Lixil Cup and Top League title: 2014 to 2016 From the 2013–14 season, the Top League tournament was contested by sixteen teams. The top four teams from the league competition (or the top eight in 2016) advanced to the play-offs to compete for the Lixil Trophy and Top League Championship. Play-offs and Top League title: 2010 to 2013 Microsoft Cup and Top League title: 2007 to 2009 For the 2006–07 season the tournament was expanded to fourteen teams and the Top League and Microsoft Cup competitions were combined. Only the top four teams on the regular season table progressed to title play-offs and the winner of the knockout competition was awarded both the Microsoft Cup and the Top League title. Video referee (TMO) decisions were introduced for the 2009 Cup series. The naming rights partnership with Microsoft for the knockout competition ended after the 2009 Cup final. Top League, separate Microsoft Cup: 2004 to 2006 For the first three seasons the competition format was a single round-robin tournament contested by twelve teams, with the team finishing top of the table winning the Top League title. The Microsoft Cup was a separate knockout competition for the top eight teams in the league. Notes: Toshiba Brave Lupus won the Top League and Microsoft Cup double. The number of tries and goals being equal, the result was decided in favour of Yamaha over Toyota by a lottery at Hanazono after the game. Reigning Microsoft Cup holders the NEC Green Rockets were knocked out at the quarter final stage. In 2003–04, Kobe Steel won the Top League but NEC won the Microsoft Cup. The League and Cup were separate competitions prior to 2007. See also Top League All-Japan Rugby Football Championship Japan Rugby Football Union Japan national rugby union team References External links JRFU Official Site (in English) Top League Official Site (in Japanese) Microsoft events Recurring sporting events established in 2004 2004 establishments in Japan Lixil Group Rugby union competitions in Japan