Rugby School was honoured to welcome the Japan U19 rugby team yesterday as they trained on The Close, the birthplace of the game, ahead of their match against England U19 on Saturday.

This year marks the centenary of the Japan Rugby Football Union, an important milestone in the history of the sport. As part of the celebrations, the team toured the School’s facilities, including The Close where William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran, and learned about the origins and early development of the laws of the game.

Rugby School students were able to observe and join the U19 training session and took part in a specialised session led by Naoya Okubo, Head Coach of the Japan U20 National Team.

Before departing, the Japan U19 team and Rugby School students exchanged gifts and met Head Master Gareth Parker-Jones, who presented a Follow up cap to Susumu Takano. Caps are traditionally presented to leading students in the School’s first teams, a tradition that later influenced the international cap now awarded to a nation’s top players.

It was a pleasure to host the team. We look forward to their match against England U19 on Saturday, when current student Oscar will take to the pitch for England.