By MATT McILRAITH

THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on December 21.
The match is the first of 209 in Division One’s regular 21week season, with the final to be played in Tokyo on Sunday June 1, 2025.
The promotion/relegation ‘Replacement Battle’ series between Divisions One and Two has been downsized and will involve just four teams playing home and away, as opposed to the previous six-team format.
Toshiba Brave Lupus became the third cham...