Giants of Japanese rugby meet in final once more

THE heavyweights of Japanese rugby will meet once again after Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights won their way into today’s inaugural final.

Suntory fended off a stern challenge from Toshiba Brave Lupus to win the opening semi-final 30-24 in Osaka last Saturday before the Wild Knights overpowered Kubota Spears 24-10 in the second semifinal in Tokyo last Sunday.

The two clubs have won 10 of the 20 championships in the Japanese Top League which was recast in a new format this year and rebranded Japan Rugby League One.

Today’s match is a repeat of last year’s Top League final when the Wild Knights beat the Sungoliath 31-26.

The Wild Knights’ success last year levelled the title share from the Top League era at five apiece and the defending champions will start the first Japan Rugby League One final firm favourites after defeating their arch-rivals 34-17 earlier in the season.

Robbie Deans’ Wild Knights enter the final on the back of one of the longest winning streaks globally in any professional sport, having won 31 consecutive matches in a run that dates back to 2019.

Former England and Wales test stars George

Kruis and Hadleigh Parkes, who joined the club after the 2019 World Cup, have yet to lose wearing a Wild Knights jersey, nor has Wallaby star Marika Koroibete who joined this year.

However, it was announced earlier this week that former Saracen Kruis is set to retire after the final.

Sungoliath, whose challenge is spearheaded by the Wallaby midfield powerhouse Samu Kerevi and All Blacks full-back Damian McKenzie, are coached by the former Georgia coach Milton Haig.

England head coach Eddie Jones has a long association with the Japanese franchise and has an advisory role at the club.