SBHS First XV off to take on world's best school teams

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

The Southlanders, riding high off their national top four victory last year, are off to play in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament

Recognised as the world's only "world cup" for high school pupils, this year's tournament marks 25 years since the competition started.

Since its inception, the tournament has played host to 20 countries and regions, and players such as New Zealand trio Owen Franks, Colin Slade and Matt Todd and South African JP Pietersen have played at the event before going on to represent their respective national teams.

At the 2019 World Cup in Japan, 26 players who had played in the Sanix tournament turned out for a variety of national teams, while at France 2023, the number increased to 35 players.

The tournament is played annually at the Global Arena sports complex in Munakata City, on Japan's southern island of Kyushu.

There are 16 teams in the boys' competition with eight teams lining up in a girls' sevens tournament.

Southland Boys' left yesterday and will play their first game this weekend.

They are taking on two Japanese schools in their first two games and will also play Jesuit High School, from Sacramento, in the United States.

The competition then goes into playoffs. Pool games are 25 minutes each half with playoff games extending to half-hours.

Coach Jason Dermody said the Southland youngsters were excited about the trip, which would be both a sporting and cultural experience, but it was walking into the unknown against foreign teams.

"We do not know anything about them, which is a bit unusual for us. But we can just prepare as best we can and go out there and play," he said.

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