Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament

Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament
SportRugby union
First season2000
No. of teams16 (boys)
8 (girls' sevens)
CountryJapan
VenuesGlobal Arena, Munakata
Most recent
champion
New Zealand Rotorua Boys' High School (3rd title)
Most titlesNew Zealand Hamilton Boys' High School (4 titles)
Related
competitions		National High School Rugby Tournament
National 1st XV Championship
NatWest Schools Cup
Scottish Rugby Schools' Cup
Websitesanix-sports.com
Christian Brothers College (Ireland) plays Fushimi Technical High School (Japan), 2006

The Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament is an international rugby union tournament for 15-a-side youth teams which is held every year during the Golden Week holidays (29 April – 5/6 May) in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. Participation is by invitation only, and the overseas schools selected by their respective unions to represent their country are generally expected to be of a high standard and among the top five in each country. The event is hosted by the Japan Rugby Football Union and supported by various local bodies including the Kyushu RFU, the Sanix Sports Foundation and Munakata City. The Global Arena in Munakata, Fukuoka on the island of Kyūshū is the venue for this tournament.

History

In 2000 the first tournament was contested by 11 Japanese and five foreign high school teams from various countries. (The tournament expanded from 16 to 20 schools in 2009, thus increasing in both size and importance.) It is a unique competition in world rugby for high schools, and is almost a "mini World Cup". The idea was devised and initially funded by the Sanix company president Mr. Munemasa. Sanix still provides about half the substantial costs for overseas teams to participate.

Three or four of the Japanese teams are from the local area Kyūshū, where high school rugby is particularly strong. The rest are from elsewhere in Japan. A Scottish pipe band is a regular fixture, though there was no band in 2007. However Dollar Academy has participated twice as Scotland's sole representative so far in the tournament in 2000 and 2004, and George Watson's College Pipe Band, Edinburgh have played both the opening and closing ceremonies from 2008 to date. One Italian team (Istituto Casteller) took part in 2002, and Carmarthenshire College from Wales has also participated.

In 2014 the tournament debuted a girls' rugby sevens tournament to run parallel to the boys' competition. The debut girls' tournament was won by a Kanto regional selection team, and the most recent champions are Fukuoka Ladies Rugby Football Club who won the 2026 tournament.

The tournaments were cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] An amended local version (featuring only Japanese teams) of both boys' and girls' tournaments returned for 2022. The tournaments returned to a full international format from 2023, featuring twelve teams (six local and six international schools) for the boys' tournament and eight teams (five local and three international schools) for the girls' sevens tournament.[2]

Dax Landes High School, 2009 champions, together with the runners-up Higashi Fukuoka H.S. after the final

Competing nations

As of 2018 a total of 20 countries have participated in at least one edition of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament, with many countries being represented annually. Nations who have competed in the tournament are as follows:

Champions

Boys' competition

Marist College Canberra 2006 Sanix Rugby Squad Australia
Year # of Teams Final Losing semi-finalists
Winner Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
2000 16 Australia The King's School 28–5 South Africa Paul Roos Gymnasium New Zealand Aranui High School Scotland Dollar Academy
2001[3] 24 South Africa Grey College 41–3 New Zealand St Peter's College Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. Australia St Mary's College
2002 16 South Africa Hoër Landbouskool Boland 32–10 Japan Sendai Ikuei Gakuen H.S. Fiji Ratu Kadavulevu School New Zealand Wesley College
2003[4] 16 New Zealand Rotorua Boys' H.S. 27–12 Tonga Tonga College South Africa St Alban's College Republic of Ireland Royal Belfast Academical
2004 16 New Zealand Rotorua Boys' H.S. 36–18 Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. Samoa St. Joseph's College Australia St Stanislaus' College
2005 16 New Zealand Christchurch Boys' H.S. 32–8 Australia The Southport School South Africa Hoërskool Waterkloof Japan Osaka Institute Technology
2006[5] 16 New Zealand Christchurch Boys' H.S. 34–20 South Africa Monument High School Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S. Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S.
2007[6] 16 Australia Westfields Sports H.S. 36–19 Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. New Zealand Christchurch Boys' H.S. Samoa Avele College
2008[7] 16 South Africa Glenwood High School 39–0 France Tarbes High School New Zealand Gisborne Boys' H.S. Australia St Edmund's College
2009[8] 20 France Dax Landes High School 38–30 Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. South Africa Glenwood High School New Zealand De La Salle College
2010[9] 16 New Zealand Hamilton Boys' H.S. 40–8 England Truro College Australia The Hills Sports H.S. South Africa Marais Viljoen High School
2011[10] 16 New Zealand Hamilton Boys' H.S. 35–17 England Ivybridge Community College South Africa Paarl Boys' High School Japan Toin Gakuen H.S.
2012[11] 16 New Zealand Kelston Boys' H.S. 37–24 England Truro College Tonga Tonga College Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S.
2013[12] 16 New Zealand St Kentigern College 40–8 England Hartpury College Australia St Joseph's College South Africa Daniel Pienaar Technical H.S.
2014[13] 16 New Zealand Hamilton Boys' H.S. 15–11 South Africa Paarl Boys' High School France Lycée Louis de Foix Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S.
2015[14] 16 South Africa Paul Roos Gymnasium 35–3 Australia Brisbane Boys' College New Zealand Scots College England Truro College
2016[15] 16 South Africa Glenwood High School 45–6 Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. New Zealand Rotorua Boys' High School England Truro College
2017[16] 16 France Lycée de la Borde Basse 9–3 New Zealand Mt Albert Grammar School Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. Japan Toin Gakuen H.S.
2018[17] 16 Fiji Ratu Kadavulevu School 35–5 New Zealand Hastings Boys' H.S. Australia St Augustine's College Japan Osaka Toin High School
2019[18] 16 South Africa Paul Roos Gymnasium 52–5 New Zealand St Peters College Japan Toin Gakuen H.S. Australia Waverley College
2022[19] 12 Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S. 68–21 Japan Kyoto Seisho H.S. Japan Iwami Chisuikan H.S. Japan Oita Tomei High School
2023[20] 12 New Zealand Hamilton Boys' H.S. 28–22 Japan Higashi Fukuoka H.S. New Zealand Napier Boys' H.S. Japan Saga Technical H.S.
2024[21] 16 Japan Osaka Toin High School 17–15 Japan Toin Gakuen H.S. Australia St Augustine's College New Zealand Southland Boys' H.S.
2025[22] 18 Japan Osaka Toin High School 20–17 Japan Saga Technical H.S. Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S. Japan Gose Industrial H.S.
2026[23][24] 16 New Zealand Rotorua Boys' H.S. 46–19 New Zealand Feilding High School Japan Tokai Uni. Gyosei H.S. Japan Tenri High School

Schools with multiple appearances

Christchurch Boys High School, 2005 and 2006 champions

In the table below, teams are ordered first by number of appearances, then by number of wins, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Seasons" column, bold years indicate winning seasons.

AppearancesSchoolSeasons
14 Japan Higashi Fukuoka High School2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
8 Japan Saga Technical High School2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026
7 Japan Kyoto Seisho High School2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
6 New Zealand Hamilton Boys' High School2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2025
6 Japan Osaka Toin High School2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025, 2026
6 Russia Enisei-STM2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
6 Japan Toin Gakuen High School2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025, 2026
5 Japan Tokai University Gyosei High School2017, 2018, 2022, 2025, 2026
5 England Truro College2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2024
5 Japan Iwami Chisuikan High School2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
4 New Zealand Rotorua Boys' High School2003, 2004, 2016, 2026
4 Fiji Ratu Kadavulevu School2002, 2018, 2025, 2026
4 Japan Tokai University Sagami High School2017, 2018, 2024, 2025
3 South Africa Paul Roos Gymnasium2000, 2015, 2019
3 South Africa Glenwood High School2008, 2009, 2016
3 Japan Oita Tomei High School2022, 2024, 2026
2 New Zealand Christchurch Boys' High School2005, 2006
2 Japan Onomichi High School2015, 2018
2 South Africa Framesby High School2017, 2018
2 England Exeter College2018, 2019

Girls' sevens competition

Year # of Teams Final Losing semi-finalists
Winner Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
2014 8 Japan Kanto Selection 35–21 Australia Sunshine Coast Stingrays Japan Fukuoka Ladies' R.F.C. New Zealand Feilding High School
2015 8 New Zealand Hamilton Girls' H.S. 31–12 Japan Fukuoka Ladies' R.F.C. Japan Iwami Chisuikan H.S. Hong Kong Hong Kong Sports School
2016 8 Japan Otemon Gakuen H.S. 38–5 Japan Tochigi Strawberries New Zealand Hamilton Girls' High School Japan Fukuoka Ladies' R.F.C.
2017 8 New Zealand St Mary's College 26–22 Japan Kokugakuen Uni. Tochigi H.S. England Hartpury College Australia Aranmore Catholic College
2018 8 Japan Iwami Chisuikan H.S. 17–10 New Zealand Hamilton Girls' H.S. Japan Otemon Gakuen H.S. Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C.
2019 8 Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C. 17–10 Japan Iwami Chisuikan H.S. Japan Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura H.S. New Zealand Howick College
2022 8 Japan Otemon Gakuen H.S. 29–5 Japan Brave Louve Japan Saga Technical High School Japan Arukas Youth Kumagaya
2023 8 Australia King's Christian College 27–0 New Zealand Manukura Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C. Japan Saga Technical High School
2024 8 Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C. 17–7 Japan Kyoto Seisho High School Japan Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura H.S. New Zealand Manukura
2025 8 Japan Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura H.S. 19–5 Japan Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin H.S. Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C. New Zealand Howick College
2026 8 Japan Fukuoka Ladies R.F.C. 14–5 Japan Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin H.S. Japan Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura H.S. New Zealand Otemon Gakuin H.S.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament Returns for 2021". Japan Rugby. 7 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Renowned International High School Rugby Tournament Returns". Japan Rugby. 31 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Glenwood aiming for second Sanix-title". Super School News. 27 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Rotorua Boys' High and Feilding High set for Sanix World Youth rugby". New Zealand Herald. 10 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2006 (7th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2006.
  6. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2007 (8th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2007.
  7. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2008 (9th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2008.
  8. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2009 (10th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 6 May 2009.
  9. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2010 (11th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2011 (12th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2012 (13th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2013 (14th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2014 (15th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2015 (16th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 6 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2016 (17th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2017 (18th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2018 (18th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2019 (19th Annual Meeting)". Sanix Sports. 5 May 2019.
  19. ↑ "Game 2022". Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament. 5 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Game 2023". Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament. 5 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Game 2024". Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament. 5 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Game 2025". Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025. 5 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "Rotorua Boys' High claim their third world rugby title beating Feilding High School in Sanix World Youth Rugby Championship final". New Zealand Herald. 5 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Game 2025". Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2026. 5 May 2026.
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