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Hanazono Rugby Opens With 56 Schools as Girls' Basketball Final Set and Boys' Semifinals Confirmed

Seeded rugby powers enter on December 30, and the title game is scheduled for January 7.

Overview

  • The 105th National High School Rugby Tournament opened on December 27 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka with first-round play.
  • This commemorative edition features 56 teams, five more than usual, with top seeds such as Toin Gakuen and Osaka Toin beginning in the second round.
  • Day one included 10 first-round games, highlighted by previous runner-up Tokai University Osaka Gyosei facing Sakaide Daiichi and debutant Gifu Seitoku Gakuen meeting Chubu University Kasugaioka.
  • First-time entrant Nagoya High School is slated to debut on December 28 against Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa; the school traces its roots to an 1887 missionary-founded English academy.
  • In high school basketball, the girls' final will feature Ouka Gakuen versus Osaka Kun-ei Jogakuin, and the boys' semifinals are set with Fukuoka University Ohori facing Tottori Johoku and Fukuoka Daiichi meeting Higashiyama.