Corporate rugby games had been held since the end of the Taisho era. After the war ended, coupled with the completion of the Tokyo rugby stadium, a positive momentum was cultivated among the directors of the JRFU, including Tsunazo Nishino, Saburo Kiyose, and Chuji Kitajima, to start company rugby tournaments. On February 25 and 27 1949, the 1st National Company Rugby Tournament was held at the Tokyo rugby stadium, sponsored by the JRFU and supported by Asahi Shimbun. To this tournament, TOSHIBA was selected by the Japan East Rugby Football Union, Kintetsu by the Kansai Rugby Football Union, Haitan Kodan (Solid Fuels Distribution Public Corporation) by the Kyushu Rugby Football Union, and Sapporo Railway Bureau from the Tohoku and Hokkaido area. However, Kintetsu withdrew from the tournament, and Tohoku Hiryo was requested to appear in the tournament one week before, but it also decided to withdraw. Therefore, this tournament was competed by three teams, while Haitan Kodan became the first champion. Participants to this tournament subsequently increased, reaching 16 at the 9th tournament in 1956. This tournament built up its history until the 55th tournament held in 2002. Ending its mark in 2003, this tournament was then reorganized expansively into Japan Rugby Top League.