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Division Three in tge JRLO again features six teams and also begins on December 13. There are a total of 45 matches in Division Three in the 2025-2026 season. Next season, a new team is set to expand the division.
The teams are listed in the order they finished the 2024/2025 season in D3.
Mazda Skyactivs Hiroshima won the Division 3 title for the first time in the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2024-25 season. Damien Karauna is the Head Coach of a team that primarily consists of Japanese players.
James Porter has joined as the new assistant coach. He previously was with Bay of Plenty Steamers (NZ Provincial Championship) and U20 Chiefs (Super Rugby Pacific).
New signings: N/A
Scott Pierce, as Head Coach, has made several signings and among those is flank Adrian Choate (Blues, NZ), who said, “I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to play at Secom and experience Japanese Culture. It is my goal to help Secom achieve its goal of getting into Division 1. I look forward to getting stuck into some rugby and meeting all the Secom fans!”
Sam Slade, who joins from Super Rugby’s Moana Pasifika, added, “Playing in Japan has always been a dream of mine, and I'm excited to head over, embrace the challenge, and give it my all alongside my new teammates.”
The Sayama Secom Rugby Club was founded in 1985 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. They have announced the construction of the tentatively named “Secom Rugby Stadium” in Sayama City, which has a capacity of 2,500 and is due to be completed in November 2026.
Sayama Secom Rugby Team Manager Yoshinori Yamanaka said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to build a new stadium on the Secom Rugby Field, which has been our base of operations since the team's founding…..The new stadium will be designed with a short distance between the pitch and spectator seats, allowing spectators to fully experience the thrill of rugby.”
New signings: Adrian Choate (Blues, NZ), PJ Steenkamp (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Sam Slade (Moana Pasifika), Naivaluwaqa Tomasi (Tenri University Rugby Club), Curtis Reid (Akita Northern Bullets RFC)
The team ended up third in D3 and had 8 players, as well as a few staff and coaches, leave after last season. Masafumi Uchiyama is the Head Coach for the new campaign.
Notable new signing is Viliami Helu, who most recently was playing with San Diego Legion, and is also a USA Eagle-capped international.
Young Junior Ahokovi also joined and said, “It's an honour to continue my rugby journey in Japan and be part of such a respected club. I'm looking forward to learning, growing, and contributing both on and off the field. Excited for what's ahead and ready to make the most of this amazing experience.”
New signings: Viliami Helu (San Diego Legion & USA), Junior Ahokovi, Quinton Nicholas
The club said, “The goal for the new season is to finish in the top two in Division 3. Last season, we took a step up with a record-high five wins, but this season we are aiming for even greater success.
Head coach Hirokazu Iwato coaches the side for his fourth season and is also the manager, while a player who retired last season joins the coaching staff; Motoki Arai.
The captain is Taro Nishikawa, supported by two young vice-captains, Tomonari Aoki and Hayato Miyazaki.
Flanker Edward Kirk said, "First, it's important to hone individual, detailed skills and demonstrate them under the pressure of a match. We must focus on our daily goals and continuously improve as a team."
New signings: Nigara Kenji, Hiraro Kanen, Yudai Kimura, Taiyo Kubo, Tomonari Aoki, Taro Nishikawa, Sosho Fukumoto, Hayato Miyazaki
The club had a dozen players after last season and has only confirmed a few signings. One of those is Kiwi Patrick McCurran, who commented, “I'm very excited to continue my rugby career here with Yakult Levins. I hope to contribute as much as I can in making this upcoming season a successful one, and I look forward to joining with my teammates and staff.
The co-captains this season are Yuto Usuda and Masatoshi Doi, while the season’s slogan is ‘Breakthrough.’
New signings: Ryotaro Asami (Japan), Patrick McCurran, Ryuuki Hayashi (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Zane Marolt (Queen Beyan Whites - Aus), Apisalome Bogidrau (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi)
The club confirmed that the captain will be Hisanori Mimata, and the vice captains are Shotaro Matsuo and Kenta Ueda as they enter their second season in JRLO.
Mimata said their season's theme is "OWN THE MOMENTO”, which he explained means to control the moment and to prepare as best you can. We have had a lot more practice matches than last year, and we have many encouraging members joining us this season. We will continue to cherish each and every day and grow as a team, with the goal of achieving promotion to Division 2.”
The club also has a new Assistant Coach - Nozomi Kuraya.
New signings: Shunya Kato (Christchurch Football Club), Yasui Kazuki (University of Queensland RFC), Elijah Wichime, Yusuke Aramaki (Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Vortex), Masahiro Eriguchi (Electric Power Kyuden Vortex), Hatsune Kataoka (Akita Northern Bullets), Kentaro Obata (Kobe Steel Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
