World's First "Street" Rugby to Boost Popularity in Japan

Japan having done a swell job in the World Cup Rugby in England, streets in the Ginza were full of rugby fans playing a miniature "Street Rugby", October 15.

Now, this is no ad hoc street play, but a serious miniature rugby played by three in each team on a court one fiftieth in the size of the full-size rugby ground. The game is played in two halves, a minute each, touch instead of tackle. The event in the heart of Tokyo, sponsored by the Chuo Ward Rugby Association, was participated by 87 teams of 318 players of ages from 5 to 60.

Coach Eddy Jones of the All Japan team was party to creating street rugby and Mayor Boris Johnson of London, the birthplace of rugby, was present to join the event. A team of children played against Mayor Johnson's team to play up the occasion. A 4th grade was happy to score a try and wanted very much to go to watch the World Cup in Tokyo.

Mr. Ippei Onishi who played for both Meiji University and Kobe Steel and a member of staff to introduce street rugby commented to NHK:
"The feat of Japanese ruggers ignited the whole movement and we hope this will help bring the game of rugby closer to people. It takes only a small space and we would wish to disseminate the game nationwide toward the World Cup in Tokyo four years later".

A talk show was staged alongside the event with some big names from the world of rugby - Coach Kiiyomiya of Yamaha Motor, last season's champion, Manager Yoshito Yoshida of the Samurai Sevens, a hopeful to challenge the Olympics, and Manager Masayuki Iwade of Teikyo University which has reigned in the college championship for six seasons in a row.