NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2025-26: tournament outline announced
LEAGUE ONE has released an official announcement titled “NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2025-26 Tournament Outline” (https://league-one.jp/news/4974), setting out the overall framework for the upcoming season. The document provides an overview of the competition format, divisional structure and scheduling principles for 2025-26.
Main points of the 2025-26 tournament outline
The announcement explains how the regular season and post-season will be organised, and how promotion, relegation and any inter-divisional play-offs will work. Below is a summary of the key areas that clubs, players and supporters will want to keep in mind.
| Item | Outline |
|---|---|
| Season window | The 2025-26 season will run across the year as a single competition, with a regular season followed by a post-season phase. The calendar is constructed primarily around weekend fixtures, while also taking into account international windows and test matches. |
| Divisional structure | The league is organised into multiple divisions, with clubs allocated to each division according to the competition framework. Each division represents a tier within the domestic structure, reflecting competitive level and, in some cases, regional considerations. |
| Regular season format | Clubs play a league schedule against other teams in the same division, with home-and-away match-ups forming the core of the format. The exact number of meetings and the scheduling pattern may differ between divisions, but the overall aim is to provide a balanced and competitive season. |
| Post-season | After the regular season, a post-season phase such as play-offs and a final is held to determine division champions and final rankings. These knockout fixtures are played under high-stakes conditions, where a single result can decide the outcome of the campaign. |
| Promotion / relegation | Movement between divisions is based on performance over the season. Promotion and relegation rules, including any promotion/relegation play-offs, are defined so that results on the pitch influence which division a club will play in the following year. |
Specific details such as the exact number of clubs per division, total matches and confirmed fixtures will be released separately through the official schedule announcements. As the season approaches, supporters are encouraged to check for updates as the calendar is finalised.
Balancing club performance and international commitments
LEAGUE ONE features many players who are involved with national teams, including Japan and other test nations. Once the domestic calendar is defined, clubs must carefully manage player workloads so that they can compete at a high level both in the league and on the international stage.
The way in which the league schedule aligns with international rugby windows will have a significant influence on player welfare and the overall quality of the competition. The 2025-26 season will once again require close coordination between clubs, the league and national unions.
What the new season means for fans and host cities
With the tournament outline in place, supporters can begin to imagine when key fixtures, rivalries and decisive matches might be played during the season. Established clubs, ambitious challengers and teams battling for survival will all contribute to the narrative of 2025-26.
Attention will also turn to host cities and matchday events. How each club uses home matches to connect with local communities and attract new fans will be an important theme of the campaign.
Always refer to official information
This article is intended as an overview based on the official tournament outline. For precise information, including later amendments to the schedule or regulations, please always refer to the official LEAGUE ONE website and announcements.
Source: NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2025-26 Tournament Outline – Official announcement
Official site: NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE Official Website
