As a sports reporter, it’s incredible to see the stars getting Japanese youth into rugby

The whole gang is there. Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio, two heroes from the first and last English side to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. The former is teaching kicking, naturally. The latter is on passing, oddly. Bryan Habana is also lurking nearby. With retirement not long behind him, the South African looks like he’s still got it as he dazzles the young kids with a flashy display of tricks and flicks.

Shane Williams and Brian O’Driscoll are similarly in the mix, so too Toshiaki Hirose, George Gregan and Will Greenwood. It’s a who’s who of rugby greats, with a total of five World Cup medals between them – and countless other trinkets and accolades, for that matter.

In this leafy corner of Tokyo, away from the neon shimmer of the city’s pulsing centre, with its scrambled intersections and endless flow of people, it’s quite a sight to see so many icons clustered in one area. Whereas in past years these men will have traded blows on the pitch, this time there’s no hostiles or animosities. Those days are behind them.

For now, they’re all here to help introduce young Japanese children to the basics of rugby as part of the tournament’s legacy initiatives. Tackling, passing, kicking. It’s rudimentary stuff – but while days like this will often blur into one for the leading stars, the smiles on the kids’ faces suggest many will be walking away from such a session with memories to cherish.

Because as we gear up for Saturday’s showdown between England and South Africa, it’s worth remembering that this World Cup was always about more than just the attainment of glory. With the tournament making its debut in Asia, it has presented a golden opportunity to spread the game, to usher in new fans and followers. While the public imagination was left in awe after the exploits of the Brave Blossoms, the next step is maintaining that newfound interest among the Japanese population.

It may have been just one afternoon of rugby, but the effect of these sort of initiatives can endure long after the tournament has passed.

“It’s not just about the national team, it’s about the grassroots of the game as well,” says Dallaglio towards the end of the session. “The next generation hopefully will have been inspired by their heroes that they’ve witnessed out on the field.”

Yours,

Sam Lovett

Sports reporter