- Title: Amateur Japanese rugby hopes boost in interest with Brave Blossoms success
- Date: 6th October 2019
- Summary: OITA, JAPAN (OCTOBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS) RUGBY BALL WITH INSCRIPTION READING (Japanese): "Oita Rugby School, year one." YOUNG CHILDREN TRAINING YOUNG RUGBY PUPIL WITH JAPAN FLAG ON HIS CHEEK TRAINING TAKING PLACE OITA RUGBY CLUB COACH TAKANOBU UENO DURING TRAINING CHILDREN PLAYING RUGBY BEPPU, JAPAN (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 28, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JAPANESE RUGBY SUPPORTERS CHEERING FOR JAPAN TOKYO, JAPAN (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JAPANESE RUGBY TEAM OITA, JAPAN (OCTOBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS) CHILDREN PLAYING RUGBY T-SHIRT READING (English): "Since 1967 OITA RUGBY SCHOOL" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 11 YEAR-OLD OITA RUGBY SCHOOL PUPIL, TAKERU IWAYA, 11, SAYING: "I want to be a player who supports every one (on the team) and get involved in making tries." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 14 YEAR-OLD OITA RUGBY SCHOOL PUPIL, KAZUTO IDE, SAYING: "I want Japan to win over Scotland in the group stage. I want to see Japan fighting in the quarterfinals." PLAYERS IN SCRUM/ PLAYER RUNNING WITH BALL AND SCORING A TRY OITA RUGBY SCHOOL COACH, TAKANOBU UENO TALKING TO HIS PUPILS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 46 YEAR-OLD OITA RUGBY SCHOOL COACH, TAKANOBU UENO, SAYING: "Not only their brothers, sometimes they take friends from other schools. We also hold open school for twice or three times a year where we try to recruit players." VARIOUS OF PARENTS SAT IN THE SHADE PARENT OF RUGBY PUPILS, MASASHI SANO, WITH TWO OF HIS CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 50 YEAR-OLD PARENT OF RUGBY PUPILS, MASASHI SANO, SAYING: "I think so too. I think it is important for children to be inspired and be interested in the sport. Because it (rugby) is not a major sport in this country, I think it is important for as many children as possible to watch the World Cup, then they would be playing rugby and talking about this World Cup in years’ time." MASASHI SANO THROWING RUGBY BALL (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PARENT OF RUGBY PUPILS, MASASHI SANO, SAYING: "Because there is no team activity of rugby outside school, I hope that the world cup would be a trigger for children to learn about rugby. So I would like them to watch it before anything else." VARIOUS OF OITA RUGBY SCHOOL PUPILS IN ASSEMBLY YOUNG RUGBY PLAYERS LOOKING AT CAMERA
- Embargoed: 20th October 2019 09:08
- Keywords: Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan rugby amateur rugby legacy brave blossoms
- Location: OITA, TOKYO & BEPPU, JAPAN
- City: OITA, TOKYO & BEPPU, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZYKG2H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:It's been a dream World Cup so far in Japan with the national team winning three of their four games in Pool D, including the biggest upset so far with the Irish failing against the Brave Blossoms.
On Sunday (October 6) at their weekly two-and-a-half hour training in central Oita, students between the ages five and 15 enjoyed their practice which was energised by the Brave Blossom's victory over Samoa the night before (October 5).
Created in 1967, Oita Rugby School counts 140 students and is well supported by volunteer coaches and parents of players.
Every weekend, the young players gather there to improve their skills while the parents hide in the shade.
Young amateur Japanese rugby players spoke about how much they like about the sport and what they expect to their national team at the world cup.
Oita is known for its long term relationship with the New Zealand squad who were based in the nearby city of Beppu for the first half of the tournament's group stage.
Young players hope the Brave Blossoms can manage their last game against Scotland in order to go through to the knock-out stage.
Oita hosts Pool D Wales v Fiji match on Wednesday (October 9).
(Production: Yoko Kono, Lucien Libert) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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