Exeter College to Represent England at Prestigious SANIX International Rugby Tournament in Japan
Exeter College is delighted to have been chosen to represent England at the 2026 SANIX tournament, an international schools rugby tournament that is held in the Fukuoka prefecture area of Japan every year.
Widely regarded as the premier international schools festival, the tournament will take place at the end of April 2026. The Japan Rugby Football Union hosts the event, and it is supported by various local bodies specifically the SANIX sports foundation, the event brings together top youth teams from around the world. The SANIX sports foundation provides half the costs for overseas teams to participate in the tournament.
Jon Hill, the Men’s Rugby Academy Lead at Exeter College said;
“Exeter College have a unique and amazing opportunity to represent the England RFU at a prestigious International Youth Rugby Tournament, pitching ourselves against the best youth players in the world.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that we intend to embrace, not just in terms of sport, but culturally. Tours like this often produce memories for life and can also serve as a great educational tool developing life skills and broadening player horizons.
“Japan is steeped in rich culture and traditions, and we have already highlighted some of these in our briefing with the students so that we can start to appreciate the opportunities that this may create”.
A squad of 30 students from Exeter College will travel to Japan. Among them are Ruben Chugg and Henry Tanner, who shared their thoughts on the upcoming tour.
Ruben studies BTEC Business and plays full back and fly half, he said;
“I think it will be a very eye-opening experience for the team, especially as individuals realising their potential but also to see our potential as a team. I’m looking forward to experiencing a new culture, especially in a new continent that I haven’t been to before, it’s not just about playing rugby.”
Henry, who plays Hooker and back row and is studying A Levels in Geology, Environmental Science and Business, added;
“It will be a really cool experience to see the culture in Japan, and obviously to represent my country. Getting to wear the red rose on my shirt and just play with all my mates will be an amazing experience.”
The squad also includes Jeremy Keys, Charlie Bosanko, and Will Lane, all recently selected for the England Pathway Squad, highlighting the calibre of talent within Exeter College’s rugby programme.
Sponsorship Opportunity
Exeter College is actively seeking support from local businesses to help make this opportunity a reality for our students. There are a range of sponsorship packages available, including:
- Team Sponsorship – Support the squad as a whole and have your brand featured prominently across team kit and included in PR and social media posts.
- Individual Player Sponsorship – Back a specific student and help cover trip costs for that student.
- Shirt Sponsorship – Gain visibility by having your logo featured on the team’s playing kit during the tournament.
If your business would like to get involved, please contact Jon Hill on: jonhill@exe-coll.ac.uk for more information about sponsorship packages.
