13'
Hino 16'
Miyazawa 18'
Ito 42', 46'
Havili 51'
Piutau 52'
Penalty try 66'
Kato 80'
Con: Van den Heever (7) 13', 16', 18', 42', 46', 51', 52'
Otao (2) 66', 80'
Try: Matsumoto 70'
Con: Greene (1) 70'
Attendance: 7,471

4 December 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 34–25 Kubota Spears Ota Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Uchida 19'
Yamada 37'
Kitagawa 54'
Heenan 70'
Con: Yamasawa (4) 20', 39', 56', 71'
Pen: Yamasawa (2) 3', 66'
Try: Kondo 15'
Osborne 42', 73'
Con: Moriwaki (2) 43', 74'
Pen: Moriwaki (2) 7', 28'
Attendance: 3,462
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

4 December 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 21–60 Kobelco Steelers Global Arena  
14:00 Try: Hamazato 40'
Everingham 41'
Yagi 69'
Con: Sweeney (3) 40', 42', 70'
Try: Shomen 6'
Kanai 10'
Vaihu 12', 29', 75'
Taniguchi 17'
Nakajima 21'
Ellis 46'
Yamashita 64'
Con: Yamanaka (3) 7', 22', 30'
Rei (2) 65', 76'
Attendance: 3,195
Referee: Shinya Kato

4 December 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 17–22 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium  
14:00 Try: Jane 6'
Watanabe 65'
Messam 77'
Con: Ogawa (1) 77'
Try: Yamashita 16'
Sarugaku 26'
Katsuki 37'
Con: Lafaele (2) 26', 38'
Pen: Lafaele (1) 16'
Attendance: 2,580
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

Round 11

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10 December 2016 Ricoh Black Rams 18–21 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Matsuhashi 38'
Pohiva 58'
Con: Takahira (1) 58'
Pen: Takahira (2) 8', 62'
Try: Kondo 21'
Osborne 33'
Tatekawa 80'
Con: Moriwaki (2) 21', 33'
Tatekawa (1) 80'
Attendance: 5,585
Referee: Akihisa Aso

10 December 2016 Suntory Sungoliath 48–12 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Aoki 23'
Murata 26'
Ono 34'
Penalty try 40'
Emi 44', 57'
Nakaduru 55'
Ah Wong 74'
Con: Ono (3) 23', 34', 40'
Nakamura (1) 74'
Try: Soejima 5', 15'
Con: Lafaele (1) 15'
Attendance: 7,948
Referee: Takashi Otsuki

10 December 2016 Honda Heat 14–69 Panasonic Wild Knights Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Masaga 54'
Kamada 62'
Con: Paku (2) 54', 62'
Try: Holani 7'
Fukuoka 19', 47', 50', 58', 68', 75'
Buckman 29', 64'
Sakate 36'
Yamasawa 38'
Con: Yamasawa (3) 36', 38', 50'
Barnes (4) 58', 64', 68', 75'
Attendance: 4,671
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

10 December 2016 Kintetsu Liners 10–17 Canon Eagles Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Taylor 62'
Con: Noguchi (1) 62'
Pen: Noguchi (1) 51'
Try: Fujichika 22'
Bond 73'
Con: Mitomo (1) 22'
Roos 73'
Pen: Mitomo (1) 39'
Attendance: 6,188
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

10 December 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 47–5 NEC Green Rockets Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Tahituʻa 13'
Van den Heever 17'
Hino 39', 46'
Matsumoto 55'
Ito 79'
Sa'u 80'
Con: Van den Heever (6) 17', 39', 46', 55', 79', 80'
Try: Murata 73' Attendance: 4,742
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

11 December 2016 Kobelco Steelers 30–24 Toshiba Brave Lupus Noevir Stadium Kobe  
14:00 Try: Hashimoto 8'
Hayashi 30'
Shomen 49'
Con: Yamanaka (3) 10', 31', 50'
Pen: Yamanaka (3) 2', 20', 58'
Try: Kajikawa 53'
Van Wyk 64'
Matsunobu 76'
Con: Ogawa (3) 54', 65', 76'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 15'
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

11 December 2016 Toyota Industries Shuttles 33–19 NTT Com Shining Arcs Ningineer Stadium  
13:00 Try: Gerrard 8'
Takeuchi 21'
Saunders 44'
Matsui 53'
Greene 63'
Con: Greene (4) 8', 22', 44', 55'
Try: Tsuruda 11'
Anoku 66'
Hano 73'
Con: Ogura (2) 12', 66'
Attendance: 1,940
Referee: Tetsuhiko Kono

11 December 2016 Toyota Verblitz 14–15 Munakata Sanix Blues Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium  
13:00 Try: Ando 44'
Taumeaupoe 51'
Con: Matsushita (2) 45', 51'
Try: Yagi 30'
Fukuzaki 53'
Con: Sweeney (1) 54'
Pen: Sweeney (1) 78'
Attendance: 2,458
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

Round 12

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17 December 2016 Toyota Industries Shuttles 49–24 Honda Heat Toyota Stadium  
11:30 Try: Matsumoto 3'
So 42', 79'
Konishi 46'
Vatuvei 55'
Kankowski 59'
Tokoqio 77'
Con: Greene (4) 56', 61', 78', 80'
Pen: Greene (2) 27', 67'
Try: Milo 32'
Ioane 50'
Motomura 74'
Con: Pak (2) 33', 51'
Konishi (1) 75'
Pen: Pak (1) 20'
Attendance: 5,300
Referee: Shinya Kato

17 December 2016 Toyota Verblitz 24–37 Suntory Sungoliath Toyota Stadium  
14:00 Try: Smith 14'
Robinson 50'
Hikosaka 71'
Con: Kabashima (3) 15', 51', 71'
Pen: Kabashima (1) 24'
Try: Aoki 19'
Emi 30', 36'
Nakamura 53'
Ono 72'
Con: Ono (3) 31', 37', 54'
Pen: Ono (1) 12', 48'
Attendance: 8,615
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

17 December 2016 Kubota Spears 36–17 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Fukuda Denshi Arena  
13:00 Try: Takamori 5'
Osborne 20', 26'
Saunders 40'
Kriel 48'
Ito 69'
Con: Moriwaki (3) 6', 21', 40'
Try: Kinoshita 37'
Wykes 51'
Con: Lafaele (2) 38', 52'
Pen: Lafaele (1) 58'
Attendance: 2,085

18 December 2016 Canon Eagles 45–21 NEC Green Rockets Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: le Roux 7', 16'
Mitomo 13'
Havili 18'
Bennetts 32'
Noguchi 70'
Con: Roos (6) 8', 13', 17', 19', 33', 70'
Pen: Roos (1) 40'
Try: Matsuura 28'
Goto 65', 71'
Con: Tamura (3) 29', 65', 72'
Attendance: 6,708

18 December 2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 45–17 Ricoh Black Rams Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Yamada 15', 18', 53'
Uchida 71'
Moriya 81'
Con: Barnes (3) 16', 20', 55'
Moriya (1) 82'
Pen: Barnes (4) 13', 40', 63', 67'
Try: Mori 5', 29'
Yamamoto 56'
Con: Bourke (1) 57'
Attendance: 9,680

18 December 2016 Kintetsu Liners 12–59 Toshiba Brave Lupus Yanmar Stadium Nagai  
13:00 Try: Ko 71'
Stolberg 73'
Con: Shigemitsu (1) 74'
Try: Ishii 26', 78'
Mikami 30'
Van Wyk 35'
Asahara 46', 63'
Yamamoto 50'
Ilaua 82'
Con: Ogawa (6) 27', 31', 36', 47', 51', 64'
Van Wyk (2) 79', 82'
Pen: Ogawa (1) 7'
Attendance: 2,775
Referee: Takashi Otsuki

18 December 2016 Kobelco Steelers 15–33 Yamaha Júbilo Noevir Stadium Kobe  
13:00 Try: Hayashi 64'
Penalty try 69'
Con: Yamanaka (1) 69'
Pen: Yamanaka (1) 46'
Try: Ito 13'
Hino 50'
Sa'u 61'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 14', 51', 61'
Pen: Van den Heever (4) 36', 39', 73', 78'
Attendance: 8,647
Referee: Akihisa Aso

18 December 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 7–33 NTT Com Shining Arcs Miyazaki Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Try: Nishii 80'
Con: Sweeney (1) 80'
Try: Ishibashi 7'
Mezaki 14'
Numajiri 34'
Tsuruda 48'
Mafi 68'
Con: Jantjies (4) 8', 14', 49', 68'
Attendance: 2,590
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

Round 13

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24 December 2016 Canon Eagles 27–15 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Roos 4'
Hidaka 20'
Bennetts 41'
Con: Roos (3) 4', 20', 41'
Pen: Roos (1) 15'
Drop: Roos (1) 79'
Try: Ito 65'
Tatekawa 76'
Con: Moriwaki (1) 76'
Pen: Moriwaki (1) 34'
Attendance: 5,100
Referee: Akihisa Aso

24 December 2016 Toshiba Brave Lupus 32–31 Toyota Verblitz Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Matsunobu 2'
Usuzuki 15'
Van Wyk 26'
Leitch 43'
Con: Ogawa (3) 2', 26', 43'
Pen: Ogawa (2) 61', 80'
Try: Smith 8'
Hikosaka 20'
Kido 36'
Kitagawa 48'
Con: Kabashima (4) 8', 20', 36', 48'
Pen: Kabashima (1) 29'
Attendance: 7,964
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

24 December 2016 Toyota Industries Shuttles 14–41 Ricoh Black Rams Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Matsumoto 18'
Takeuchi 48'
Con: Greene (2) 18', 48'
Try: Mori 2', 36'
Bourke 29'
Lotoahea 62'
Yanagawa 73'
Hamano 80'
Con: Takahira (3) 29', 36', 62'
Bourke (1) 80'
Pen: Takahira (1) 21'
Attendance: 3,093
Referee: Takeshi Matsumoto

24 December 2016 Honda Heat 3–40 NTT Com Shining Arcs Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Pen: Konishi (1) 2' Try: Warren-Voyasco 10'
Jantjies 17'
Ogura 32'
Nishibashi 48'
Kin 55'
Tsuruya 60'
Con: Jantjies (3) 10', 17', 48'
Ogura (2) 55', 60'
Attendance: 4,005
Referee: Takashi Otsuki

24 December 2016 Yamaha Júbilo 24–41 Suntory Sungoliath Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Ito 4', 70'
Penalty try 37'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 4', 37', 70'
Pen: Van den Heever (1) 12'
Try: Nakaduru 15'
Donald 32'
Tui 40'
Ishihara 52'
Tsukamoto 79'
Con: Ono (5) 15', 32', 40', 52', 79'
Pen: Ono (2) 49', 78'
Attendance: 10,574
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

24 December 2016 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 3–27 NEC Green Rockets Level5 Stadium  
11:30 Pen: Lafaele (1) 2' Try: Goto 31'
Murata 50'
Yoshihiro 59'
Doi 67'
Con: Tamura (2) 31', 50'
Pen: Tamura (1) 20'
Attendance: 5,814
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

24 December 2016 Munakata Sanix Blues 14–55 Panasonic Wild Knights Level5 Stadium  
14:00 Try: Fukutsubo 54'
Taulagi 80'
Con: Sweeney (2) 54', 80'
Try: Valu 17', 42'
Hayashi 29', 56'
Fukuoka 49'
Naiyaravoro 69'
Ijima 73'
Nunomaki 76'
Con: Barnes (5) 29', 42', 49', 56', 69'
Kaneda (1) 76'
Pen: Barnes (1) 12'
Attendance: 8,613
Referee: Yuuki Fujiiuchi

25 December 2016 Kintetsu Liners 8–38 Kobelco Steelers Kincho Stadium  
14:00 Try: Matsui 50'
Pen: Shigemitsu (1) 35'
Try: Vaihu 18'
Yamashita 31'
Yamanaka 53'
Yamashita 56'
Imamura 76'
Con: Yamanaka (5) 19', 31', 54', 58', 77'
Pen: Yamanaka (1) 14'
Attendance: 4,545
Referee: Shinya Kato

Round 14

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7 January 2017 Toyota Industries Shuttles 12–33 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Matsumoto 3'
Vaka 64'
Con: Greene (1) 64'
Try: Tupou 34'
Lafaele 48'
Toyota 58', 78'
Yamashita 67'
Con: Lafaele (4) 34', 48', 58', 78'
Attendance: 2,636
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

7 January 2017 Toyota Verblitz 14–36 Panasonic Wild Knights Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Penalty try 68'
Wada 80'
Con: Kabashima (2) 68', 80'
Try: Fukuoka 30', 60', 74'
Horie 43'
Pocock 48'
Con: Moriya (4) 44', 49', 61', 75'
Pen: Moriya (1) 40'
Attendance: 3,938
Referee: Kyosuke Toda

7 January 2017 Suntory Sungoliath 48–0 Toshiba Brave Lupus Ajinomoto Stadium  
13:00 Try: Nakaduru 8', 25', 47'
Emi 29'
Tsukamoto 65'
Nakamura 69'
Matsushima 79'
Con: Ono (5) 9', 27', 31', 48', 66'
Pen: Ono (1) 16'
Attendance: 9,391
Referee: Akihisa Aso

8 January 2017 NEC Green Rockets 41–21 Honda Heat Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Higginbotham 2'
Savieti 9'
Payne 48', 80'
Goto 50'
Con: Tamura (5) 3', 10', 49', 51', 80'
Pen: Tamura (2) 40', 79'
Try: Motomura 32'
Milo 38'
Stegmann 53'
Con: Furuya (3) 34', 39', 55'
Attendance: 3,764

8 January 2017 NTT Com Shining Arcs 15–26 Canon Eagles Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Jantjies 7'
Britz 43'
Con: Jantjies (1) 45'
Pen: Jantjies (1) 33'
Try: Hashino 20'
Thomson 71'
Con: Roos (2) 22', 72'
Pen: Roos (4) 17', 28', 40', 66'
Attendance: 5,293
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

8 January 2017 Kubota Spears 23–16 Kobelco Steelers Kincho Stadium  
11:30 Try: Mapoe 26'
Goya 59'
Kondo 77'
Con: Moriwaki (1) 60'
Pen: Moriwaki (2) 40', 52'
Try: Yamazaki 11'
Con: Yamanaka (1) 12'
Pen: Yamanaka (3) 29', 36', 64'
Attendance: 3,348
Referee: Akihisa Kajiwara

8 January 2017 Yamaha Júbilo 26–12 Kintetsu Liners Kincho Stadium  
14:00 Try: Penalty try 13', 71'
Yatomi 49'
Tanaka 74'
Con: Van den Heever (3) 14', 51', 71'
Pen: Noguchi (4) 23', 37', 40', 63' Attendance: 4,579

8 January 2017 Ricoh Black Rams 36–3 Munakata Sanix Blues Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium  
14:00 Try: Komatsu 7'
Makita 13'
Musya 40'
Matsuhashi 46'
Mori 51'
Watanabe 80'
Con: Ellison (2) 40', 52'
Peters (1) 80'
Pen: Fukuzaki (1) 36' Attendance: 1,399
Referee: Takashi Otsuki

Round 15

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14 January 2017 NTT Com Shining Arcs 27–17 Kubota Spears Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Try: Tsuruda 6'
Miura 21'
Karauria-Henry 54'
Tomoigawa 61'
Con: Ogura (2) 6', 61'
Pen: Ogura (1) 37'
Try: Mapoe 11'
Kim 51'
Con: Moriwaki (2) 11', 51'
Pen: Moriwaki (1) 35'
Attendance: 8,506

14 January 2017 Toshiba Brave Lupus 14–15 Panasonic Wild Knights Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Penalty try 18'
Kahui 56'
Con: Ogawa (2) 18', 56'
Pen: Moriya (5) 11', 16', 28', 39', 80' Attendance: 12,423
Referee: Takashi Otsuki

14 January 2017 Kintetsu Liners 26–24 Toyota Industries Shuttles Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
11:45 Try: Fainga'a 34'
Noguchi 45'
Miyata 57'
Sato 66'
Con: Noguchi (3) 45', 57', 66'
Try: Vaka 62'
Yamashita 77'
Con: Greene (1) 52'
Pen: Greene (3) 22', 30', 40'
Drop: Greene (1) 37'
Attendance: 3,181
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi

14 January 2017 Honda Heat 26–28 Canon Eagles Hanazono Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Try: Nakata 14'
Stegmann 24'
Milo 33'
Furuya 75'
Con: Furuya (3) 24', 33', 75'
Try: Bennetts 8'
Hashino 38'
Harada 51'
Niwai 67'
Con: Roos (4) 8', 38', 51', 67'
Attendance: 4,442
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka

14 January 2017 Yamaha Júbilo 27–8 Toyota Verblitz Yamaha Stadium  
13:00 Try: Ito 11', 26', 74'
Yatomi 58'
Con: Van den Heever (2) 58', 74'
Pen: Van den Heever (1) 40'
Try: Kido 17'
Pen: Monji (1) 3'
Attendance: 4,837
Referee: Akihisa Aso

14 January 2017 Kobelco Steelers 15–27 Suntory Sungoliath Noevir Stadium Kobe  
13:00 Try: Bekker 9'
Yamanaka 45'
Con: Yamanaka (1) 45'
Pen: Yamanaka (1) 13'
Try: Tui 22'
Emi 40'
Matsushima 43'
Con: Ono (3) 22', 40', 43'
Pen: Ono (2) 58', 78'
Attendance: 8,393
Referee: Shuhei Kubo

14 January 2017 Munakata Sanix Blues 26–24 NEC Green Rockets Level5 Stadium  
11:30 Try: Robins 3', 48'
Hesketh 13'
Nishii 29'
Con: Kanagawa (3) 3', 13', 48'
Try: Matsura 22'
Payne 54'
Hirosawa 64'
Con: Tamura (3) 22', 54', 64'
Pen: Tamura (1) 9'
Attendance: 1,974
Referee: Takeshi Matsumoto

14 January 2017 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 14–33 Ricoh Black Rams Level5 Stadium  
14:00 Try: Lafaele 5'
Tupou 15'
Con: Lafaele (2) 5', 15'
Try: Komatsu 10', 71'
Mostert 43'
Lotoahea 50', 53'
Con: Peters (4) 43', 50', 53', 71'
Attendance: 3,059
Referee: Shinya Kato

Top League Challenge Series

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Hino Red Dolphins, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars progressed to the promotion play-offs.

Promotion/relegation play-offs

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At the end of the season, there were three promotion/relegation play-offs for three places in the 2017–18 Top League. The teams ranked 13th, 14th and 15th in the Top League played off against the teams ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Top League Challenge 1.

Coca-Cola Red Sparks, Kintetsu Liners and Toyota Industries Shuttles qualified from the Top League relegation play-off zone, while Hino Red Dolphins, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars qualified from Challenge 1.

The following matches were played in the series:


28 January 2017 Kintetsu Liners 47–0 Kyuden Voltex  

28 January 2017 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 32–22 Hino Red Dolphins  

28 January 2017 Toyota Industries Shuttles 33–21 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars  

References

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  1. ^ "Top League Schedule 2016" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-08-23. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Rugby: Sanix top Docomo to earn promotion to Top League". 30 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-01-30. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Its Rugby Japan". Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Fixtures & Results". Top League. Retrieved 14 January 2017.