Following their national championship win in 2023, our First XV travelled to Japan in April 2024 to participate in the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament.
Thirty-one southerners from the bottom of New Zealand ventured to the land of the rising sun keen to embrace both the rugby and cultural challenges that lay ahead. The tension and atmosphere of our trip built on the ten-hour flight from Auckland to Tokyo. Conversations could be overheard exploring different ideas of what we would be greeted with upon our arrival in a foreign country.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, the hustle and bustle of Japanese life was like something we had only dreamt about. The skyscrapers illuminated the night on our 90-minute bus journey from the airport to our hotel and our true appreciation for landing into the country of the rising sun was beginning to sink in.
Walking the streets on our first night highlighted everything that Japan could offer. From the friendly locals who were happy to point us in the right direction, to the abundance of vending machines lined throughout the small alleyways, to the exquisite smell of local Japanese cuisine wafting through the night sky. The excitement was certainly brewing for what the remainder of the tour would bring us.
Flying from Tokyo to Fukuoka allowed us to witness the greatness of Tokyo from the air. Seeing the city stretch into a never-ending distance allowed us to appreciate the surrealism of the new country we were in. Witnessing the greatness of Mount Fuji as we flew by was another highlight and allowed us some time to compare the beautiful surroundings to our own backyard.
Landing in Fukuoka was another example of the organisation and respect that the Japanese people bestowed on us. This was a common theme throughout our trip – nothing was ever a problem! Participating in a World Youth Rugby tournament took our focus for the next ten days, but we were still able to experience many cultural highlights. Slowly canvassing the Kangawa River in a punt with a singing guide was the first opportunity for our group to experience our surroundings and a new language. This left us craving more and we were eagerly awaiting our next experience. Visiting a local shrine opened our eyes to the exceptional architecture and amazing vibe that it offered. In simply walking through the streets, we were immersed in Japanese culture, and our group sampled many of the local delicacies.
Watching a local baseball game in the PayDome arena with 40,000 Japanese supporters provided us with an experience of popular Japanese pastime. Witnessing the singing and dancing of both the away and home supporters helped us connect with the friendly rivalry and immerse ourselves in the game supporting the local Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks side.
Walking through the streets of Fukuoka during the Golden Week festivities opened our eyes to how the Japanese celebrated public holidays. The air was filled with colour and sound as groups of Japanese people of all ages danced and sang their way through the blistering afternoon sun.
Transferring from Fukuoka to Kumagaya provided another experience as we went from the fast-paced nature of the southern city to a more sedate lifestyle and potentially more authentic Japan. Kumagaya is the sister city of Invercargill, and the local boys’ high school shares a brotherhood with Southland Boys’ High School. As a result, a close relationship has been formed between our two cities.
With a warm welcome from the city representatives, we were taken on a guided tour of the Menuma Shodenzan Kangiin Temple, experienced authentic Japanese cuisine, and attended a traditional tea ceremony - highlights of our four days in Kumagaya, definitely opening our eyes to the Japanese way of life.
The Panasonic Wild Knights, Japan’s premier rugby team, are based in Kumagaya. They were generous enough to show us through their extraordinary facilities, including a tour of their purpose-built stadium. They allowed the boys to practice on the field, introduced the team to Robbie Deans, and arranged a friendly match between Southland Boys’ High School and the local university, Rissho.
Leaving Japan was hard as the many new experiences from our three-week trip had become daily rituals. We had created many memories that we will forever be indebted to Japan for and believe it will be goodbye for now and we will see you again in the future!
Shaun Fitzgibbon, Team Manager
“We really enjoyed experiencing a new culture and learning snippets of their language. Trying to incorporate this into everyday living was a fun challenge. Taking in the history of the country through visiting different temples and gardens as well as participating in a traditional Tea Ceremony was another new experience that I was greatly appreciative of”- Taine Withy (17).
“I really enjoyed the diverse nature of their cuisine and travelling down the Kanagawa River in a punt. The singing guide was a massive highlight for me and showed me a glimpse of the Japanese language in a fun and engaging way”- Jake Evans (17).
“Going into two different schools in Japan showed us what it was like to be a student in this country. Having the opportunity to be taught and try calligraphy was an interesting and fun experience and something I really enjoyed”- Thomas Spain (17).
Thank you to the generous sponsors who got the team to Japan:
Team kit:
- Anonymous donor
- ENZED
- IFS Growth
- Farmlands
- Total Energies
- BlueSky Pastures
- Firth Industries
- French Burt Partners
- McHugh Law
- BREEN
- Placemakers Southland
Golf Tournament:
- Makita
- Carters
- Bunnings
- Bluesky Pastures
- EWL
- Tony Lawlor Builder
- James Hardie New Zealand
- Zealandia & Evandale Gardens
- Road Rentals
- GWD/Hyundai
- The Jennings Family
- Muliaina Family
- Nikki Dermody – Bayleys Realty Group
- Green Acres Golf Club
- Prime Golf Invercargill
Gala Dinner and Auction:
A huge thank you to our guests: Mils Muliaina, Ethan de Groot, Sean Withy and Jack Taylor, MC Nick Jeffrey, and auctioneer Nicol Gray.
- MASSAV Productions
- Michael Kuresa
- DB Breweries
- Oamaru Stone
- The Langlands Hotel
- Meld Restaurant
- RealNZ
- Southland Farm Machinery
- AJ Hackett Bungy
- Silver Fern Farms
- Beauty & Beyond
- Kulture on Windsor
- The Headache Clinic
- Green Acres Country Club
- Prime Golf
- Grevillia AG
- Moore Golf
- Kings Log Transport
- Withy Family
- Jennings Family
- Ethan de Groot
- Karl McDonald
- Damian and Marty Mckenzie
- Crengle Family
- Shepherd Family
