National High School Team Named Ahead of Italy Tour
The JRFU have announced the members of the Japan National High School Team ahead of their March tour to Italy where they will take on Italy’s U18 and U19 National Teams. Consisting of 14 forwards and 12 backs, the 26-member team is drawn from 12 separate high schools spread throughout Japan.
The team will assemble for its first training camp at Tenri University in Nara from February 21 – 24, with a follow-up camp to take place at Kanto Gakuin University in Kanagawa Prefecture from March 10 – 13. The touring party will then depart for Italy on March 14 ahead of their first fixture, a practice match against Italy U18 on March 16 at Stadio Zaffanella in Viadana, just outside of the northern Italian city of Parma.
Four days later, the team will play their first of two fixtures against Italy U19 at Stadio San Michele in the nearby town of Calvisano on March 20. The third and final match of the tour will take place at the same venue on March 24, with the team returning home to Japan on March 27.
Tomoya Takahashi, Japan National High School Team Head Coach commented:
“I would like to express my sincere thanks for the support and cooperation of the many stakeholders that have made this tour of the 49th Japan National High School representative side possible. The 26 young men who will join this tour will represent the 17,000 high school boys playing rugby across Japan. With their determination and the support of our coaching staff and support team, they will strive to deliver a strong result and represent Japan with pride, passion, and honour.”
2024 Japan National High School Team Italy Tour Schedule
| Activity | Schedule | Location |
| Training Camp | February 21 – 24 | Tenri University, Nara |
| Training Camp | March 10 – 13 | Kanto Gakuin University, Kanagawa |
| Italy Tour | March 14 – 27 | Northern Italy |
| Italy U18 Practice Match | March 16 (KO 15:00) | Stadio Zaffanella, Viadana |
| Italy U19 Match 1 | March 20 (KO 19:00) | Stadio San Michele, Calvisano |
| Italy U19 Match 2 | March 24 (KO 14:00) | Stadio San Michele, Calvisano |
All KO times are local CET time. Match venues and KO times may be subject to change.
| Position | Name | School | Grade | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Date of Birth |
| PR1 | 井吹 勇吾 Yugo IBUKI | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 176 | 105 | 2005/7/31 |
| PR1 | 村田 元気 Genki MURATA | 大阪桐蔭高校 Osaka Toin HS | 3 | 180 | 104 | 2005/4/12 |
| HO | 高 晃崇 Hwangsung KO | 大阪朝鮮中高級学校 Osaka Korean HS | 3 | 183 | 100 | 2006/2/17 |
| HO | 田中 京也 Kyoya TANAKA | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 175 | 98 | 2005/9/14 |
| PR3 | 野村 俊介 Shunsuke NOMURA | 大阪桐蔭高校 Osaka Toin HS | 3 | 183 | 120 | 2005/6/13 |
| PR3 | 前田 麟太朗 Rintaro MAEDA | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 178 | 111 | 2005/7/12 |
| LO | アホ アントニオ Antonio AHO | 青森山田高校 Aomori Yamada HS | 2 | 191 | 104 | 2006/5/9 |
| LO | 倉掛 太雅 Taiga KURAKAKE | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 190 | 95 | 2005/9/29 |
| LO | 中森 真翔 Manato NAKAMORI | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 190 | 91 | 2005/12/24 |
| FL/NO.8 | 城 央祐 Osuke SHIRO | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 185 | 93 | 2005/12/5 |
| FL/NO.8 | 高比良 恭介 Kyosuke TAKAHIRA | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 176 | 98 | 2005/8/16 |
| FL/NO.8 | 坪根 章晃 Akihiro TSUBONE | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 184 | 94 | 2006/3/14 |
| FL/NO.8 | 福田 大和 Yamato FUKUTA | 中部大学春日丘高校 Chubu Univ. Haruhigaoka HS | 3 | 188 | 99 | 2005/6/16 |
| FL/NO.8 | 松﨑 天晴 Tensei MATSUZAKI | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 173 | 90 | 2005/12/4 |
| SH | 井上 達木 Tatsuki INOUE | 佐賀工業高校 Saga Technical HS | 3 | 173 | 72 | 2005/8/16 |
| SH | 利守 晴 Haru TOSHIMORI | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 170 | 70 | 2005/5/21 |
| SO | 萩井 耀司 Yoji HAGII | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 173 | 78 | 2005/9/12 |
| SO | 服部 亮太 Ryota HATTORI | 佐賀工業高校 Saga Technical HS | 3 | 178 | 79 | 2005/12/9 |
| CTB | 阿部 煌生 Koki ABE | 流通経済大学付属柏高校 Ryutsu Keizai Univ. Kashiwa HS | 3 | 179 | 83 | 2006/3/13 |
| CTB | 佐藤 楓斗 Futo SATO | 尾道高校 Onomichi HS | 3 | 180 | 85 | 2005/11/8 |
| CTB | 白井 瑛人 Eito SHIRAI | 桐蔭学園高校 Toin Gakuen HS | 3 | 177 | 82 | 2005/10/22 |
| CTB | 大和 哲将 Tessho YAMATO | 佐賀工業高校 Saga Technical HS | 3 | 170 | 83 | 2005/6/13 |
| WTB/FB | 小野澤 謙真 Kenshin ONOZAWA | 静岡聖光学院高校 Shizuoka Seiko Gakuin HS | 3 | 180 | 86 | 2005/6/2 |
| WTB/FB | 隅田 誠太郎 Seitaro SUMIDA | 東福岡高校 Higashi Fukuoka HS | 3 | 173 | 74 | 2005/7/8 |
| WTB/FB | 中山 二千翔 Nichika NAKAYAMA | 日本航空高校石川 Japan Aviation HS Ishikawa | 3 | 180 | 78 | 2006/1/9 |
| WTB/FB | 森尾 大悟 Daigo MORIO | 茗溪学園高校 Meikei HS | 3 | 175 | 81 | 2005/6/9 |