The drama meant former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was denied his sixth Japanese title, against opponents prepared by his former Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder.
There was euphoria at one end of the field and heartbreak at the other as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo won a dramatic final in Japan Rugby League One today, beating the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 24-20.
Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit has been named to make his Japan Rugby League One debut for Toyota Verblitz this weekend.
Japan have won over the hearts and minds of the rugby world with their displays at the RWC and here are the future stars who can sustain and build on that success.
The Tohoku region of Japan is found in North East portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. North Tohoku includes the prefectures of Aomori, Iwate and Akita and has plenty to offer travel-weary Rugby World Cup fans.
The Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu is the ninth most populated prefecture in Japan, and one of the nations most outstanding in terms of natural beauty and culture. Fukuoka is seen as a natural gateway prefecture to Kyushu.
