The 104th National High School Rugby Tournament showcased thrilling quarterfinal matches at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, on January 3, 2025. This year's tournament has seen remarkable talent and competitive spirit among Japan's high school rugby teams.
One of the standout matches featured 常翔学園 (Joshogakuin) against 大分東明 (Oita Tomoe). 常翔学園 secured their place in the semifinals with a narrow 24-19 victory, marking their first appearance among the top four since 2019. The match was full of drama, with 常翔学園 initially behind but making a remarkable comeback to clinch the win.
Early on, 大分東明 looked formidable, establishing what seemed to be a commanding lead. The team, aiming for its first semifinals, was buoyed by consistent scoring and solid defense. But as the match progressed, 常翔学園's resilience and strategic execution turned the tide. The early minutes saw dynamic plays and aggressive tactics, particularly from key players like NO. 8 井本章介 (Kosuke Imoto), who scored pivotal tries.
According to reports from 毎日新聞社 (Mainichi Shimbun), "常翔学園が逆転勝ち", highlighted the urgency and intensity displayed by both teams as the clock wound down. The closing moments of the match saw 常翔学園, trailing 19-7 after several lapses, finding their rhythm. Their offensive lineup, executing complex plays, managed to score several tries, including one from WTB 正脇俊輔 (Shunsuke Masawaki), contributing significantly to their turnaround.
Meanwhile, the tournament also witnessed the unfortunate exit of 大分東明, who, after their strong performance, could not secure the win: "反撃及ばず", making clear the disappointment felt by their coach and fans alike.
The quarterfinals were not just about individual matches, as teams like 天理 (Tenri) and 石見智翠館 (Iwami Chisuirkan) also fought hard to leave their mark. 天理 faced 常翔学園 earlier and, like 大分東明, fell short, ending their run at the tournament. They lost 10-17 after putting up commendable effort through the match, showcasing their fighting spirit even during challenging moments.
"選手たちはよくタックルにいったが", stated 王子拓也ヘッドコーチ (Takuya Oji), reflecting on his players' determination as they battled against the well-prepared 常翔学園 team. It was clear, even from their early exchanges, both teams were hungry for victory.
Other teams, such as 京都工学院 (Kyoto Institute of Technology), were not as fortunate, facing defeat against 国学院栃木 (Kokugakuin Tochigi). The results of these matches signal the closing of the tournament for some schools but open up pathways for others aiming to create history.
Overall, the quarterfinals of the 104th National High School Rugby Tournament herald strong competitions and exciting young talent, indicating how future tournaments might shape the rugby culture. Coaches and players continue to express their commitment to refine their skills and strive for greatness in subsequent seasons.
With the semifinals on the horizon, anticipation is building around how 常翔学園 will carry this momentum forward, facing fresh challenges and potentially claiming the championship title.