Shining Arcs bench proves to be difference in win over Heat

Shining Arcs bench proves to be difference in win over Heat

TOKYO, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Amanaki Lelei Mafi (C) powers ahead in NTT Communications Shining Arcs' 29-15 win over Honda Heat at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2015. The Shining Arcs maintained their hopes of a top-four finish in Group A and a spot in the Top League playoffs.

Rugby: Japan's League One

Rugby: Japan's League One

Damian McKenzie (far R) celebrates with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath teammates after a Japan Rugby League One match win over NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo Bay Urayasu on March 20, 2022, at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo.

Rugby: Japan's League One

Rugby: Japan's League One

Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath's Damian McKenzie (C) runs with the ball during the first half of a Japan Rugby League One match against NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo Bay Urayasu on March 20, 2022, at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Players warm up before the opening match of Japan Rugby League One's inaugural season between Kobelco Kobe Steelers and NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu fullback Israel Folau (top C in blue) catches the ball during the second half of Japan Rugby League One's season-opening match against Kobelco Kobe Steelers on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Spectators wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus are in the stands for the opening match of Japan Rugby League One's inaugural season between Kobelco Kobe Steelers and NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Spectators wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus are in the stands for the opening match of Japan Rugby League One's inaugural season between Kobelco Kobe Steelers and NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Spectators wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus are in the stands for the opening match of Japan Rugby League One's inaugural season between Kobelco Kobe Steelers and NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Rugby: Japan's new League One

Kobelco Kobe Steelers (red) and NTT Communications Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu meet in the opening match of Japan Rugby League One's inaugural season on Jan. 8, 2022, at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Rugby: Mafi ready to play for Bath

Rugby: Mafi ready to play for Bath

Japan and NTT Communications Shining Arcs rugby player Amanaki Lelei Mafi, who has signed to play for Bath in the English Premiership with a limited term, poses for photos at his introductory press conference in Bath, England, on Feb. 16, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Mafi signs with Bath in English Premiership

Rugby: Mafi signs with Bath in English Premiership

Photo shows Japan and NTT Communications Shining Arcs No. 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi. The Tonga-born 25-year-old Mafi has signed to play for Bath in the English Premiership, the club announced Dec. 29, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shining Arcs bench proves to be difference in win over Heat

Shining Arcs bench proves to be difference in win over Heat

Amanaki Lelei Mafi holds off the opposition in NTT Communications Shining Arcs' 29-15 win over Honda Heat at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Dec. 19, 2015. Shining Arcs maintained their hopes of a top-four finish in Group A and a spot in the Top League playoffs. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Panasonic's experience sees them past NTT Comms

Panasonic's experience sees them past NTT Comms

Panasonic Wild Knights hooker Shota Horie dives across the line to score a try during the second half of the Top League match against NTT Communications Shining Arcs on Dec. 5, 2015, in Kumagaya, near Tokyo. Panasonic beat NTT Communications 35-28. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Japan's Top League

Rugby: Japan's Top League

Toshiba Brave Lupus' Michael Leitch (C) is tackled by players of NTT Communications Shining Arcs during the first half of a Top League match at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on March 26, 2021.

Rugby: Japan's Top League

Rugby: Japan's Top League

Greig Laidlaw of NTT Communications Shining Arcs kicks a conversion during the second half of a Top League match against Toshiba Brave Lupus at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on March 26, 2021.

CORRECTED: Rugby: Suntory has too much fizz for NTT Comms

CORRECTED: Rugby: Suntory has too much fizz for NTT Comms

Takaaki Nakazuru (L) runs on his way to scoring a try in the first half of Suntory Sungoliath's 36-11 victory over NTT Communications Shining Arcs in a Japan Rugby Top League match at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Suntory's title hopes once again in their own hands

Rugby: Suntory's title hopes once again in their own hands

George Smith (L) scores a try in the first half of Suntory Sungoliath's 29-5 win over NTT Communications Shining Arcs at Hanazono Rugby Ground in Higashi-Osaka on Dec. 3, 2016. Suntory will take on Kobe Kobelco Steelers on Jan. 14, 2017, with the Japan Rugby Top League title at stake. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Scotland star Laidlaw to join Shining Arcs in Japan Top League

Rugby: Scotland star Laidlaw to join Shining Arcs in Japan Top League

Undated photo shows former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw. He will play for the NTT Communications Shining Arcs next season, the Japan Rugby Top League club said July 6, 2020.

Rugby: Toyota-NTT Communications Japan Top League match

Rugby: Toyota-NTT Communications Japan Top League match

Jamie Henry of Toyota Verblitz scores a try in the second half against NTT Communications Shining Arcs in a Japan Rugby Top League match at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Dec. 16, 2017. Toyota won 22-15. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Toyota-NTT Communications Japan Top League match

Rugby: Toyota-NTT Communications Japan Top League match

Kazuki Himeno of Toyota Verblitz scores a try in the second half against NTT Communications Shining Arcs in a Japan Rugby Top League match at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Dec. 16, 2017. Toyota won 22-15. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Steelers vs Shining Arcs

Rugby: Steelers vs Shining Arcs

Kobe Kobelco Steelers' Akihiro Shimizu (c) tackles NTT Communications Shining Arcs' Amanaki Lelei Mafi during the second half of a 28-28 draw in a Japan Rugby Top League game at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Dec. 2, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

NTT Comms dial the right number to beat Toshiba

NTT Comms dial the right number to beat Toshiba

Members of NTT Communications Shining Arcs celebrate on Aug. 25, 2017, after beating Toshiba Brave Lupus 25-14 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, picking up their first win of the new Japan Rugby Top League season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rugby: Panasonic restore confidence with big win over NTT Comms

Rugby: Panasonic restore confidence with big win over NTT Comms

Yasuki Hayashi of the Panasonic Wild Knights runs with the ball in the second half of a Top League game against the NTT Communications Shining Arcs at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sept. 30, 2016. Panasonic won 42-14. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo