Office for Sports Promotion

TOKYO RUGBY MONTH 2021 has been held!

As a legacy of hosting the Rugby World Cup 2019™ in Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in collaboration with the Tokyo Rugby Football Union, held the "TOKYO RUGBY MONTH 2021" as a continuation of last year, in order to spread and develop rugby in Tokyo.As a new initiative this year, we collaborated with a Tokyo rugby team, held a girls' joint practice session, and held an exchange match for junior high school students.

The event was held in cooperation with the Tokyo Rugby Football Union, the Tokyo Rugby School Principals' Conference, and other organizations, and thorough measures were taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.Thank you very much for your participation and cooperation in the event.I'd like to introduce you to what happened that day.

Sunday, November 2021, 11 Ajinomoto Stadium AGF Field/Fuchu Asahi Football Park

　At Ajinomoto Stadium AGF Field, we held a rugby experience session for elementary and junior high school students (including their parents) in Tokyo, a clinic for rugby instructors (elementary school students), and an exchange match between elementary school students from rugby schools.
　At the rugby experience session for beginners, we welcomed Mr. Yuya Saito, Mr. Tokuichi Suzuki, and Mr. Yoshio Kimijima as instructors, and held the experience session in the form of games using a ball, such as passing and kicking, to give participants a hands-on experience of rugby. enjoyed playing rugby for the first time.
　In conducting the trial session, we received cooperation from the players and staff of Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.

　A total of 6 155th and 5th grade elementary school students from 6 rugby schools in Tokyo participated in the exchange match for elementary school students that afternoon.All teams played lively on the turf and engaged in an exciting battle.

　Fuchu Asahi Football Park held an exchange match for junior high school students as the first of the TOKYO RUGBY MONTH, with first and second year junior high school students from five junior high schools and 5 rugby schools in Tokyo participating.Junior high school students could be seen playing with great spirit at the ground that was used as an official team campsite for the Rugby World Cup 14.

November 11th (Sunday) Cooperation agreement signing ceremony

　Tokyo has joined the new rugby league "Japan Rugby League One" with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, and the Tokyo Rugby Football Association, which will host the entire Tokyo area, and the Tokyo Rugby Football Association. We concluded a partnership agreement regarding promotion, regional revitalization, etc. On November 11th (Sunday), a signing ceremony was held at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza.
　Taking advantage of this agreement, the three teams cooperated with the rugby experience session held within the "TOKYO RUGBY MONTH 3" rugby event.
　For more information on the collaboration agreement, please visitPlease refer to here.

Saturday, November 2021, 11 Komazawa Olympic Park Athletics Stadium

　At the Komazawa Olympic Park Track and Field Stadium, we held a rugby trial session and a joint practice session for elementary school girls belonging to rugby schools in the morning, and an exchange game for elementary school students in the afternoon.
　At the rugby experience session, we welcomed Mr. Yuya Saito, Mr. Tokuichi Suzuki, Mr. Takashi Kikutani, and Mr. Toshizumi Kitagawa as lecturers as last time, and we also received cooperation from the players and staff of Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo.

　At the women's joint training session, which was held for the first time, we welcomed Chisato Yokoo, former member of the Japan women's national team, players from the women's rugby team Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix, and staff from the Japan Rugby Football Union as women's coaches, and the participants were given ball-handling lessons. We practiced step drills, tackling, etc. together.After practice, the students played an exchange game under the watchful eye of a female coach and practiced the plays they had learned in the game.We received comments from participants such as ``It was fun to play rugby with girls'' and ``I want to practice and play more games with just girls.''

Saturday, December 2021, 12 Hachioji City Kamiyuzuki Park Athletics Stadium

　At the Hachioji City Kamiyuzuki Park Athletics Stadium, which will be the final venue for the event, there will be a rugby experience session in the morning and a clinic for rugby instructors (junior high school students) in Tokyo. We held an exchange match.
　At the rugby experience session, we welcomed Mr. Takashi Kikutani and Mr. Tokuichi Suzuki as instructors, and we also received cooperation from the players and staff of the Hino Red Dolphins.

　The clinic for coaches held on this day featured Leo Kawai and Masahiro Komori, both certified coaches by the Japan Rugby Football Association, and was the first to hold a clinic for junior high school rugby school coaches.

Interaction with Renji Yuri

　On the day of the rugby event, Japan Rugby Football Union's official mascot ``Renji'' and Tokyo sports promotion ambassador ``Yurito'' made an appearance.At the venue, they interacted with the children and took photos with them.The children were also happy to meet Renji and Yurito!

Response to new coronavirus infections

　In conducting the rugby event, we took thorough measures to prevent infectious diseases in accordance with the guidelines established by the Japan Rugby Football Union in light of the situation with the new coronavirus infection.
　Advance registration was required for participation, and all attendees, including staff, had their temperatures taken on the day of the event and had them submit a check sheet reporting their physical condition and body temperature that day.
　Instructors also wore masks during trial sessions and took other measures such as frequently disinfecting equipment such as balls.

Sunday, December 2021, 12 Online lesson

　We held online lessons for junior high school students living and attending school in Tokyo on the theme of ``training that can be done indoors to improve your rugby skills.''The lecturer will be Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo High Performance Manager Masaki Wakai, and the guest will be Misaki Suzuki of the Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix.The lecture will feature a physical manipulation function that incorporates "ZUU", which is used as part of physical training by many rugby teams. We conducted an improvement program.
　It was a very tough training session, but we were able to complete it to the end by encouraging each other through the screen.