2016–17 Top League Challenge Series


The 2016–17 Top League Challenge Series was the 2016–17 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2017–18 season. The competition was contested from 13 December 2016 to 24 January 2017.
NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes won promotion to the 2017–18 Top League, while Hino Red Dolphins, Kyuden Voltex and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars progressed to the promotion play-offs. Chubu Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Kamaishi Seawaves and Mazda Blue Zoomers all earned a place in the new 2017 Top Challenge League.

Competition rules and information

The top three teams from the regional :ja:トップイーストリーグ|Top East League, :ja:トップウェスト|Top West League and :ja:トップキュウシュウ|Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in [|Challenge 1], the runners-up participated in [|Challenge 2] and the third-placed teams participated in [|Challenge 3]. The winner of Challenge 2 also progressed to a four-team Challenge 1.
The top team in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2017–18 Top League, while the other three teams qualified to the promotion play-offs.

Qualification

The teams qualified to the Challenge 1, Challenge 2 and Challenge 3 series through the 2016 regional leagues.

Top West League

The final standings for the 2016 Top West League were:
The final standings for the 2016 Top East League were:
The final standings for the 2016 Top Kyūshū League were:

Standings

The final standings for the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 1 were:
The following matches were played in the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 1:

Challenge 2

Standings

The final standings for the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 2 were:
  • Hino Red Dolphins progressed to Challenge 1.
  • Chubu Electric Power and Chugoku Electric Power joined the 2017 Top Challenge League.

    Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 2:

Challenge 3

Standings

The final standings for the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 3 were:
  • Kamaishi Seawaves and Mazda Blue Zoomers joined the 2017 Top Challenge League.

    Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016–17 Top League Challenge 3: