Top League

The top four teams (Panasonic Wild Knights, Yamaha Júbilo, Toshiba Brave Lupus, Kobelco Steelers) in the 2014–15 Top League automatically qualified for the competition, and competed in a playoff competition.^{[citation needed]}

Panasonic Wild Knights and Yamaha Júbilo eventually played in the Final, with Panasonic Wild Knights winning 30-12. As Top League finalists they gained automatic entry to the Championship Semi-finals.^{[citation needed]}

The Top League Wildcard Tournament was contested by the fifth to twelfth teams in the final table for the last two places for this league in the Championship. These places were eventually taken by NEC Green Rockets and Suntory Sungoliath.^{[citation needed]}

University

In the 51st Japan National University Rugby Championship final Teikyo University defeated Tsukuba University 50-7. Both teams gained entry to the Championship as finalists, the two beaten semi-finalists Keio University and Tokai University also qualified.^[1]

First round

Quarter-final

Semi-final

Panasonic Wild Knights and Yamaha Júbilo bypassed the first two rounds into the semi-finals by reaching the final of the Top League playoffs in 2015.

Final