Top League Champions Cup
# Top League Champions Cup

The Top League Championship is Japan's highest-level knockout tournament for rugby union clubs. Held annually, the leading teams from the Top League regular season qualify for the playoffs to decide the Cup title. From 2018 onward, the All-Japan Rugby Football Championship has doubled as the Top League Championship Cup. Previously, teams competed for the Lixil Cup, from 2014 to 2016, and Microsoft Cup (prior to 2009).

The Top League competition is a Japanese industrial league that presently consists of sixteen teams, all owned by major companies.

Initially sponsored by Microsoft Japan, the knockout tournament was first contested by the top eight teams from the Top League in 2004. It was considered a separate competition to the Top League for the first three seasons but was officially integrated for the 2006–07 season. The number of teams was also cut to four to give a format of two semi-finals and a final, and from that time onward until the 2016–17 season the winner of the knockout cup was recognised as the Top League champion.

There were no title-play-offs in 2016–17, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stage won the Top League title.

## Overall

Summary totals for all Top League championships up to and including 2018:

| Team | Championships | Runners-up | Semi-final losses | Premierships |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Toshiba Brave Lupus | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Suntory Sungoliath | 5 | 3 | $2^+$ | 3 |
| Panasonic Wild $Knights^1$ | 4 | 5 | $3^^$ | 5 |
| Kobelco Steelers | 1* | 0 | $5^^$ | 3 |
| Yamaha Júbilo | 0 | 3 | $2^+$ | 0 |
| Kubota Spears | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Toyota Verblitz | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| NEC Green Rockets | 0* | 0 | 2 | 0 |

Notes:

$^1$ The Panasonic Wild Knights summary includes results for the Sanyo Wild Knights from 2003 to 2012.  * NEC won the 2004 Microsoft Cup but Kobe Steel was the Top League champion. These were separate competitions prior to 2007.  $^^$ The 2004 Kobe Steel and Sanyo (Panasonic) semi-final appearances are included, although that cup was not part of the championship.  $^+$ Yamaha was 3rd and Suntory 4th in the 2003–04 Top League championship, but these results are not counted as semi-final appearances.

## Tournaments

Teams listed are those that qualified from the Top League for the title play-offs in each season, or the top four teams where there were no play-offs. Results of the play-offs are written so that the score of the team in each row is mentioned first.

Legend :

| | Cup winner (knockout play-offs). | Pos = Log Position, P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Diff = Points Difference, TB = Try Bonus Points, LB = Losing Bonus Points, SP = Starting Points for Group Stage, Pts = Log Points, Semi = Semi-final, Refs = References |
| - | - | - |
| † | Top League title winner. | Pos = Log Position, P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Diff = Points Difference, TB = Try Bonus Points, LB = Losing Bonus Points, SP = Starting Points for Group Stage, Pts = Log Points, Semi = Semi-final, Refs = References |

Suntory Sungoliath 12–8 Panasonic Wild Knights

### Top League and All-Japan titles: 2017 onward

There were no title-play-offs in 2018, and the team on top of the league after the round-robin stage was crowned the Top League title winner. However, the top three teams progressed to the All-Japan Championship.

The All-Japan Championship doubled as the Top League Champions Cup title from 2018 onward, with university teams excluded.

Top League and All-Japan title (2017–present) :

| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Play-offs | Play-offs | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Semi | Final | Ref |
| 2018 | 6 January to 13 January | 1 White | Panasonic Wild Knights | 63 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 580 | 142 | +438 | 11 | 0 | 17–11 | 8–12 | |
| 2018 | 6 January to 13 January | 1 Red | Suntory Sungoliath † | 55 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 450 | 180 | +270 | 7 | 0 | 49–7 | 12–8 | |
| 2018 | 6 January to 13 January | 2 White | Yamaha Júbilo | 46 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 440 | 232 | +208 | 8 | 2 | 7–49 | — | |
| 2018 | 6 January to 13 January | 2 Red | Toyota Verblitz | 46 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 394 | 288 | +106 | 4 | 2 | 11–17 | — | |
| 2017 | 21 January to 29 January | 1 | Suntory Sungoliath † | 71 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 563 | 184 | +379 | 11 | 0 | 52–29 | 15–10 | |
| 2017 | 21 January to 29 January | 2 | Yamaha Júbilo | 67 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 580 | 208 | +372 | 11 | 0 | 24–36 | — | |
| 2017 | 21 January to 29 January | 3 | Panasonic Wild Knights | 62 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 579 | 268 | +311 | 9 | 1 | 36–24 | 10–15 | |
| 2017 | 21 January to 29 January | 4 | Kobelco Steelers | 48 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 473 | 328 | +145 | 7 | 1 | — | — | |

### Lixil Cup and Top League title: 2014 to 2016

From the 2013–14 season, the Top League tournament was contested by sixteen teams. The top four teams from the league competition (or the top eight in 2016) advanced to the play-offs to compete for the Lixil Trophy and Top League Championship.

Lixil Trophy and Top League Championship play-offs (2014–2016) :

| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Cup play-off results | Cup play-off results | Cup play-off results | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | SP | Qtr | Semi | Final | Ref |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 1A | Panasonic Wild Knights † | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 290 | 137 | 153 | 5 | 0 | – | 48–6 | 42–10 | 27–26 | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 1B | Yamaha Jubilo | 29 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 226 | 140 | 86 | 5 | 0 | – | 27–6 | 22–34 | — | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 2A | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 253 | 100 | 153 | 4 | 0 | – | 29–17 | 34–22 | 26–27 | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 2B | Kobelco Steelers | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 235 | 137 | 98 | 5 | 2 | – | 42–10 | 10–42 | — | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 3A | Kintetsu Liners | 23 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 193 | -4 | 3 | 0 | – | 10–42 | — | — | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 3B | Toyota Verblitz | 26 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 203 | 125 | 78 | 5 | 1 | – | 17–29 | — | — | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 4A | NTT Com Shining Arcs | 22 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 190 | 142 | 48 | 4 | 2 | – | 6–27 | — | — | |
| 2016 | 9 January to 24 January | 4B | Canon Eagles | 25 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 196 | 142 | 54 | 4 | 1 | – | 6-48 | — | — | |
| 2015 | 24 January to 1 February | 1 | Kobelco Steelers | 29 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 242 | 113 | +129 | 4 | 1 | 4 | — | 12–41 | — | |
| 2015 | 24 January to 1 February | 2 | Panasonic Wild Knights† | 29 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 218 | 131 | +87 | 5 | 0 | 4 | — | 50–15 | 30–12 | |
| 2015 | 24 January to 1 February | 3 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 28 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 213 | 147 | +66 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — | 15–50 | — | |
| 2015 | 24 January to 1 February | 4 | Yamaha Júbilo | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 134 | +31 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | 41–12 | 12–30 | |
| 2014 | 1 February to 9 February | 1 | Panasonic Wild Knights† | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 105 | 119 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 55–15 | 45–22 | |
| 2014 | 1 February to 9 February | 2 | Suntory Sungoliath | 32 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 261 | 169 | 92 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 27–19 | 22–45 | |
| 2014 | 1 February to 9 February | 3 | Kobelco Steelers | 24 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 223 | 194 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | 19–27 | — | |
| 2014 | 1 February to 9 February | 4 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 23 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 181 | 151 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 15–55 | — | |

Competition rules :

* Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match * 4, 3, 2, or 1 starting points in the group stage for 1st through 4th respectively in the pool stage (seasons 2014–15 and 2015–16 only)
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Log points * 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 |||

### Play-offs and Top League title: 2010 to 2013

Microsoft Cup banner 2005–2009. :

### Microsoft Cup and Top League title: 2007 to 2009

For the 2006–07 season the tournament was expanded to fourteen teams and the Top League and Microsoft Cup competitions were combined. Only the top four teams on the regular season table progressed to title play-offs and the winner of the knockout competition was awarded both the Microsoft Cup and the Top League title.

Video referee (TMO) decisions were introduced for the 2009 Cup series. The naming rights partnership with Microsoft for the knockout competition ended after the 2009 Cup final.

Top League Championship play-off tournament (2007–2013) :

| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Play-off results | Play-off results | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Semi | Final | Ref |
| 2009 | 17 February to 24 February | 1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 59 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 563 | 211 | +352 | 11 | 0 | 26–7 | 17–6 | |
| 2009 | 17 February to 24 February | 2 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 58 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 584 | 197 | +387 | 10 | 0 | 32–22 | 6–17 | |
| 2009 | 17 February to 24 February | 3 | Suntory Sungoliath | 51 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 482 | 298 | +184 | 10 | 1 | 22–32 | — | |
| 2009 | 17 February to 24 February | 4 | Kobelco Steelers | 43 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 358 | 300 | +58 | 5 | 2 | 6–27 | — | |
| 2008 | 17 February to 24 February | 1 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 63 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 593 | 170 | +423 | 11 | 0 | 25–21 | 10–14 | |
| 2008 | 17 February to 24 February | 2 | Suntory Sungoliath† | 53 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 453 | 229 | +224 | 10 | 1 | 33–10 | 14–10 | |
| 2008 | 17 February to 24 February | 3 | Toyota Verblitz | 50 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 452 | 269 | +183 | 9 | 3 | 10–33 | — | |
| 2008 | 17 February to 24 February | 4 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 47 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 398 | 263 | +135 | 5 | 2 | 21–25 | — | |
| 2007 | 28 January to 4 February | 1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 60 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 502 | 234 | 268 | 11 | 1 | 38–35 | 14–13 | |
| 2007 | 28 January to 4 February | 2 | Suntory Sungoliath | 56 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 545 | 161 | 384 | 10 | 2 | 40–39 | 13–14 | |
| 2007 | 28 January to 4 February | 3 | Yamaha Jubilo | 48 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 379 | 306 | 73 | 5 | 1 | 39–40 | — | |
| 2007 | 28 January to 4 February | 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 47 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 448 | 267 | 181 | 8 | 3 | 35–38 | — | |

Competition rules :

* Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Log points * 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 |||

### Top League, separate Microsoft Cup: 2004 to 2006

For the first three seasons the competition format was a single round-robin tournament contested by twelve teams, with the team finishing top of the table winning the Top League title. The Microsoft Cup was a separate knockout competition for the top eight teams in the league.

Microsoft Cup play-off tournament (2004–2006) :

| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Top League regular season | Play-off results | Play-off results | Play-off results | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Cup period | Pos | Team | Pts | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TB | LB | Qtr | Semi | Final | Ref |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 46 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 406 | 193 | 213 | 10 | 0 | 38–7 | 23–10 | 33–18 | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 2 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 42 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 416 | 276 | 140 | 6 | 0 | 24–40 | — | — | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 3 | NEC Green Rockets | 41 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 270 | 136 | 134 | 4 | 1 | 17–12 | 10–23 | — | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 37 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 431 | 263 | 168 | 6 | 3 | 12–17 | — | — | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 5 | Kobelco Steelers | 33 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 284 | 225 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 7–38 | — | — | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 6 | Suntory Sungoliath | 32 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 308 | 241 | 67 | 6 | 2 | 35–17 | 44–25 | 18–33 | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 7 | Yamaha Jubilo | 28 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 328 | 211 | 117 | 4 | 4 | 17–35 | — | — | |
| 2006 | 22 January to 5 February | 8 | Kubota Spears | 23 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 324 | 297 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 40–24 | 25–44 | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 1 | Toshiba Brave Lupus† | 50 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 463 | 166 | 297 | 9 | 1 | 33–13 | 41–0 | 20–6 | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 2 | Yamaha Jubilo | 45 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 380 | 218 | 162 | 8 | 1 | 38–33 | 33–33 | 6–20 | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 3 | NEC Green Rockets | 44 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 407 | 253 | 154 | 7 | 1 | 16–51 | — | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 4 | Toyota Verblitz | 43 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 427 | 224 | 203 | 9 | 2 | 42–21 | 33–33 | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 5 | Kobelco Steelers | 34 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 326 | 356 | -30 | 8 | 2 | 51–16 | 0–41 | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 6 | Kubota Spears | 27 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 277 | 334 | -57 | 6 | 1 | 33–38 | — | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 7 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 24 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 346 | 296 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 21–41 | — | — | |
| 2005 | 8 February to 28 February | 8 | Suntory Sungoliath | 24 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 307 | 282 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 13–33 | — | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 1 | Kobelco Steelers† | 47 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 439 | 286 | 153 | 11 | 0 | 35–27 | 10–34 | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 2 | Toshiba Brave Lupus | 44 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 503 | 283 | 220 | 9 | 1 | 39–10 | 36–34 | 19–24 | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 3 | Yamaha Jubilo | 42 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 334 | 223 | 111 | 6 | 0 | 10–39 | — | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 4 | Suntory Sungoliath | 42 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 408 | 265 | 143 | 9 | 1 | 5–32 | — | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 5 | World Fighting Bull | 32 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 349 | 285 | 64 | 7 | 1 | 27–35 | — | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 6 | NEC Green Rockets | 30 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 411 | 274 | 137 | 6 | 0 | 32–5 | 34–10 | 24–19 | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 7 | Sanyo Wild Knights | 24 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 319 | 331 | -12 | 6 | 0 | 39–32 | 34–36 | — | |
| 2004 | 8 February to 22 February | 8 | Kubota Spears | 22 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 262 | 362 | -100 | 4 | 2 | 32–39 | — | — | |

Competition rules :

* Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Log points * 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 |||

Notes:

^α Toshiba Brave Lupus won the Top League and Microsoft Cup double.

^β The number of tries and goals being equal, the result was decided in favour of Yamaha over Toyota by a lottery at Hanazono after the game.

^γ Reigning Microsoft Cup holders the NEC Green Rockets were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

^δ In 2003–04, Kobe Steel won the Top League but NEC won the Microsoft Cup. The League and Cup were separate competitions prior to 2007.

