Rugby's new league "League One" will start in earnest on the 8th, with the opening game scheduled for the 7th canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus.
Rugby's new league "League One" was established by renewing the top league with the aim of strengthening the Japanese national team and community-based management.
The original opening was scheduled for the 7th, but due to the effects of nine Panasonic players being tested positive for the new coronavirus, the opening match between Panasonic and Kubota was canceled, and the other sections of Section 1 and others. It will start in earnest from the 8th when the match is held.
League One is a three-part system from "Division 1" to "Division 3" with 24 teams participating, with 12 teams in the top division 1 and 6 teams in the remaining two divisions.
Of these, in Division 1, each team will play 16 league games, and the four teams with the highest points will play off to determine the final ranking.
In the predecessor top league, 16 teams were competing, but in Division 1 it is expected that a higher level game will be played by narrowing down to 12 teams, and in League One it will lead to improvement of the competitiveness of the Japanese national team. It is said that.
League One will have a league match until May, after which playoffs and qualification matches will be held.
Establishing a home base and setting up community-based management
Each team participating in League One will establish a base called "host area" and put the city name etc. in the name of the team to promote community-based management.
For example, Panasonic, which won the final top league last season, moved its headquarters from Gunma prefecture to Kumagaya city, Saitama prefecture, and changed the official name of the team from "Panasonic Wild Knights" to "Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights".
Also, in the top league, the Japan Rugby Union had the right to sell tickets and select venues, but in League One, we will move to the team that hosts the home game.
Each team is aiming to increase profits by promoting operations that make the most of the characteristics of the region.
Panasonic is working with local rugby associations and local governments to set up benches in practice areas and to build new clubhouses with hotels and restaurants nearby to attract more fans.
Fans who want to stay at the hotel and observe the practice have already visited from outside the prefecture.
In addition, Shizuoka Blue Revs has established an operating company for its predecessor, Yamaha Motor, to enter League One, and former Japan national team Ayumu Goromaru, who retired last season, has joined the management.
Section 2 canceled following the Panasonic opening round
Rugby League One said on January 5th that nine players were tested positive for the new coronavirus at Panasonic, and the remaining players were also certified as close contacts, so the players required for registration are not available. The opening match between Panasonic and Kubota scheduled for the 7th at the National Stadium has been cancelled.
Panasonic was planning to play the second section of the NEC match in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture on the 16th, but it is expected that the players required for registration will not be available by this match, and League One will be based on the implementation guidelines and guidelines. As a result of discussions, it was announced that the match would be cancelled.
Panasonic, a candidate for victory, will be canceled for two consecutive games.
As a result, NEC are expected to have 5 points and Panasonic will have 0 points.
League One will play 16 league games in "Division 1", which is the first division, and the final ranking will be decided by the playoffs by the top four teams in terms of points, but they won the last top league last season and also won the league one. Candidate Panasonic will have 0 points in two consecutive games since the opening round.