RUGBY JERSEY – Japan Rugby League One Round 16: TOSHIBA Brave Lupas vs. SHIZUOKA Blue Revs

(Written by Azul: May 20, 2026)

On this occasion (May 2, 2026), I went to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Minato Ward, Tokyo, to watch the Japan Rugby League One Round 17 match: Brave Lupas vs. Blue Revs.

With only 2 rounds remaining in League One Division 1, this round is likely to determine the 6 teams advancing to the playoffs and the 2 teams entering the relegation playoffs. The standings as of the start of Round 17 were as follows.

2025-26	League One Order(Division 1) 5/2
ranking	team	Win	Lose	Even	WP	SD
1	Saitama Panasonic Wildnights	15	2	0	69	283
2	KOBELCO Kobe Steelers	14	2	0	67	284
3	Kubota Spears	13	3	0	64	313
4	Black Rams Tokyo	9	7	0	41	12
5	Tokyo SUNTORY Sungoliath	7	9	0	40	54
6	TOSHIBA Brave Lupas TOKYO	7	9	0	35	-111
7	Toyota Verblitz	7	9	0	33	-116
8	Shizuoka Blue Revs	6	10	0	30	-59
9	Mie Honda Heat	6	10	0	29	-143
10	Yokohama CANNON Eagles	5	11	0	26	-125
11	Sagamihara Dynaboars	4	12	0	19	-195
12	Urayasu　D-Rocks	4	13	0	16	-197

	WP=Winning Point
	SD=Score Difference

First, let me introduce the home team for this match, the TOSHIBA Brave Lupas TOKYO.

The reigning champions, the Brave Lupas, who had won 2 consecutive League One titles and were aiming for a 3rd this season, have been struggling this year. With 2 matches remaining, they are currently languishing in 6th place, just barely within the playoff qualification zone. The reigning champions have endured a grueling season, including a 7-game losing streak, and have yet to find their form. The physical strength they displayed in physical battles during the first half of the season has faded in the second half, resulting in several lopsided losses. For a team like Brave Lupas, which puts everything into its FW play, mental toughness is crucial, so they will be looking to win their remaining 2 games to secure a playoff spot. Their opponent this day, the Blue Revs, is a team they struggled against last season, losing both matches. However, since a loss in this day’s game would eliminate them from the playoffs, this match will truly test Brave Lupas’s mettle.

The starting lineup for this day’s game was as follows.

TOSHIBA Brave Lupas
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Sena KIMURA	175cm	105kg	24	Japan 3caps
2	Andrew MAKALIO	185cm	129kg	34
3	Yuta KOKAJI	176cm	109kg	27
4	Jacob　PIERCE	2012m	116kg	34
5	Michael Stolberg	202cm	124kg	23
6	Yoshitaka TOKUNAGA	186cm	105kg	34	Japan 15caps
7	Hiroki YAMAMOTO	187cm	95kg	33	Japan 6caps
8	Michael LEITCH	189cm	113kg	35	Japan 92caps
9	Kohei TAKAHASHI	167cm	79kg	30
10	Richie MO’UNGA	176cm	83kg	30	New Zealand 56caps
11	Jone NAIKABULA	177cm	95kg	31	Japan 17caps
12	Taichi MANO	173cm	90kg	28
13	Seta TAMANIVALU	189cm	104kg	34	NZ 3caps,Fiji 6caps
14	Rei ISHIOKA	177cm	85kg	24
15	Takuro MATSUNAGA	172cm	81kg	27	Japan 5caps

＊＊　Player to Watch　＊＊

Jone NAIKABULA. 177 cm, 95 kg, 31 years old. From Fiji. Position: WTB. Japan national team caps: 17. Participated in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Since returning from the World Cup, he has honed his skills, demonstrating not just speed but also the decisiveness to score tries in any situation. Normally, he would be the team’s rock-solid ace, leading the Brave Lupas, but his recovery from an early-season injury took longer than expected, and he only returned to action in the previous round. His absence has been a contributing factor to the team’s struggles this season, but his return to the starting lineup is certainly a positive sign heading into the playoffs.

Next, here is an introduction to the visiting team, the SHIZUOKA Blue Revs.

Last season, they finished 3rd in the league and secured a playoff spot, leading to high expectations for a breakthrough this season. However, at this point, they are languishing in 8th place. Their running-based style of play has been studied by other teams, and while they possess strong offensive capabilities this season, they have shown fragility on defense. Although they are a team that typically excels at set pieces, this season they have even been pushed back in scrums. A loss in this day’s match would make a playoff berth impossible, so we hope they approach the game with full concentration.

The starting lineup for this day’s match was as follows.

Shizuoka Blue Revs
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Kenta YAMASHITA	177cm	112kg	26
2	Takeshi HINO	172cm	95kg	35	Japan 5caps
3	Heiichiro ITO	175cm	106kg	35	Japan 6caps
4	Justin SANGUSTER	198cm	118kg	29
5	Murray DOUGLAS	198cm	116kg	36
6	Malgene ILAUA	187cm	108kg	32	Japan 7caps
7	Daniel MAIAVA	194cm	110kg	22
8	Kwagga SMITH	180cm	99kg	32	South Africa 61caps
9	Shuntaro KITAMURA	168cm	77kg	22	Japan 1cap
10	Kakeru OKUMURA	180cm	85kg	27	Japan
11	Malo TUITAMA	182cm	97kg	30	Japan 9caps
12	Sylvian MAHUZA	178cm	88kg	32
13	Charles PIUTAU	186cm	95kg	34	NZ 17caps, Tonga 12caps
14	Futo YAMAGUCHI	167cm	74kg	25
15	Sam GREENE	178cm	85kg	31	Japan 5caps

＊＊　Player to Watch　＊＊

Semi RADRDRA. 190 cm, 110 kg, 33 years old. From Fiji. Position: WTB. Fiji national team caps: 21. A world-class star who has played as a key player in major European leagues and joined the Blue Revs this season. When he breaks away with the ball, he captivates the crowd with his speed, ability to break through defenses, and advanced passing skills. In particular, his off-load passing ability is world-class. It is unfortunate that he suffered an injury in the season opener and played in only a few games.

Please note that he was currently registered as a reserve player.

And now, the first half begins.

The match began with a kickoff by the Blue Revs.

1 minute into the first half:

The Blue Revs kicked off, and as Brave Lupas FB MATSUNAGA attempted to kick the ball out of bounds, however Blue Revs lock SUNGSTER fiercely snatched it away and charged forward with the ball. The ball rolled into the in-goal area, where SUNGSTER grounded it, giving the Blue Revs an immediate no-whistle try.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 0-7 and giving the Blue Revs the early lead.

4 minutes into the first half:

On the restart kickoff, Blue Revs’ star CTB PIUTAU surprisingly knocked the ball forward.

Brave Lupas launched a series of attacks from a set piece deep in the opponent’s territory, eventually spreading the play wide from left to right, and WTB ISHIOKA scored a try in the right corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

Although the conversion kick after the try was missed, the score stood at 5-7.

8 minutes into the first half:

Brave Lupas penetrated the opponent’s territory, dominated the scrum, and earned a penalty goal opportunity following an opponent’s foul. The position was approximately 30 meters out, almost directly in front of the goalposts.

Brave Lupas’ FB MATSUNAGA confidently converted the kick, bringing the score to 8-7.

10 minutes into the first half:

Following the kickoff after the penalty goal, the Blue Revs entered the opponent’s half, dominated the scrum, and forced a penalty against Brave Lupas, earning the Blue Revs a penalty goal opportunity. This was the reverse of the previous scenario.

Blue Revs fly-half OKUMURA converted this penalty kick, taken almost directly in front of the goalposts, bringing the score to 8-10.

14 minutes into the first half:

During this period, Brave Lupas entered the opposition’s half and maintained possession. Brave Lupas broke through the line several times, threatening the opposition’s in-goal area. In response, Blue Revs continued to defend against the opponent’s scoring opportunities. However, on the left side of the opponent’s half, Brave Lupas evaded the defense with a series of skillful passes. WTB NAIKABULA then outmaneuvered the defenders with clever positioning and footwork, scoring a try in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area. WTB NAIKABULA, who had returned to the lineup for this match, fulfilled his role as a try-scorer in his first game back.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, and Brave Lupas took the lead again, bringing the score to 15-10.

After that, the scrums became a battle where neither side would give an inch, and there were many turnovers. However, even when they regained possession, perhaps due to the heat, their attacks were sporadic, and frequent handling errors prevented either team from converting these opportunities into points.

30 minutes into the first half:

It was not until this point that the deadlock was finally broken.

Once inside the opposition’s half, the Blue Revs continued their attack despite being tightly marked by the defense. After more than 10 phases of play, they shifted the ball from left to right. When the ball reached WTB Yamaguchi, he used his individual skill to evade 2 defenders and scored a try in the middle of the right side of the opposition’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 15-17 and putting the Blue Revs back in the lead.

34 minutes into the first half:

During a Brave Lupas attack, the Blue Revs recovered a ball fumbled due to a handling error, built their attack from there, and penetrated deep into the opponent’s territory.

The Blue Revs spread the ball left and right to open up the field, and finally, WTB TUITAMA scored a try in the left corner of the opponent’s in-goal area.

Although the conversion kick after the try was missed, the score became 15-22.

38 minutes into the first half:

Just before the end of the first half, Brave Lupas advanced into the opponent’s territory and, following a penalty against the opposition, earned a lineout just beyond the opponent’s 22-meter line.

Brave Lupas secured the ball here, and the forwards launched a flanking attack, joined by WTB NAIKABULA, who scored his 2nd try of the day in the left center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was successful, tying the score at 22-22.

This marked the end of the first half.

With both Brave Lupas and Blue Revs fighting for a spot in the playoffs, neither team could afford to lose, and the game entered the second half tied.

5 minutes into the second half:

The second half began with a kickoff by Brave Lupas.

Since both teams had players in their 3rd row of FWs who were strong in the scrum, turnovers occurred frequently from the start, preventing either side from sustaining continuous attacks. Amidst this, as the Blue Revs built up play in their own half, they were tackled by the Brave Lupas forwards, resulting in a penalty against the Blue Revs. Since the penalty was awarded directly in front of the goalposts, the Brave Lupas opted for a penalty goal.

Brave Lupas FB MATSUNAGA converted the kick, bringing the score to 25-22.

20 minutes into the second half:

Shortly after, Blue Revs advanced to the opponent’s try line. Following an opponent’s foul, they opted for a scrum and pressed toward the opponent’s in-goal area, but ultimately lost possession in the scrum and failed to score.

28 minutes into the 2nd half:

Drawing on their experience of losing consecutive matches to the Blue Revs last season, the Brave Lupas deployed a defense that quickly closed in on the opposition whenever they opened up the field. This strategy proved effective, making it difficult for the Blue Revs to sustain their attacks.

In response, the Blue Revs employed a zone defense that did not step forward. While this prevented the opponent from gaining a numerical advantage on the first phase of the attack, it carried the risk of conceding significant ground if the line was broken.

Brave Lupas advanced through a series of attacks and closed in on the opponent’s try line. Finally, CTB MANO scored a try in the right center of the opponent’s in-goal area.

The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the score to 32-22.

37 minutes into the 2nd half:

With time running out, the Brave Lupas, who had been advancing deep into enemy territory, won a scrum deep in the opposition’s half and earned a penalty goal opportunity. From a position directly in front of the goalposts, about 30 meters out, the Brave Lupas’ FB, Matsunaga, converted the kick, bringing the score to 35–22.

At this point, the outcome of the match was all but decided, but the Blue Revs, determined to show some final defiance, went for a try.

41 minutes into the 2nd half:

As the horn signaling the end of the match sounded, the Blue Revs moved the ball from side to side, advancing toward the opponent’s in-goal area. Finally, the ball was passed from No. 8 SMITH to WTB TUITAMA, and TUITAMA scored a try in the right corner of the opponent’s in-goal area. The conversion kick after the try was also successful, bringing the final score to 35-29.