SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025 – Teams & Pools

The Japan Rugby Football Union and the SANIX Sports Foundation, Global Arena, the Kyushu Rugby Football Union, and the Fukuoka Rugby Football Union have confirmed details for the 2025 addition of the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament which attracts some of the top rugby schools and youth players over the years.

This 2025 edition of the youth rugby tournament will run from April 28 to May 5 and feature 16 Boys’ teams across five days, while the Girls Sevens competition will see eight teams compete over two days from April 28-29.

You can see our previous preview coverage of the 2024 and 2023 tournaments.

SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament – Platform For Future Rugby Stars

In 2025, the Japanese tournament celebrates its 26th anniversary and over more than two decades, 23 different countries and regions have been represented at the youth rugby festival.

Some of the players to have gone on to represent their countries at the international level who have competed at the SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament include Japan’s Timothy Lafaele, England’s Jack Nowell, South Africa’s JP Pietersen, and New Zealand stars Owen Franks, Colin Slade, and Matt Todd.

At the 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, 26 Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament alumni were involved in the global showpiece, and at RWC France 2023 there were 35 players who had played in the SANIX tournament.

SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025 – What To Know

The event is staged at the Global Arena sports complex in Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu and is usually scheduled to coincide with Japan’s Golden Week holiday.

In addition to the rugby, the JRFU said that the SANIX Tournament “places a strong emphasis on cross-cultural engagement and camaraderie. With all men’s teams staying within the Global Arena complex, players have regular opportunities to connect during shared meals and social activities, fostering lifelong friendships that extend long after the tournament itself.”

Ayaka Shintani has been confirmed as the tournament ambassador for the second year in a row.

Photo Credit – Matsumoto Kaori – Ayaka Shintani is the SANIX rugby 2025 tournament ambassador – third from left.

SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025 Teams

Boys Fifteens  

There are six international schools from Australia, Chinese Taipei, England, Fiji, Korea, and NZ involved in the Boys 2025 SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament, as well as ten teams from Japan who will compete in 15s rugby matches.

• Eight overseas teams were nominated by their country’s rugby unions
• Japan teams are winners of the Qualifying Round of the tournament held in January
• The top two ranked teams of the 104th Japan High School Rugby Championship in January are invited
• The top four ranked teams of the 26th Japan Invitational High School Rugby Tournament in March are invited
• One team is nominated by the Kyushu Rugby Football Union

Before the final Boys Final on May 5th, there will be a “World Fifteen Friendly Match” featuring Sanix Blue vs. Sanix White which will be a mix of players from each participating team.

International Teams 

*indicates first-time participation at the SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament

1. Barker College (Australia)
2. Chien Kuo High School (Chinese Taipei)
3. SGS Filton College (England)*
4. Ratu Kadavulevu School (Fiji)
5. Paichai High School (Korea)
6. Hamilton Boys High School (New Zealand)

Domestic Japanese Teams

1. Toin Gakuen High School (Kanagawa)
2. Tokai University Sagami High School (Kanagawa)
3. Kyoto Seisho High School (Kyoto)
4. Kyoto Kogakuin High School (Kyoto)
5. Osaka Toin High School (Osaka) (Defending Champions)
6. Gose Industrial High School (Nara)
7. Tokai University Osaka Gyosei High School (Osaka)
8. Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka)
9. Saga Technical High School (Saga)
10. Nagasaki Hokuyodai High School (Nagasaki)

Photo Credit- Photo by Kaori Matsumoto – SANIX 2024 Boys Winners Osaka Toin – It was the first time in history that a Japanese team had won the Boys competition.

Boys 15s Teams Pools – SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025

Pool A

• SGS Filton College (England)
• Osaka Toin High School (Osaka)
• Chien Kuo High School (Chinese Taipei)
• Toin Gakuen High School (Kanagawa)

Pool B

• Hamilton Boys High School (New Zealand)
• Tokai University Sagami High School (Kanagawa)
• Gose Industrial High School (Nara)
• Nagasaki Hokuyodai High School (Nagasaki)

Pool C

• Barker College (Australia)
• Tokai University Osaka Gyosei High School (Osaka)
• Kyoto Kogakuin High School (Kyoto)
• Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka)

Pool D

• Paichai High School (Korea)
• Kyoto Seisho High School (Kyoto)
• Ratu Kadavulevu School (Fiji)
• Saga Technical High School (Saga)

Girls Sevens 

There are eight girls’ teams in the 2025 SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament with 4 from overseas and 4 from Japan. International sides come from Australia, England, NZ, and Hong Kong China.

• Four overseas teams were nominated by their country’s rugby unions
• Four teams were nominated by the Japan Rugby Football Union and three regional rugby unions.

International Teams 

*indicates first-time participation at the SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament

1. Kings Christian College (Australia)
2. Loughborough College (England)*
3. Howick College (New Zealand)
4. Hong Kong China Junior Dragons (Hong Kong China)

Domestic Teams 

1. Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura High School (Kanagawa)
2. Reitaku High School (Chiba)
3. Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin High School (Mie)*
4. Fukuoka Rugby Football Club (Fukuoka) (Defending Champions)

Girls 7s Teams Pools – SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025

Photo Credit – Kaori Matsumoto -2024 Girls 7s SANIX winner – Fukuoka Rugby Football Club.

Pool A

• King’s Christian College Australia）
• Loughborough College (England）
• Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura High School (Kanagawa）
• Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin High School (Mie）

Pool B

• Howick College (New Zealand)
• Hong Kong China Junior Dragons (Hong Kong China)
• Reitaku High School (Chiba)
• Fukuoka Rugby Football Club (Fukuoka）

How To Watch SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025

It is expected that the SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025 will be streamed online. All of the match schedules and results can be found on the 2025 Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament official website.

For fans looking to attend in person, there is a free shuttle running from Akama Station to Global Arena.

Japanese Rugby News 2025

• Asia Rugby Releases Partial 2025 15s Rugby International Fixtures Calendar.
• Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 – Expansion And Exciting Signings.
• Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced.