Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players celebrate after winning the Japan Rugby League One playoff final on June 1, 2025, at National Stadium in Tokyo. (©SANKEI)
New Zealander Richie Mo'unga scored a tone-setting try in the eighth minute, and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo collected their second consecutive Japan Rugby League One title on Sunday, June 1.
Star flyhalf Mo'unga's squad, which led 8-6 at halftime, held on for an 18-13 triumph over the Kubota Spears in the championship match at Tokyo's National Stadium.
In the second half, Toshiba took a commanding 15-6 advantage in the 48th minute on a Yuto Mori try and Mo'unga's conversion.
Mo'unga was the catalyst for Mori's score, initiating the scoring chance after a scrum. His burst of speed in the open field led to a well-timed pass to Mori.
The former All Blacks player kicked a penalty goal near the midway point of the second half to make it 18-6.
Kubota's Harumichi Tatekawa scored the team's lone try in the 73rd minute. The conversion cut the lead to 18-13.
Reactions from Japan's Rugby Champions
After their determined effort over the Spears, Brave Lupus players reacted to their title-clinching performance.
Mo'unga, who was named Player of the Match, spoke of the challenge of competing while playing injured.
"I broke my right hand in the semifinal (against the Koelco Kobe Steelers on May 24) and was unable to practice for the past week and was still in pain," Mo'unga was quoted as saying by NHK. "But I wanted to win so I chose to play."
The popular veteran player added, "For the first try, there was space and I judged that I could use my footwork, so I sensibly chose to dive in. I am happy to win again, and I think it is the result of a solid effort and a [match] that we should have won."
Toshiba captain Michael Leitch, a naturalized Japanese citizen, reflected on his club's successful quest to repeat as champs.
"It has been a season of learning with each game," Leitch told the media after the match, NHK reported. "I would like to thank the coaches and the support of the non-playing members of the team for helping us win back-to-back championships."
The Brave Lupus had a 15-1-2 record in the regular season.
As expressed by Leitch, teamwork was a critical element of Toshiba's success.
Mori shared similar sentiments after Toshiba won the match before an announced crowd of 51,009.
"At the end, even in the final, we felt like we won as a team," Mori was quoted as saying by Sankei Sports.
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Golf
Takeda Ties for 2nd at US Women's Open
LPGA Tour rookie Rio Takeda shot an even-par 72 in the final round of the 80th US Women's Open and finished tied for second with world No 1 Nelly Korda on Sunday, June 1.
Takeda completed the tournament with a 5-under 283 at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wisconsin.
Sweden's Maja Stark, who entered the final round with a one-stroke lead, won her first women's golf major with a 7-under 281.
Japan's Mao Saigo carded a 73 on Sunday and ended up in a three-way tie for fourth at 4-under 284. Saigo's best 18-hole effort of the tourney was in the second round, when she shot a 66.
Compatriot Hinako Shibuno finished at 3-under 285 and tied for seventh. She began the event with a 70, followed by a 69 and a 72 before shooting a 2-over 74 on the final day.
Heading into the fourth round, Takeda, Saigo and Shibuno were two strokes off the pace.
Takeda made three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey in the final round. She shot a 1-over 37 on the front nine.
"If I had made a few more putts down the stretch, I think I could have tied for the lead," Takeda said, according to Kyodo News.
Asked about the overall experience of competing at the US Women's Open, the 22-year-old described it in positive terms.
"I was a contender for that last day of this major, so it was a very good experience for me," Takeda told a news conference. "Of course I wanted to win and I couldn't. So I'll come back next year and try hard again."
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Auto Racing
F1 driver Tsunoda Endures a Disappointing Week
Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda placed 13th in Formula One's Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, June 1 in Barcelona.
The Kanagawa Prefecture native had the worst performance in qualifying, placing last among 20 drivers on Saturday, May 31.
So, not surprisingly, he looked ahead to the next day's race with more negative vibes than positive feelings.
"It just isn't a good feeling, so far what I feel is the car is eating its tires a lot, and every lap, whatever I do, I have the degradation," Tsunoda said, according to F1's official website. But, anyway, hopefully the setup change made a step forward. I'm hoping it will be better, but realistically, I'm a little bit less hopeful."
The Spanish Grand Prix was the ninth race on the 2025 F1 calendar. Up next: the Canadian GP on June 15 in Montreal.
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By the Numbers
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto had his shortest outing of the Major League Baseball season in a 7-3 home loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday. Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) lasted just 3⅔ innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs before being pulled from the game by Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts.
Yamamoto had pitched at least five innings in each of his previous 11 starts.
Did You Know?
Brazilian forward Leo Ceara of the Kashima Antlers leads the J.League with 11 goals in the 2025 season. The soccer standout has appeared in 12 matches for the first-place squad.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
