(Written by Azul: November 15, 2024)
This time, I went to Chichibunomiya Rugby Ground in Minato-ku, Tokyo to watch the Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group match between Teikyo University and Waseda University.
The weather was fine and the temperature was 20 degrees Celsius, making it a perfect day to watch the game.
This season’s Kanto University Rugby Rivalry Group League started in early September, and so far three teams, Teikyo University, Meiji University, and Waseda University, have all won and are competing for the championship. With the second half of the season now upon us, the top-ranked schools will now begin to face each other directly, and rugby fans can look forward to a series of exciting matches.
In the first match of the day, Meiji University vs. University of Tsukuba was played, kicking off at 11:30.
The result of the match was 31-0 in favor of Meiji University, defending their unanimous victory.
Next, the second match kicked off at 14:00.
Here is the latest information on both schools going into the second match.
First, let me introduce the Defending Champion, Teikyo University Rugby Club.
Last season, the team won the University Championship for three years in a row, but the most senior students have graduated and the team has become a new team. The results of the competitions so far this season were as follows.
September 7: vs Japan University of Health and Sport Science 67-6 〇
September 22: vs Aoyama Gakuin University 40-5 〇
Sept. 29: vs Rikkyo University 85-7 〇
Oct. 20: vs Keio University 57-19 〇
Teikyo University has had some close wins against lower ranked teams from last season. Teikyo University, last season’s university champion, has many U-18 Japan players joining the team this season. If they continue to gain experience in the game, the new players this season will grow steadily, but if we look for weaknesses, there are few players among the regular members who have won last season’s championship, so it remains to be seen whether they can show the same strength as last season in a matchup against a higher-ranked school.
This day’s starting lineup was as follows.
| Teikyo University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Hanjiro HIRAI | 174cm | 94kg | 21 | |
| 2 | Ren TOMA | 174cm | 95kg | 22 | |
| 3 | Taro UESUGI | 176cm | 113kg | 21 | |
| 4 | Jo KURAMORI | 180cm | 102kg | 21 | |
| 5 | Takuma MOTOHASHI | 194cm | 116kg | 22 | JapanXV,Japan |
| 6 | Keito AOKI | 187cm | 106kg | 22 | Japan XV |
| 7 | Eugene GUAINI | 177cm | 89kg | 22 | |
| 8 | Kaisa DAUNAKAMAKAMA | 182cm | 120kg | 21 | U-18 Japan |
| 9 | Kumsu LEE | 174cm | 80kg | 22 | |
| 10 | Takaya MOTOHASHI | 182cm | 86kg | 20 | U-20 Japan,JapanXV,Japan |
| 11 | Kanta MORI | 176cm | 89kg | 21 | |
| 12 | Taichi KUGINO | 178cm | 89kg | 22 | |
| 13 | Yamato UEDA | 180cm | 84kg | 19 | U-18,U-20 Japan,JapanXV |
| 14 | Genki IKUTA | 169cm | 83kg | 21 | |
| 15 | Ryunosuke AOYAGI | 176cm | 82kg | 20 | U-18 Japan |
＊＊ Player to watch ＊＊
Takaya Motohashi is 20 years old, 182 cm, 86 kg. A graduate of Kyoto Seisho High School, he is the younger brother of Takuma Motohashi, a regular lock for Teikyo University’s three consecutive university championships. He played mainly at CTB for U20 Japan this summer. He is the leading BK player of his generation, but has only become a regular starter this season, so he is expected to show his ability as the season deepens. Teikyo University’s fourth straight University Championship title this season will depend on the twin shoulders of MOTOHASHI, the commanding leader of the team.
And now, an update on the Waseda University Rugby Club, the right wing of Teikyo University’s team to beat.
Waseda University’s official results so far this season were as follows.
September 14: vs Rikkyo University 57-6 〇
September 22: vs Japan University of Health and Sport Science 83-0 〇
October 12: vs Aoyama Gakuin University 67-0 〇
Since forming their new teams for this season, both Teikyo University and Waseda University have played each other twice in open matches.
June 16: 7-60 (Teikyo University won)
August 18: 38-14 (Waseda University won)
With a record of 1 win and 1 loss, both teams have been making adjustments to focus on a direct confrontation in an official match.
This day’s starters were as follows.
| Waseda University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Airou SUGIMOTO | 176cm | 107kg | 21 | U19 Japan |
| 2 | Kenji SATO | 177cm | 107kg | 21 | Japan XV,Japan |
| 3 | Shotaro KAMEYAMA | 176cm | 116kg | 22 | |
| 4 | Takeomi NISHIURA | 184cm | 94kg | 22 | |
| 5 | Bunsuke KURITA | 184cm | 105kg | 20 | U20Japan |
| 6 | Osuke SHIRO | 185cm | 99kg | 18 | U18 Japan |
| 7 | Yusei TANAKA | 166cm | 87kg | 21 | |
| 8 | Fuuta SUZUKI | 183m | 99kg | 23 | |
| 9 | Sena HOSOYA | 162m | 64kg | 21 | |
| 10 | Ryota HATTORI | 178cm | 80kg | 18 | U18 Japan |
| 11 | Haruto IKEMOTO | 183cm | 90kg | 20 | |
| 12 | Kengo NONAKA | 180cm | 93kg | 21 | U20,U21Japan,Junior Japan |
| 13 | Shuhou FUKUSHIMA | 183cm | 95kg | 21 | U18 Japan |
| 14 | Kenzou TANAKA | 172cm | 76kg | 19 | |
| 15 | Yoshitaka YAZAKI | 180cm | 86kg | 20 | U18,U20 Japan,JapanXV,Japan |
** Player to watch **
(Ryota HATTORI is the player in the black-and-red striped jersey in the photo above.)
Ryota HATTORI is 178cm, 80kg, 18 years old. He is a graduate of Saga Technical High School and a member of the U18 Japan national team. As an 18-year-old first-year student, he has won a commanding position at Waseda University, where BK players from all over the country gather to compete for the top spot in the high school rugger world. In high school, he won a national championship in 7-man rugby, and his running ability and ability to find space are regarded as the best of his generation. In high school, he played FB, but was converted to SO by Waseda University’s rugby team coach, Otao, who noticed his exceptional kicking ability. Although he has little experience as an SO, he has made a big impact on the team’s tactics with his kicking ability. He is a player that we can expect no end to how far he will develop his abilities as the season deepens.
Before the game began, both teams sang their school anthems, and the fans of both teams were excited for this traditional match and the big game that will determine who will win the championship this season.
The crowd of 12,383 on the day was the largest of the season’s rivalry matches.
Teikyo University, as usual, went on the offensive from the very beginning of the game. However, in the early stages, Waseda University went toe-to-toe with Teikyo University, last season’s university champion, in set plays, dense battles, and development attacks. Last season, Waseda University was crushed by Teikyo University in both set plays and dense battles, so Waseda fans’ expectations for victory must have been heightened by Waseda University’s well-rounded performance this season.
13 minutes into the first half:
The SO HATTORI, one of Waseda University’s new players of the season, kicked a touch kick from his own penalty kick that went close to the opponent’s in-goal, which made the fans filling Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium roar.
Waseda University secured the ball in their own lineout, and their FW players rushed through the maul and the dense side of the ruck to score a try, but Teikyo University’s defense in front of the in-goal was very strong, and a try was hard to come by. From this point on, Waseda University swung left and right to score with their BK. From a tight pack, SO HATTORI sent a long pass to the right, and WTB TANAKA, who ran to the left edge, scored a try in the right corner of the enemy’s in-goal. The conversion goal after the try failed. The score was 0-5, with Waseda University scoring first.
TANAKA, who scored the try, is one of Waseda University’s promising new players this season.
19 minutes into the first half:
From the restart after the try, both teams exchanged long kicks. However, Waseda’s SO HATTORI kicked from deep in his own half, which went out beyond the enemy 22m line. At this point, the 50-22 rule was applied, and the lineout became Waseda University’s ball. Here, Waseda University made a series of attacks in the enemy territory. Teikyo University then committed a knock-on infringement, resulting in a scrum that was Waseda’s own ball. For Teikyo University, it was a humiliating scrum push loss. Last season, Teikyo University had never lost a scrum to Waseda University, so the shock must have been great for Teikyo University. After that, Waseda University secured the ball, and made the best use of attacking from both sides, and finally, WTB Tanaka, who received the ball from FB YAZAKI, ran through on the right side and scored the second try of the day. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 0-12.
21 minutes into the first half:
Again, from the restart kickoff by Teikyo University, Waseda University deployed the ball in their own territory, and SO HATTORI kicked a long kick which was stopped in front of the enemy in-goal, The ball was passed from hooker SATOH to WTB TANAKA, and TANAKA scored his third try of the day. The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 0-19.
Teikyo University suffered an unprecedented series of losses, and each player’s face showed signs of impatience.
27 minutes into the first half:
After a long period of Waseda’s attacking time, Teikyo University finally got a chance to attack in the enemy territory from the restart kick-off. Teikyo University’s FWs had been dominant in the contact phase of the game so far, so they connected short passes and their break-through FWs piled up the gains to close in on the enemy’s in-goal. Waseda University committed an infringement in their own half, and Teikyo University opted for a penalty kick and gained their own ball lineout just in front of the enemy in-goal. Teikyo University made a sign play, and from the lineout, FL AOKI received a short pass and went all the way to the left middle of the in-goal for a try. After the try, the conversion goal failed, and the score was 5-19.
35 minutes into the first half:
Teikyo University seemed to have confirmed their strength after the try they scored earlier, and they began to play a strategy of penetrating the enemy line, mainly with their FWs, and attacking the dense side of the field. Teikyo University chose to take a penalty kick after an infringement by their opponents, advanced their position to just before the enemy’s in-goal, secured the ball in a lineout on their own ball, and then formed a maul, which the FWs exploited to gain the ball. The try was scored by FL AOKI, who dragged 4 players to the right of the enemy in-goal for the second try of the day.
The conversion goal after the try failed, and the score was 10-19.
With this try, Teikyo University turned the tide of the match back in their favor.
40 minutes into the first half:
From the restart kick-off after the try, Waseda University advanced into the enemy territory and gradually advanced their position through a series of attacks. From a lineout near the 22-meter line, Waseda University was in a tight spot with the opposing defense, but hooker SATOH managed to secure the ball and pass it to SO HATTORI, who stepped past four men and scored a try right in the middle of the enemy in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 10-26.
The first half ended here, with Waseda University pulling the game back into their own hands.
Now, will Teikyo University, the winner of three consecutive University Championships, be able to pull themselves back into the game in the second half and capture a come-from-behind victory?
Or will Waseda University be able to continue their momentum and defeat the absolute champion, Teikyo University? We look forward to a heated battle in the second half.
６ minutes into the second half:
Teikyo University kicked off the second half and the game resumed. Teikyo University attacked from beyond the 22-meter line, but made a series of mistakes at the crucial moments and missed the opportunity to score.
Waseda University took advantage of Teikyo University’s mistake, and after entering the enemy territory, they moved to the left, and WTB TANAKA made a big gain in the first attack. Waseda University then went in the opposite direction, and the ball was again passed to WTB TANAKA, who made a big move from the left corner to the right corner.
6 minutes into the second half:
Teikyo University kicked off the second half, and the game resumed. Teikyo University attacked continuously beyond the enemy 22-meter line, but at the crucial moment, they made a series of mistakes, which was uncharacteristic of the university champions, and missed a scoring opportunity.
Waseda University took advantage of Teikyo University’s mistake, and after entering the enemy territory, they moved to the left, and WTB TANAKA made a big gain in the first attack. Waseda University then went in the opposite direction and the ball was again passed to WTB TANAKA who made a big move from the left corner to the right corner, where TANAKA got tangled up with three opposing defenders but was able to pull away and score his 4th try of the day in the middle right of the enemy in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 10-33. In the second half, it was Waseda University who scored first.
Teikyo University came close to scoring at the enemy’s in-goal, but Waseda University got the ball back, and when the ball passed to Waseda University’s SO HATTORI, he kicked it to the enemy’s 10m line with his amazing kicking ability. Waseda’s SO HATTORI’s kick flew about 20 meters farther than a normal SO of a university team. Even if Teikyo University took their time and attacked deep into the enemy territory, Waseda University’s SO HATTORI’s amazing kicking ability would bring them down to about 50 meters back. Teikyo University’s FWs were getting tired.
11 minutes into the second half:
Waseda University’s PG attempt is foiled by a foul by the opposing team, and they are about 40 meters out in front of the goalposts.
14 minutes into the second half:
Both teams kicked each other’s kicks, but Teikyo University’s BK, gradually being pushed back, decided that they had the worse of it and counter-attacked from their own 22m line. The penalty was committed in front of the enemy goal post, about 15 meters away, so Waseda University opted to go for the PG, which CTB NONAKA converted to make the score 10-36.
27 minutes into the second half:
Teikyo University made several attacks deep into the enemy territory, but after an infringement just before the in-goal, Waseda’s SO HATTORI took a penalty kick to bring his team back to the enemy 10-meter line, making it difficult to find a rhythm in the game. This led to frequent handling errors by Teikyo University, and each time the ball was lost to Waseda University.
Waseda University then moved closer to the enemy’s in-goal and attacked in a series of rhythmic attacks, culminating in SO HATTORI’s try to the left of the enemy’s in-goal.
Waseda’s conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 10-43.
40 minutes into the second half:
Teikyo University was still scoreless in the second half at this time. With a 33-point difference, Waseda University was almost certain to win the match, but Teikyo University was looking for revenge in their next matchup. However, Teikyo University was finding it difficult to break the enemy defense and even gain ground.
Teikyo University was in a dilemma on the day, as they were unable to score from inside their own 22-meter line. As Teikyo University was attacking the enemy line, Waseda’s WTB Tanaka intercepted the ball and ran 90 meters to score his fifth try of the day in the middle right of the enemy in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was unsuccessful, but the score was 10-48.
42 minutes into the second half:
Toward the end of the match, Teikyo University attacked deep into enemy territory, and at about 15 meters in front of the goal posts, substitute FL MORIMOTO broke out through the side and scored a try just below the goal posts.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 17-48.
Immediately after the conversion goal, the game was called “no side. The final score was 17-48. Teikyo University had not lost by such a large margin since their golden era when they became the number 1 university in Japan.
Waseda University’s main reason for winning this match was that their FWs were more than equal to Teikyo University in set plays. The BKs were active in all directions based on the overwhelming kicking ability of SO HATTORI, a newcomer to the Waseda team this season. WTB TANAKA’s overwhelming decisiveness, scoring 5 tries by himself, led to such a large points difference against last season’s university champion, Teikyo University.
Waseda University has 2 current members of the national team, hooker SATOH and FB YAZAKI, but even without them scoring tries, the fact that they were able to score so many tries shows the resilience of this season’s Waseda University.
Can Waseda continue their winning streak and become the number 1 university in Japan for the first time since 2020? Or will Teikyo University be able to regroup and take revenge in the University Championship? This season’s college rugby is becoming more and more exciting.
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Stop the war.
Peace to Ukraine
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