Kobelco Kobe Steelers

24 - 19

Full Time

Mie Honda Heat

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Mie Honda Heat

Events

Commentary

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It's all over! The referee Takehito Namekawa has blown their whistle to end the game.

81'

This is dangerous for the defence as Kazuma Ueda bursts through to advance the Kobelco Kobe Steelers attack.

79'

Mie Honda Heat decide to make a substitution, with Azuma Doei getting some game time.

74'

Mie Honda Heat decide to make a substitution, with Takuro Hojo being replaced.

74'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Takuma Motohashi getting some game time.

70'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Waisake Raratubua being replaced.

70'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Kazuma Ueda coming on.

67'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Inoke Burua coming off.

67'

Talifolofola Tangipa comes on for Mie Honda Heat.

59'

Aseri Masivou leaves the field.

59'

The defensive line has been broken as Waisake Raratubua goes through the gap.

58'

What a run here by Tevita Li as they get over the gainline!

57'

Janko Swanepoel comes on.

54'

Trevor Hosea comes off.

54'

Solomone Funaki comes on.

54'

Takara Imamura comes off.

54'

Feinga Fakai comes on.

54'

Matthys Basson comes off.

54'

Koki Hida comes on.

54'

Tevita Ikanivere comes off.

54'

Kazuki Ban comes on.

54'

Tatsuhiko Tsurukawa comes off.

54'

Riku Kitahara has hooked the conversion to the left of the posts.

54'

Try

Nothing was going to stop Johnny Fa'auli from scoring as they record the try for Mie Honda Heat.

53'

That's a great try assist by Takuro Hojo.

53'

What a run here by Lomano Lemeki as they get over the gainline!

52'

What a run here by Waisake Raratubua as they get over the gainline!

51'

What a run here by Kanta Matsunaga as they get over the gainline!

51'

Daiki Nakajima comes on.

50'

Itsuki Kamimura comes off.

50'

Shunsuke Uenobou makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

49'

Mie Honda Heat decide to make a substitution, with Mark Abbott getting some game time.

49'

Mie Honda Heat decide to make a substitution, with Ryoma Nishimura being replaced.

49'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Takara Imamura getting some game time.

47'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Takayuki Watanabe being replaced.

47'

Conversion

Bryn Gatland adds the two points for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

47'

Try

The defence are desperately trying to hold out here but it was to no avail as Brodie Retallick dots the ball down from close range.

47'

Spellbinding play by Itsuki Kamimura is finished off with a try.

47'

Shunsuke Uenobou makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

43'

Bryn Gatland makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

43'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Sho Maeda coming on.

42'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Shigure Takao coming off.

42'

Fabulous play by Kobelco Kobe Steelers has led to Waisake Raratubua being able to wriggle through a gap.

40'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Kenta Matsuoka coming on.

40'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Takuya Kitade coming off.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

40'

Fabulous play by Mie Honda Heat has led to Dawid Kellerman being able to wriggle through a gap.

39'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers sub Michael Little comes onto the field.

38'

Tali Ioasa departs for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

38'

Conversion

Riku Kitahara does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

38'

Try

The pick and go results in a try for Mie Honda Heat as Takuro Hojo goes over.

37'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers sub Jiwon Gu comes onto the field.

37'

Takara Imamura departs for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

37'

Yellow Card

Takayuki Watanabe (Kobelco Kobe Steelers) is shown a yellow card

36'

The ball swings towards the posts but floats to the right, Bryn Gatland will have to re-adjust the radar.

34'

Try

Incisive passing by Kobelco Kobe Steelers is finished off by Inoke Burua, as they goes over for the try.

34'

Fabulous play by Kobelco Kobe Steelers has led to Inoke Burua being able to wriggle through a gap.

34'

Bryn Gatland sets up the try.

34'

Trouble here as Tali Ioasa breaches the defence.

31'

Johnny Fa'auli comes on for Mie Honda Heat.

31'

Fraser Quirk leaves the field.

31'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers go for goal with Bryn Gatland taking the conversion but their aim is not up to scratch as the ball slides to the left of the post.

30'

Try

Silky skills by Kobelco Kobe Steelers ends with a try for Inoke Burua.

30'

Trouble here as Inoke Burua breaches the defence.

30'

Spellbinding play by Tiennan Costley is finished off with a try.

30'

Yellow Card

Ryoma Nishimura (Mie Honda Heat) is shown a yellow card

25'

Conversion

Riku Kitahara makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

22'

Try

Lomano Lemeki goes on their own for a try.

21'

This is dangerous for the defence as Lomano Lemeki bursts through to advance the Mie Honda Heat attack.

21'

That's a great try assist by Riku Kitahara.

21'

This is dangerous for the defence as Shunsuke Uenobou bursts through to advance the Kobelco Kobe Steelers attack.

16'

A gap opened in the defence and Aseri Masivou took full advantage.

15'

The defensive line has been broken as Matthys Basson goes through the gap.

Conversion

Bryn Gatland has kicked a conversion.

Try

Kobelco Kobe Steelers are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Takara Imamura touching down.

Itsuki Kamimura sets up the try.

We are underway as the referee Takehito Namekawa blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Mie Honda Heat 
  
 Round 17 
  
 Fri 1st May 2026, 10:30pm PDT 
  
 Hanazono Rugby Stadium 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Takehito Namekawa

Points Flow Chart

Kobelco Kobe Steelers win +5

Time in lead

Mins in lead

89%

% Of Game In Lead

47%

Possession Last 10 min

53%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Fa'auli

53'

24 - 19

Gatland

24 - 14

47'

Retallick

22 - 14

47'

Half Time

Kitahara

38'

17 - 14

Hojo

37'

17 - 12

Watanabe

17 - 7

36'

Burua

17 - 7

34'

Burua

12 - 7

30'

Nishimura

25'

7 - 7

Kitahara

22'

7 - 7

Lemeki

21'

7 - 5

Gatland

7 - 0

Imamura

5 - 0

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.1

Entries

Attack Profile

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Mie Honda Heat

More Less

Defence Profile

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Mie Honda Heat

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

62%

48%

3-6 secs

22%

40%

6+ secs

16%

12%

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

66'

68'

70'

73'

80'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Mie Honda Heat

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Mie Honda Heat Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Kobelco Kobe Steelers face off against Mie Honda Heat in Japan Rugby League One Round 17 on Fri 1st May 2026 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 06:30. In South Africa it’s at 07:30 SAST, 17:30 NZST in New Zealand, 15:30 AEST in Australia and 22:30 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Kobelco Kobe Steelers won the last encounter but Kobelco Kobe Steelers are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 5 places in the league table with Mie Honda Heat in 1st and Kobelco Kobe Steelers in 6th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Mie Honda Heat Squads

The official squads for Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Mie Honda Heat will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.