{"209":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","order":0,"hasData":1},"210":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","order":1,"hasData":1},"3":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","order":3,"hasData":1},"201":{"title":"Gallagher Premiership","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","order":4,"hasData":1},"204":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","order":5,"hasData":1},"203":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","order":6,"hasData":1},"217":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","order":7,"hasData":1},"211":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"119","oid":"211","order":8,"hasData":1},"208":{"title":"Bunnings NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","order":9,"hasData":1},"242":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","order":10,"hasData":1},"243":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","order":11,"hasData":1},"340":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","order":12,"hasData":1},"205":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","order":13,"hasData":1},"207":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","order":14,"hasData":1},"248":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","order":16,"hasData":1},"274":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","order":17,"hasData":1},"249":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","order":18,"hasData":1},"365":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","order":19,"hasData":1},"2000":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"2000","oid":"2000","order":20,"hasData":1},"1":{"title":"Rugby Hybrid Friendlies","uri":"rugby-hybrid-friendlies","id":"1","oid":"1","order":21,"hasData":1},"269":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","order":22,"hasData":1},"221":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","order":23,"hasData":1},"214":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","order":24,"hasData":1},"141":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby-pacific","id":"141","oid":"141","order":25,"hasData":1},"216":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","order":25,"hasData":1},"219":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","order":26,"hasData":1},"120":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","order":27,"hasData":1},"862":{"title":"WXV 1","uri":"wxv-1","id":"862","oid":"862","order":29,"hasData":1},"863":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","order":30,"hasData":1},"864":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","order":31,"hasData":1},"151":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","order":32,"hasData":1},"116":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","order":34,"hasData":1}}
26 - 21
FT
26 - 28
FT
49 - 30
FT
32 - 17
FT
47 - 20
FT
38 - 31
FT
36 - 19
FT
31 - 38
FT
52 - 33
FT
23 - 20
FT
31 - 50
FT
50 - 14
FT
50 - 19
FT
57 - 15
FT
30 - 22
FT
39 - 22
FT
12 - 29
FT
71 - 48
FT
21 - 12
FT
16 - 28
FT
35 - 26
FT
29 - 15
FT
30 - 7
FT
27 - 26
FT
26 - 26
FT
29 - 5
FT
22 - 23
FT
62 - 26
FT
28 - 24
FT
34 - 28
FT
45 - 34
FT
Friday
08:10
Friday
19:00
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00
Saturday
07:00
Saturday
14:00
Saturday
14:00
Saturday
14:00
Saturday
14:00
Saturday
16:15
Saturday
16:15
Saturday
16:15
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
21:00
Saturday
21:00
Saturday
21:00
Saturday
21:00

Kolbe's brilliance earns triple award haul in Japan

By Annemie Bester
Tuesday 9 Jun 2026

Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe was the biggest individual winner at the Japan Rugby League One awards ceremony on Monday, walking away with three honours after a sensational 2025-26 campaign for Tokyo Sungoliath.

Kolbe’s standout achievement was being crowned the competition’s leading points scorer after accumulating an impressive 185 points during the regular season. The Springbok wing amassed his tally in just 16 appearances, scoring nine tries, kicking 40 conversions and adding 20 penalties.

His remarkable consistency and versatility earned him a trio of awards, placing him alongside previous League One point-scoring champions such as Damian McKenzie and Bernard Foley.

The fifth season of Japan Rugby League One concluded on June 7 when Kobe Steelers defeated Spears Tokyo-Bay 22-13 to secure their maiden League One title.

Kobe captain Brodie Retallick enjoyed a memorable campaign of his own, finishing as the competition’s leading try-scorer with 17 tries and being named the league’s Most Valuable Player. The former All Black lock led from the front as the Steelers claimed their first championship under departing coach Dave Rennie.

Rennie, who will return to New Zealand rugby after three seasons in charge, admitted he would gladly take Retallick with him. Asked after the final whether he would consider selecting the veteran lock for the All Blacks, Rennie joked: “I’d love to take him home with me.”

The final also marked the end of an era for several international stars. Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown are set to leave Kobe Steelers as they pursue opportunities back in New Zealand, while Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will also return to South Africa after three seasons with Eagles.

Fellow Springbok Jesse Kriel is expected to remain with the club after captaining the side this season.

One notable feature of the 2025-26 campaign was the influence of international captains across the league, with Retallick leading Kobe Steelers, Sam Cane captaining Tokyo Sungoliath, TJ Perenara skippering Black Rams Tokyo and Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith captaining Shizuoka Blue Revs.

There was further South African success in Division Two, where Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok finished as the leading points scorer for Hanazono Liners, helping his side secure a third-place finish.

ADVERTISEMENT

World Rugby Rankings now in the RugbyPass App

NEW IN THE APP: Official World Rugby Rankings hub! Compare team rankings side-by-side, with data going back 20 years.

Download the RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

1
Pietersen counts cost of Bok duo's injuries in Stormers defeat
2
Bulls rope in Stormers prop to bolster front row depth
3
'The best is yet to come': Bok wing hangs up his boots

Join free

The Koko Show | 6th October | THE BLEDISLOE IS COMING HOME! | WALLABIES v ALL BLACKS

The All Blacks Need an Answer. Is It Kyren Taumoefolau? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 34

MLR Weekly: New England Owner Errik Anderson re expansion/future, MLR News, College Rugby Corner

Spain v South Africa | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Mauritius Sevens | Day 2 | Full Day Replay

Chile v Hong Kong China | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Belgium v Portugal | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Why Bryn Chose the Canes for His Super Rugby Return | ARP Extra

Recommended

Countries

Can the Springboks really go three-deep?

4d
64
Latest News

URC, Round three - Teams and Predictions

4d
63
Latest News

Lions taking no chances as Bok duo start against Bulls

4d
34
Latest News

Sharks' Bok trio back in starting line-up to face Stormers

4d
43

Write A Comment

Trending

1
Pietersen counts cost of Bok duo's injuries in Stormers defeat
2
Bulls rope in Stormers prop to bolster front row depth
3
'The best is yet to come': Bok wing hangs up his boots