to the League at the end of the season. IBM also gained promotion to return to the league. Second season (2004–5) Following the 2004 Challenge series with IBM and Toyota being promoted, the following 12 teams competed in the second season: Kintetsu Liners Kobelco Steelers Kubota Spears NEC Green Rockets Nihon IBM Big Blue Ricoh Black Rams Sanyo Wild Knights Suntory Sungoliath Toshiba Brave Lupus Toyota Verblitz World Fighting Bull Yamaha Jubilo Toshiba won both the league round-robin and the Microsoft Cup knockout competition contested by the top 8 teams after the regular season. The eleventh and twelfth teams (Kintetsu and IBM) were automatically relegated, and the ninth and tenth placed teams (World and Ricoh) had to win their 2005 promotion and relegation play-offs (Irekaesen) to stay in the Top League, which they did. First season (2003–4) The first season began with 12 teams: Fukuoka Sanix Blues Kintetsu Liners Kobelco Steelers Kubota Spears NEC Green Rockets Ricoh Black Rams Sanyo Wild Knights Secom Rugguts Suntory Sungoliath Toshiba Brave Lupus World Fighting Bull Yamaha Jubilo Toshiba won the inaugural Top League title by finishing on top of the round-robin competition. The top eight teams qualified for the inaugural Microsoft Cup. Toshiba went on to lose the final of Microsoft Cup to NEC, but the cup was considered a separate competition to the Top League prior to 2007. Secom and Sanix were relegated at the end of the season. IBM and Toyota were promoted. Champions Notes * NEC Green Rockets won the Microsoft Cup in 2003–04. The Cup was considered a separate competition to the Top League prior to 2007. Notable foreign players The following foreign players that have played in the Top League have either won or been nominated for a major IRB award, played in a Rugby World Cup, played for a combined-nations touring side, or captained their national team. See also Sport in Japan Rugby in Japan Top Challenge League (Tier 2) Japan national rugby union team Sunwolves Japan Company Rugby Football Championship Major League Rugby References External links Japan Rugby League One site Team profiles (English) Top League official site (Japanese) Top League video digest Japan Sports leagues established in 2003 2003 establishments in Japan Professional sports leagues in Japan