Teikyo Wins Fourth Straight Japan University Rugby Championship
It was a battle of the Tokyo heavyweights when reigning Champions Teikyo took on Waseda in the Final of the 61st Japan University Rugby Championship in front of a sold-out Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo on Monday, 13 January. In what was a rematch of the 2023 Final, Teikyo was challenging for their fourth straight title, while Waseda was looking to return to the winner’s podium as Japan’s most successful university side.
Both teams are giants in Japanese university rugby with Waseda having competed in 34 previous finals and winning 16, while Teikyo have played in 13 finals, winning 12, including a nine-title winning streak between 2010 and 2018.
While Teikyo gave Waseda a 73-20 hiding in the Final back in 2023, the form of both teams coming into this year’s match suggested a much closer contest was in the offing. In the first half, both sides were the equal of each other, with Teikyo taking a slender 14-12 lead into the sheds at halftime.
In the second half, Teikyo came out strongly and showed the class and experience of a Championship team playing for their fourth straight title. Their forwards began to dominate against a tiring Waseda pack, and the depth and strength of the Teikyo bench came to the fore. The reigning Champions ran in three unanswered tries for a final score of 33-15, sending their army of red-clad fans into a state of delirium.
During the post-match press conference, the two Captains shared a heartfelt moment as they reflected on the match and their long friendship. Both are close friends who played their high school rugby together at Toin Gakuen, the renowned rugby nursery in Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo.
Waseda Captain, Kenji Sato said:
“I’d like to congratulate Keito and the Teikyo team on winning the Championship today. Personally, I wouldn’t have been able to play at this level if it wasn’t for Keito. I think it’s because we both worked so hard together over all these years that we were able to play today in the Final of our lifetime. So once again, I want to congratulate him, and I look forward to playing again, maybe in League One and working hard to reach a final again.”
Teikyo Captain, Keito Aoki said:
Kenji has been the closest friend I’ve had since high school. He has always been an inspiration to me, and I have been able to work hard and reach this point because of him. He has helped me grow so much as a player and Captain, both in terms of leadership and helping to instil in me an unquenchable desire to win.”
