The Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament 2026 takes place from 28 April to Tuesday, 5 May at the Global Arena, Fukuoka, as the tournament celebrates its 27th edition.
The tournament is held annually at the Global Arena sports complex in Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu and brings together leading high school teams from Japan and around the world. It is also held during Japan’s Golden Week holiday period.
There are 16 Boys Teams (half of which are from Japan and half from overseas) who will compete across five days, as well as 8 Girls Sevens teams (again with a 50/50 local and international split) who compete across two days of action from April 28 to 29.
Jianguo High School (Chinese Taipei) is the only other Asian side set to play the tournament in the Boys 15s section.
The Japan Rugby Football Union said that the annual youth rugby tournament is “Widely recognised as the only world tournament for high school rugby players, the competition celebrates its 27th year in 2026, having first been staged in 2000.”
- Some of the notable players to have competed at the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament are Japan’s Timothy Lafaele, England’s Jack Nowell, South Africa’s JP Pietersen, and New Zealand internationals Owen Franks, Colin Slade, and Matt Todd.
- At the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, 26 former participants were selected across multiple national teams
- This number increased to 35 players at the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
JRFU President Masato Tsuchida said, “We are delighted to once again welcome teams from around the world to the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament, which since 2000 has provided a unique platform for young players to compete, build lifelong friendships, and experience international rugby.”
You can see more about the teams which competed in 2025 and 2024.
2026 Sanix World Rugby Tournament Teams
Boy’s Fifteens
Osaka Toin High School have won the past two editions of the tournament.
International Teams
- Downlands College (Australia)
- Jianguo High School (Chinese Taipei)
- Exeter College (England)
- Ratu Kadavulevu School (Fiji)
- Windhoek Gymnasium (Namibia)
- Rotorua Boys High School (New Zealand)
- Fielding High School (New Zealand)
- Tupou College (Tonga)
Domestic Japanese Teams
- Toin Gakuen High School (Kanagawa)
- Kyoto Seisho High School (Kyoto)
- Tenri High School (Nara)
- Higashi-Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka)
- The remaining four teams will be decided following the 27th National High School Rugby Selection Tournament
Women’s Sevens – Eight teams
In 2025, the Japanese side Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura High School were champions, beating Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin High School in the final.
International Teams
- The Glennie School (Australia)
- Worthing College (England)
- Queen Margaret’s School (Canada)
- Manukura School (New Zealand)
Domestic Japanese Teams
- Kanto Gakuin Mutsuura High School (Kanagawa) (Defending champions)
- Yokkaichi Maryknoll Gakuin High School (Mie) (2025 Runner-up)
- Fukuoka Lady’s Rugby Football Club (Fukuoka)
- Otemon Gakuin High School (Osaka)
You can see the official website for more information.
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