RUGBY JERSEY – National University Rugby Championship Semi-Final

 (Written by Azul: 22 January, 2024)

The National University Rugby Football Championship for the 2023-2024 season reached its semi-finals on 2 January.

The results of the quarter-finals were as follows.

* University of Tsukuba vs Meiji University: 7-45.

* Tenri University vs Tokai University: 34-14.

* Teikyo University vs Kwansei Gakuin University: 78-15

Kyoto Sangyo University vs Waseda University: 65-28

As a result, the pairings for the University Championship semi-finals were decided as follows

Match 1: Kyoto Sangyo University vs Meiji University

Match 2: Teikyo University vs Tenri University

As for the pairings, the two matches are a Kanto vs Kansai showdown, and all teams have strong FWs, making it an exciting semi-final for fans watching the matches.

The semi-finals and final of the University Championships will be held at the National Stadium in Sendagaya, Tokyo, and the heated matches are expected to be enlivened by the cheering crowds.

Let’s introduce the two teams that will play in the first match.

First, let me introduce the Kyoto Sangyo University Rugby Club.

Kyoto Sangyo University was founded in 1964. It has won the Kansai University League seven times and is currently on a three-year winning streak. The team has produced many national team players such as Daisuke Ohata. The team’s style of play is characterised by FW set-pieces, especially strong scrums. In the past, Kyosan University’s style was to gather nationally unknown high school students, train them hard and challenge traditional schools. However, in recent years, due to their consistent performance in university championships, they have begun to attract players from the Japanese high school national team and are expected to develop in the future.

Today’s starting line-up is as follows.

Kyoto Sangyo University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Ryushin SONE	175cm	103kg	21
2	Lee SOONHONG	171cm	100kg	21
3	Shinta KAWAGUCHI	186cm	120kg	21
4	Chuka ISHIBASHI	190cm	93kg	19	U-18 JAPAN
5	Soromone L.FUNAKI	186cm	114kg	21
6	Ken HIYOSHI	180cm	100kg	21
7	Kosei MIKI	174cm	95kg	21	U18 Japan
8	Sione POLUTELE	184cm	110kg	20	U18 Japan
9	Asahi DOEI	170cm	73kg	20	U20 Japan, JJ
10	Daigo YOSHIMOTO	184cm	90kg	19	U18 Japan
11	Hiroto NISHI	170cm	75kg	21
12	Rimpei ONO	170cm	84kg	20
13	Ryosei TAKAI	176cm	82kg	22
14	Taiga MATSUOKA	170cm	77kg	22
15	Hayata TSUJINO	178cm	85kg	20
					JJ=Junior Japan

** Player to watch **

Chuka ISHIBASHI. 190 cm, 93 kg, 19 years old. Position = lock. Graduated from Houtoku Gakuen High School. Half Nigerian father, half Japanese mother, U18 Japan, one of the golden generation who toured Ireland this spring and defeated the U19 Ireland national team. After entering Kyoto Sangyo University, he has secured a regular position in the powerful Kyoto Sangyo University FW despite being a first-year student. He is a big, mobile player, as he also won the national championship in high school seven-man rugby.

Next up is the Meiji University Rugby Club.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the club’s founding, and the members are working together to achieve their goal of winning the University Championship. In the Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group, the team finished second after losing to Teikyo University, but their captain, CTB Yuya HIROSE, who was out due to injury, will return from this match and will be fully fit to face this match. In addition to their traditional strong FW, this season Meiji University have a lot of talent in their BK players, and will be competing on overall strength.

Today’s starting line-up is as follows.

Meiji University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Junki TOKODA	178cm	103kg	22
2	Junichiro MATSUSHITA	173cm	99kg	22
3	Keijiro TAMEFUSA	180cm	110kg	22	U18 Japan
4	Reijiro YAMAMOTO	191cm	111kg	21	U18 Japan
5	Daichi SATO	183cm	100kg	22
6	Yuta MORIYAMA	183cm	100kg	22
7	Taisei FUKUDA	173cm	95kg	21
8	Taishiro KIDO	185m	104kg	21
9	Shu HAGIHARA	173m	77kg	22
10	Kotaro ITO	176cm	86kg	22
11	Kohaku EBISAWA	173cm	80kg	19
12	Yuya HIROSE	179cm	94kg	22	U18 Japan
13	Yuta AKIHAMA	175cm	85kg	21
14	Kohei YASUDA	183cm	88kg	20
15	Shotaro IKEDO	181cm	90kg	22

** Player to watch **.

Yuya HIROSE. 179 cm, 94 kg, 22 years old. He is a graduate of Higashi Fukuoka High School, U18 Japan, and will be taking on the heavy responsibility of captain this season, the 100th anniversary of the school’s founding. Since entering Meiji University, he has been a regular in the team since his first year and has made a name for himself. In matches, he also has responsibility as a placekicker. He was out for a few games before the semi-final due to injury, but will he be able to show his best performance in this match?

Let’s start the first half.

The game started at 12:25.

1st minute of the first half:

Early in the game, Meiji University came into the enemy line and as they tackled, Kyoto Sangyo University’s SO YOSHIMOTO suffered a neck injury and had to be replaced early. The early departure of the main SO is likely to be quite a blow for Kyoto Sangyo University.

5 minutes into the first half:

Meiji University were slightly pushed by Kyoto Sangyo University in the first set piece scrum, but SH HAGIHARA got the ball out and they attacked in succession. Meiji University gradually approached the enemy’s in-goal with a series of attacks to the left and right, and from just in front of the goal posts, FB IKEDO kicked the ball into the in-goal, which was held by WTB EBISAWA for the first try for Meiji University. The conversion goal after the try failed. The score was 0-5.

9 minutes of the first half:

From the kick-off after the try, Kyoto Sangyo University moved forward with their best set-piece. A scrum drew an infringement from their opponents, and from a PG they secured the ball in their own lineout and moved forward in a maul to put pressure on Meiji University. Kyoto Sangyo University then passed the ball to WTB Nishi, who ran across the maul and scored a try in the left corner of the enemy in-goal. The conversion goal after the try failed. Kyoto Sangyo University easily equalised.

17 minutes into the first half:

Kyoto Sangyo University still had the better of the scrum and maul set-pieces. Kyoto Sangyo University pushed Meiji University in the scrum here, drawing a collapsing infringement, earning the right to a PG and kicking the ball steadily outwards. However, Meiji University’s WTB EBISAWA helped himself to the ball and jumped on the ball as it was about to go off the touchline, making it his own ball. Meiji University attacked in quick succession in the enemy territory, and it was a densely contested battle, but they picked up the ball well and attacked again in quick succession, with Meiji University’s SO Itoh receiving the ball, dodging through a gap in the enemy defence and scoring a try just under the goal posts. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 5-12.

22 minutes of the first half:

While Kyosan University tried to break down their opponents with set plays, Meiji University cut the gain line with a BK development attack. After spreading out to the left and right, Kyoto Sangyo University’s response to Meiji University’s advances was a little backward. Meiji University attacked deep into the enemy territory, and after a PG from an infringement by the opponents, they closed in on the enemy in-goal, and from a lineout on their own ball, they quickly moved forward in a maul and hooker MATSUSHITA scored a try in the middle left. The conversion goal after the try was also successful and the score was 5-19, with Meiji University taking a 14-point lead.

28 minutes of the first half:

Meiji University had been pushing the game forward with a series of BK attacks up until this time. Here, Kyoto Sangyo University won the ball back in a tight battle deep in their own half and kicked the ball into enemy territory, where Meiji University committed an infringement. Kyoto Sangyo University opted for a penalty kick and advanced their position in front of the enemy in-goal. From there, Kyoto Sangyo University used contact play, mainly by their FWs, to close in on the enemy in-goal and finally deployed to the right, where FB NASU, who came on as a midway substitute, scored a try in the middle on the right. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 12-19.

Towards the end of the first half, Kyoto Sangyo University’s ball possession increased. Using their strength as a maul as a shield, the team worked together to advance deep into enemy territory, where Meiji University was unable to resist committing an infringement, giving them a PG opportunity. SO TSUJINO scored PGs in the 33rd and 38th minutes of the first half in quick succession to level the score at 18-19.

41 minutes of the first half:

Towards the end of the first half, Meiji University went on the offensive. Meiji University opted for a penalty kick instead of a PG after an infringement near halfway, and advanced their position to the enemy in-goal. From a lineout here, they formed a maul, which was once stopped, but they split the opposition defence down the middle and quickly moved into the enemy in-goal to score a try. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 18-26, and Meiji University again outscored Kyoto Sangyo University.

This was the end of the first half. Both teams showed their strengths and thrilled the crowd at the National Stadium.

Now, which team will take control of the game in the second half and advance to the final? Let’s get the second half underway.

2 minutes of the second half:

Rain started to fall early in the second half. Perhaps because of this, Meiji University kicked off and the ball was dropped in front of them by Kyoto Sangyo University’s SH Ito deep in their own half. This put Kyoto Sangyo University in the pinch of a scrum deep in their own half with the ball in their opponents’ hands. From this scrum, Meiji University made a series of attacks. After attacking on the right side, they deployed to the left side, where Meiji University’s SO Ito received a pass and once again ran through the opposition defence to score a try in the middle on the left. Meiji University’s SO Ito was so quick to get up to top speed after receiving the ball that his opponents were taken aback the first time they faced him.

The conversion goal after the try failed and the score was 18-31.

7 minutes into the second half:

Kyoto Sangyo University attacked deep into enemy territory from the kick-off in an attempt to close the gap. However, a lineout in front of the enemy in-goal saw the visitors lose possession and miss a scoring opportunity.

From this point on, Meiji University seemed to have the mental edge and looked comfortable in their play. Meiji University made steady progress and went deep into enemy territory. Kyoto Sangyo University gradually began to be pushed back by individual contact, which they had dominated up to this point. In this situation, Meiji’s BK developed to the right, and from a deep line FB IKEDO ran in to receive the ball and went behind the enemy defence at once, scoring a try just behind the goal posts. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 18-38.

With Kyoto Sangyo University trailing by 20 points at this stage of the game, handling errors were becoming more and more noticeable at key moments. They failed to secure the ball in a lineout deep in enemy territory, and then attempted a BK move near halfway, but again dropped the ball in front. From here, Meiji University kicked the ball deep into the box, and a scoring chance instantly turned into a scoring crisis.

20 minutes into the second half:

As Kyoto Sangyo University made a series of handling errors, Meiji University overcame their opponents with spirit and finally began to gain the upper hand in the scrums. From in front of the goal posts in the enemy territory, the scrum was developed to the right and the backs connected with the ball with a thick follow-through, allowing CTB AKIHAMA to score a try just under the goal posts. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 18-45.

29 minutes into the second half:

Meiji University started to tire a little and a handling error allowed Kyoto Sangyo University to push deep into their own half. From there, Kyoto Sangyo University tried to push forward by forming a maul from their own ball lineout, but to their surprise, only one WTB was left and the 14 players pushed through the maul to score a try in the opponents’ in-goal in the middle left corner. The try was scored by TSUJINO, playing SO. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 25-45.

35 minutes of the second half:

In this match, Kyoto Sangyo University did not respond well to attacks from the deep line by the Meiji University BK. From behind, the Meiji University BK, who ran in, accelerated and followed up with more attacks, broke through the defence one after the other. This led to the Kyoto Sangyo University BK players becoming disheartened and led to a chain of handling errors.

Again, Kyoto Sangyo University’s defence was breached by a series of attacks from Meiji University’s BK, and finally a try was scored in the middle left by replacement Meiji University CTB TAIRA. A conversion goal after the try made the score 25-52 at last.

40 minutes into the second half:

Kyoto Sangyo University, looking for a last gasp, broke into the enemy territory and formed a maul to push forward at full stretch. The maul was joined later by BK players, and the 11 players pushed forward to the enemy in-goal to score a try. The try was scored by No.8 POLEO, a substitute from Kyoto Sangyo University. The conversion goal after the try failed.

The game ended here, with the final score 30-52 in favour of Meiji University. They will play the winner of the second match between Teikyo University and Tenri University in the final.

Kyoto Sangyo University showed that they were capable of playing well, but succumbed to the combined strength of Meiji University’s FW and BK. Despite the defeat, Kyoto Sangyo University has many promising players in the lower ranks and will be looking forward to next season’s development.

This will be followed by the second match.

This year marks the 60th edition of the National University Rugby Football Championship. In the second semi-final match, the absolute champions Teikyo University Rugby Club, who are aiming for their third consecutive championship title, face off against Tenri University, the second-ranked team in the Kansai League this time.

Let us introduce the two teams.

First, Teikyo University Rugby Club.

Teikyo University is aiming to become the number one university in Japan for the 12th time in total. The team no longer has any rivals at university level, and it is said that its strength could be matched even if it played against a League One team. Today, many of Japan’s national team players are from Teikyo University. Who can stop this Teikyo University winning streak, this time against Tenri University, which won the 2020 University Championship before Teikyo University’s streak began. Expect a good match.

Today’s starting line-up is as follows.

Teikyo University
No.	Name	height	weight	age
1	Taishi TSUMURA	172cm	108kg	22
2	Hayate ERA	171cm	100kg	22	U-18 JAPAN
3	Taro UESUGI	176cm	113kg	21
4	Takuma MOTOHASHI	193cm	118kg	21
5	Ryeon YOON	186cm	108kg	22
6	Keito AOKI	187cm	110kg	21
7	Akito OKUI	177cm	103kg	22	U-18 JAPAN
8	Shuto NOBUHARA	182cm	100kg	21	U-18 JAPAN
9	Kumusu LEE	174cm	80kg	21
10	Hitaka INOUE	175cm	80kg	22
11	Tomu TAKAMOTO	182cm	90kg	22	U-18 JAPAN
12	Taichi KUKINO	179cm	90kg	21
13	Keito KAIDA	180cm	85kg	22
14	Shinya KOMURA	179cm	87kg	21
15	Taiki YAMAGUCHI	177cm	90kg	22	U-18,U-20 JAPAN

** Player to watch **

Hayate ERA. 171 cm, 100 kg, 22 years old. Position = Hooker. A graduate of Osaka Toin High School, Hayate is a member of the U-18 Japan national team and captain of Teikyo University, which is aiming for a third consecutive championship. Although he is not a big man, he makes up for it with his rugby sense, his outstanding leadership of the FW, and his fighting spirit that emanates during games. As the next generation of Japan’s national hooker, he is expected to play an even more active role in the future.

Next, an introduction of the Tenri University Rugby Club.

University Championship victory in 2020. In this season’s Kansai League, the team fought a fierce battle with Kyoto Sangyo University, and although they were narrowly beaten at the end of the game to finish second, they went on to win the University Championship, defeating Keio University (4th in the Kanto University Rivalry Group) 41-12 in the third round and Tokai University (1st in the Kanto University League Group) in the quarter-finals by 34-14. We hope they show Teikyo University that they can play rugby without being overpowered.

** Player to watch **

Patrick VAKATA. 189 cm, 112 kg, 21 years old. He is a graduate of Japan Aviation Ishikawa High School. Position = No.8. From Tonga. A player who epitomises the power of Tenri University. He is a monster with a bench press of 160 kg, but is also a fast 50 m runner with a time of 6.2 seconds. How far he can show his power at the point of contact and his ability to break through against Teikyo University will be the key to victory or defeat in this match.

Now for the start of the second match. Kick-off was 14:40.

14 minutes of the first half:

The teams were evenly matched in terms of individual clashes after deployment, with Teikyo University showing their superiority in terms of scrums. In the Kansai League, Tenri University had never experienced being pushed around in the scrum, but as expected of the student champions, Teikyo University were strong. Teikyo University’s winning pattern was to use a strong scrum early in the game to draw infringements from their opponents, advance on penalties, and always have the upper hand in the game, playing in the opposition’s territory and racking up points. However, Tenri University fought well at the point of contact in defence after deployment and stopped Teikyo University from advancing. However, Teikyo University got into enemy territory, deployed to the left, and when the ball was passed to WTB TAKAMOTO, he used his individual skills to pick off two opposing defenders and score a try in the left corner of the enemy’s in-goal. The conversion goal after the try was also successful and Teikyo University scored the first points of the game to make the score 7-0.

17 minutes of the first half:

The two teams kicked each other, but Teikyo University’s FB YAMAGUCHI caught his own contested kick and immediately took it to the left side, where the ball was passed from No. 11 to No. 14. He scored his second try of the day in the left corner of the enemy’s in-goal. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 14-0.

21st minute of the first half:

The game looked like it was going to be a one-sided game for Teikyo University, but Tenri University fought back from here. As if a switch had been flipped on by all Tenri University players, they pushed forward more strongly than ever at the point of contact with their opponents and connected with the ball. After closing in on the enemy in-goal, prop MATSUNO finally broke through a wall of three Teikyo University defenders and scored a try in the middle on the left. The conversion goal after the try failed. The score was 14-5.

35 minutes of the first half:

Tenri University’s spirits were high during this period, and the two teams were in a stalemate of strength. Outside of scrums, Tenri University were evenly matched. Tenri University were in the opposition’s territory, and although they repeated a series of attacks, they were unable to get inside the 22-metre line. Tenri University then quickly moved to the right from a rather poor scrum and, making full use of signalling play, right winger HIROTA made a good run down the line. As he approached the enemy in-goal, he was caught by the Teikyo University defence, but the ball was passed to Tenri University’s left WTB FUJIWARA, who followed inside and scored a try right in the middle. The conversion goal after the try was also scored, making the score 14-12.

Tenri University began to dominate the game here. After the try, Tenri University kicked off and the ball was passed to No.8 VAKATA, who charged into the enemy line with great vigour, beating the Teikyo University defence by eight men to the delight of the crowd.

41 minutes of the first half:

Both sides kicked a high punt, but Teikyo University was fouled on the catch and Tenri University opted to go for the PG. With the horn already sounding for the end of the first half, Tenri University’s Tsutsuguchi attempted a PG from his own line near halfway, from a distance of almost 60 metres.

The PG fell a little short of distance and a Teikyo University player kicked it outwards, ending the first half.

Teikyo University, as usual, blamed and scored at once from the beginning of the game, but from the middle of the first half, Tenri University showed their aggressiveness and showed a competitive battle. We look forward to another good game in the second half.

Let’s get the second half underway.

3 minutes of the second half:

Tenri University committed an infringement in the centre of the ground, and from the penalty kick awarded, Teikyo University advanced their position to the enemy 22m line. From this position, from a lineout on their own ball, the ball was spread to the right and passed to WTB Komura in the left corner, who grounded it into the middle right of the enemy in-goal for Teikyo University’s first points of the second half. The conversion goal after the try failed, leaving the score 19-12.

7 minutes into the second half:

Teikyo University had a PG opportunity from a Not Role Away infringement by their opponents a little way into enemy territory, on the right side of the ground. Teikyo University FB YAMAGUCHI succeeded steadily to make the score 22-12.

Teikyo University had reflected on their poor contact with Tenri University in the first half, and players were quick to pull together to avoid being pushed over in contact with their opponents. This made it difficult for Tenri University to make progress.

From the 15th minute of the second half, the game became a stalemate. Tenri University’s energy was so high that despite the game being almost entirely in Tenri University’s favour, no points were scored. However, there were two scenes where, if video judgement had been used, it would have been a try for Teikyo University. The fact that the University Championship only had video judgment in the final game worked somewhat against Teikyo University in this situation. However, the fact that the match remained closely contested kept the tension in the game alive.

And as the match came to an end

In the first match, Kyoto Sangyo University seemed to have been outplayed by Meiji University, but in the second match Tenri University, despite losing to Teikyo University, seemed to give it all they had. Many of Tenri University’s players looked refreshed.

As a result of this semi-final, the final pairing was Teikyo University, aiming for a third consecutive university championship, against Meiji University, who were hoping to celebrate their 100th anniversary with a victory. The final will take place on 13 January. There is a week longer than usual between the two teams. Both teams will need to be in good condition to play a good game worthy of the final.

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Stop the war.

Peace to Ukraine

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