2008–09 Top League


The 2008–09 Top League was the sixth season of Japan's domestic rugby union competition, the Top League. The Toshiba Brave Lupus defeated Sanyo Wild Knights by 17–6 in the final of the Microsoft Cup to claim the 2008–09 Top League championship.
The Top League is a semi-professional competition which is at the top of the national league system in Japan, with promotion and relegation between the next level down.

Pre-season

returned to the league, and Yokogawa Denki were promoted for the first time. They replaced Ricoh Black Rams and Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.

Teams

Regular season

Final standings

Fixtures and results

Title play-offs

Top 4 sides of the regular season competed in the Microsoft Cup knock out tournament to fight for the Top League title. The top 4 teams of 2008–09 were Toshiba Brave Lupus, Sanyo Wild Knights, Kobe Steelers and Suntory Sungoliath.

Semi-finals

----
----
----

Final

----
----

Top League Challenge Series

and Ricoh Black Rams won promotion to the 2009–10 Top League via the 2009 Top League Challenge Series, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and Toyota Industries Shuttles progressed to the [|promotion play-offs].

Promotion and relegation play-offs

Two promotion/relegation matches were played with the winners qualifying for the Top League in the next season. The 12th-placed team from the Top League against the 3rd-placed team from Challenge 1. The 11th-placed team from the Top League against the 1st-placed team from Challenge 2.
----
----
----
So Sanix and Kyuden stayed in the Top League for the following season.

Top 10 points scorers

Table notes

Best fifteen

Table Notes