League One
Japan Rugby League One is the premier Rugby competition in Japan featuring 26 teams across 3 divisions. The Toshiba Brave Lupus won the 2025 season for the 2nd consecutive year. Toyota Shokki Shuttles won Division 2 while Mazda Skyactivs won Division 3.
Radradra joins Blue Revs
The Japanese League One has added another superstar of the game to their competition in Flying Fijians Centre and Olympic Gold Medallist Semi Radradra.
Its been known for the past few months he would be leaving Lyon for Japan and it was finally revealed today that he would be joining the Shizuoka Blue Revs.
Already on the Blue-Revs roster is Radradra's former Bristol teammate Charles Piutau and fellow Fijian Vueti Tupou.
Three Fijians in Japan XV forward pack
Japan XV have named their lineup to take on the Maori All-Blacks this Saturday. The lineup includes 3 Fijians in Dynaboars Lock Epeneri Uluiviti alongside Waisake Raratubua of the Steelers in his first representative match and at Flanker breakout player Vueti Tupou from the Blue Revs. It is also his first rep jersey at senior level.
It is just reward particularly for Raratubua and Tupou who both were exceptional this season. Both players only in their 2nd seasons have gone from strength to strength.
They both played 19 matches this season and coincidentally both scored 8 tries as well.
Player Updates
A much improved showing at lineout for Flying Fijians Skipper Tevita Ikanivere. He also scored the first try through a rolling maul late in the 35th minute.
The lineout mistakes started creeping back in early in the 2nd half and he was replaced by Sam Matavesi not long after.
10 carries for a tough 15 metres and 5 tackles defensively.
He now heads to Japan to join new club Honda Heat. Whether he is a available for the November tests we will have to wait and see.
Marika Koroibete started on the Wing for the AUNZ combined side that took on the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide last night.
It was tough going for the invitational side as the failed to score a point, the Lions far too strong and keep their undefeated run alive with a 48-0 win.
Koroibete played the first 43 minutes and recorded only 2 carries according to Rugbypass.
Coming off a surprising heavy defeat against the Blue Revs, Toshiba hit back with a resounding 61-19 demolition of Urayasu. Leitch started at Number 8, scored a great try down the left touchline in the 58th minute when he reached out to score one handed while desperately keeping himself inside the field of play. Wasn’t required to get through his usual high workload.
Aseri Masivou will return to the top division next season after he was revealed as one of the MI Honda Heat’s new signings for the 2025-2026 season.
“Looking forward to the new chapter and also excited to meet the Honda HEAT fans.
I will do my best to make team better.”
“I am very honored to have the opportunity to play for the Mie Honda Heat. I am looking forward to my new environment and meeting the fans. I promise to do my best and contribute to the team.”
