Kobelco Kobe Steelers

40 - 24

Full Time

Saitama Wild Knights

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Saitama Wild Knights

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

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

80'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Atsushi Hiwasa getting some game time.

74'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Itsuki Kamimura being replaced.

74'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers decide to make a substitution, with Solomone Funaki getting some game time.

73'

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

73'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Shu Hagihara getting some game time.

73'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Taiki Koyama being replaced.

73'

A gap opened in the defence and Bryn Gatland took full advantage.

71'

How unlucky can you get? As Takaya Saito sees their conversion bounce back off the cross bar!

70'

Try

A series of passes by Saitama Wild Knights results in a try for Ryuji Noguchi

69'

A gap opened in the defence and Ryuji Noguchi took full advantage.

69'

That's a great try assist by Tomoki Osada.

69'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Takaya Saito coming on.

66'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Takuya Yamasawa coming off.

66'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Bryn Gatland coming on.

65'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Seungsin Lee coming off.

65'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Lisala Finau coming on.

65'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Asaeli Ai Valu coming off.

65'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Kenji Sato coming on.

65'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Atsushi Sakate coming off.

65'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Michael Little coming on.

65'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Tali Ioasa coming off.

65'

Saitama Wild Knights sub Keita Inagaki comes onto the field.

60'

Craig Millar departs for Saitama Wild Knights.

60'

The defensive line has been broken as Taiki Koyama goes through the gap.

58'

Sione Mau comes on for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

55'

Ash Dixon leaves the field.

55'

Hikaru Moriwaki comes on for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

55'

Shigure Takao leaves the field.

55'

Ryota Hasegawa comes on for Saitama Wild Knights.

55'

Ben Gunter leaves the field.

55'

Esei Haangana comes on for Saitama Wild Knights.

55'

Juan Wilson leaves the field.

55'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Seungsin Lee kicks the conversion.

55'

Try

Nothing was going to stop Waisake Raratubua from scoring as they record the try for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

54'

That's a great try assist by Ardie Savea.

54'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Tomoki Osada getting some game time.

48'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Marika Koroibete being replaced.

48'

Conversion

Seungsin Lee adds the two points for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

47'

Try

Slick passing by Kobelco Kobe Steelers leads to a try for Tali Ioasa.

47'

Tali Ioasa makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

46'

Spellbinding play by Anton Lienert-Brown is finished off with a try.

46'

Conversion

Seungsin Lee adds the two points for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

42'

Try

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

41'

Itsuki Kamimura played a key part in that try.

41'

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

41'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Jiwon Gu coming on.

40'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Hiroshi Yamashita coming off.

40'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Takara Imamura coming on.

40'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers make a substitution with Gerard Cowley-Tuioti coming off.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

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

40'

Conversion

Seungsin Lee adds the two points for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

40'

Try

The pick and go results in a try for Kobelco Kobe Steelers as Gerard Cowley-Tuioti goes over.

40'

Ardie Savea played a key part in that try.

40'

Conversion

Takuya Yamasawa does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

36'

Try

A perfectly weighted kick allows Damian de Allende to score the try.

36'

Ryuji Noguchi sets up the try.

35'

Seungsin Lee curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the left.

29'

Try

Brilliant skill shown there by Kanta Matsunaga as they go over the white wash for a try.

28'

Trouble here as Kanta Matsunaga breaches the defence.

28'

Conversion

Seungsin Lee makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

25'

Try

Kobelco Kobe Steelers are stopped just a few metres from the try line but Ash Dixon picks up from the base of the ruck to score the try.

24'

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

24'

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

19'

Takuya Yamasawa curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the right.

18'

Try

Koki Takeyama goes on their own for a try.

17'

This is dangerous for the defence as Koki Takeyama bursts through to advance the Saitama Wild Knights attack.

17'

A gap opened in the defence and Marika Koroibete took full advantage.

10'

Conversion

Takuya Yamasawa has kicked a conversion.

Try

Great hands by Saitama Wild Knights leads to a try for Taiki Koyama

Lachlan Boshier sets up the try.

The defensive line has been broken as Taiki Koyama goes through the gap.

The defensive line has been broken as Kazuma Ueda goes through the gap.

We are underway as the referee Katsuki Furuse blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Kobelco Kobe Steelers v Saitama Wild Knights 
  
 Round 9 
  
 Fri 20th February 2026, 09:30pm PST 
  
 Kobe Universiade 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Katsuki Furuse

Points Flow Chart

Kobelco Kobe Steelers win +16

Time in lead

Mins in lead

50%

% Of Game In Lead

38%

37%

Possession Last 10 min

63%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Noguchi

69'

40 - 24

Lee

40 - 19

55'

Raratubua

38 - 19

54'

Lee

33 - 19

47'

Ioasa

31 - 19

47'

Lee

26 - 19

42'

Ueda

24 - 19

41'

Half Time

Lee

19 - 19

40'

Cowley-Tuioti

17 - 19

40'

Yamasawa

36'

12 - 19

de Allende

36'

12 - 17

Matsunaga

12 - 12

28'

Lee

7 - 12

25'

Dixon

5 - 12

24'

Takeyama

17'

0 - 12

Yamasawa

0 - 7

Koyama

0 - 5

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

5.7

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Attack Profile

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Saitama Wild Knights

More Less

Defence Profile

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Saitama Wild Knights

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

70%

73%

3-6 secs

23%

27%

6+ secs

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

66'

68'

73'

75'

76'

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Saitama Wild Knights

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Saitama Wild Knights Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Kobelco Kobe Steelers face off against Saitama Wild Knights in Japan Rugby League One Round 9 on Fri 20th February 2026 at Kobe Universiade. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 05:30 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 07:30 SAST, 18:30 NZST in New Zealand, 16:30 AEST in Australia and 21:30 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Kobelco Kobe Steelers won the last encounter but both teams are in the same form for their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 1 place in the league table with Saitama Wild Knights in 1st and Kobelco Kobe Steelers in 2nd underlining just how tight this match could be.

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Saitama Wild Knights Squads

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