2023 marks the 200th anniversary of the game of rugby; 200 years since William Webb Ellis took the ball in his arms and ran with it on The Close at Rugby School UK.

It was with a “fine disregard for the rules” of football that this Rugby School pupil changed the game and became a global legend. The sport is now enjoyed by over 410 million fans across the globe.

A big year

Throughout 2023, Rugby School, Rugby School Japan, and Rugby School Thailand, along with the global rugby community, will be celebrating this anniversary.

Rugby UK will be welcoming teams from a range of backgrounds and abilities to play on The Close. Rugby Schools Japan and Thailand will be hosting dinners and events, led by the them “With A Fine Disregard”, in honour of Webb Ellis.

The year’s celebratory events will be attended and watched by over 40,000 people from around the world.

200 Years of Rugby

Join the Rugby School Japan leadership team for this special event in Tokyo, co-hosted by six international chambers of commerce in Tokyo, to kick off a splendid year of celebrations in Japan.

Opening comments will be given by Peter Green, Executive Headmaster of the Rugby School Group, and other special visitors will be popping in throughout the evening!

Partners

“The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ), alongside the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ), Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ), CCI France Japon (CCIJF), Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC), and South African Chamber of Commerce in Japan (SACCJ) invite you to join us for a celebratory event at The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon on the evening of Wednesday, February 1. Over a a mouth-watering buffet and free flow drinks, we look forward to welcoming a host of special guests and influential supporters of the growth of the game, as we also look forward to a momentous year for the sport as Japan passes the baton to France to host the Rugby World Cup 2023.”

Book at the URL below!

https://bccjapan.com/events/200-years-of-rugby/