Keio Senior High School Rugby Football Club reaches the national tournament

Keio Senior High School Rugby Football Club, representing Kanagawa Prefecture, participated in the 94th All Japan High School Rugby Tournament held from December 27, 2014 at Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium. This was our 34th time participating in the tournament, and our first in four years. However, last time we were one of two schools representing Kanagawa Prefecture, so it was our first time in 13 years—since 2001 (the 81st tournament)—to become the sole representative for Kanagawa.
Since we were seeded in the B Group, we had a bye for the first round, so our first match was in the second round, which took place on December 30th. We played against Koza High School, representing Okinawa Prefecture, and we won 43-5. This was the first match we played wearing the black-and-yellow striped jersey with a logo mark of the high school’s 70th anniversary project, and after the match, Keio University President Seike encouraged us to keep coming to Hanazono Stadium every year until 2018—the year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our school. In the third round match, which was held on January 1st, 2015, we played against Gose Industrial High School, representing Nara Prefecture. Although we almost won the match by scoring a come-from-behind try just before the end of regulation, Gose re-took the lead in injury time with a try of their own, and we lost 14-19.

This was our first official game against Gose Industrial High School since January 2014, when we lost to them in the semifinals at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament. After that match, I had the opportunity to talk with the coaches of Gose Industrial High, and was able to learn about their extensive experience related to coaching, and I learned once again that the important thing is not only improving the players’ abilities on the field, but also nurturing their abilities as a person. I became keenly aware that the basis of building a strong team is to fully act upon the capacity of high school students. I believe that applying this principle was one of the main pillars of our club during the past year. In that sense, Gose Industrial High School was not just an opponent, it was more a perfect example for us to learn from.
It was unfortunate that we could not conquer Gose Industrial High at the All Japan Tournament, but instead, through our first match with them in a year, we ended up learning even more. Losing the match was disappointing, but at the same time, I am grateful for the valuable experience from which we were able to gain so much.

Keio Senior High Rugby Football Club’s aspiration is to go to the national tournament once again in 2015 and become national champions. However, I want to make a team in which we put the emphasis on each players’ development as a person, instead of just aiming for victory on the field.