On 18 May, in the Japan Rugby League One quarter-final playoff, Spears Tokyo Bay displayed overwhelming strength, defeating Brave Lupus Tokyo—the champions of the past two seasons—by a decisive score of 26-3. The match was held at Spears' home ground, where they took full control of the game from the outset.
The home side opened the scoring in the 15th minute via a penalty kick from their fly-half. They then added three more tries through well-coordinated attacks between their forward and back lines. Brave Lupus managed only a single successful penalty kick throughout the match, failing to exert any significant pressure on Spears' solid defense.
The 26-3 victory makes Spears Tokyo Bay the first team to secure a semi-final berth this season. They will face the winner of the remaining quarter-final ties, expected to take place next week. This marks Spears' first semi-final appearance since 2019, signaling a strong resurgence after several difficult years.
Brave Lupus Tokyo, despite their storied history and record of back-to-back championships, failed to perform at their usual level. The visiting head coach admitted after the match: “Spears outplayed us in every aspect. We need to improve significantly if we want to come back next season.”
The semi-final is scheduled for 25 May, with the venue to be confirmed after the remaining playoff matches conclude. Spears Tokyo Bay are now considered strong contenders for this year's title.
