The 57th Japan University Rugby Championship Final – Preview
The 57th Japan University Rugby Championship is down to the concluding game when Waseda University and Tenri University go head-to-head in the final at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Monday, 11 January 2021.
The weight of history is on the side of Waseda University to make it back-to-back titles on Monday with 16 previous titles down through the years of the Japan University Rugby Championship, more than any other university. Adding further credence to their claim is the fact that they have also been runners-up an additional 16 times.
On the other hand, although Tenri University have never won the university crown, they have played in two recent finals. The latest of those was two years ago when they lost narrowly to Meiji University.
Anything can happen in a final and the history books will mean nothing to these university combatants when the referee blows time on at the new National Stadium at 1:15 on Monday afternoon.
The inner gates of the National Stadium open at 11:15 ahead of a 13:15 kick-off.
The final will be broadcast live on NHK G television and NHK radio 1 from 13:15 and on delayed broadcast on J Sports 1 from 16:30.
Tenri University vs. Waseda University
Date: Monday, 11 January 2020
Venue: National Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Kimitoshi Shiozaki
Kick-off: 13:15