Sanda Tour
Every year, Wahroonga Rugby Club and Sanda Rugby Club in Hyogo Prefecture (about an hour north-west of Osaka) come together in a cultural exchange, celebrating the power of rugby bringing people together.
One year, U11 and U12 Tigers travel to Japan to play rugby, meet new friends, and experience a lifestyle very different to the North Shore. On the alternate year,Tigers get to show Sanda what it is like to play rugby on an inbound tour to Wahroonga!
This special relationship between the Tigers and Sanda came from the vision of Dr. Shigeki Taba (1942-2010) who sadly passed away in 2010. Following a visit in 1996 to Sanda’s sister city - the Blue Mountains - Dr. Taba, a passionate rugby man pursued a dream to create a rugby relationship with an Australian rugby club. Reciprocal tours and international competition would become the basis for understanding, friendship and preparation for later life.
Sanda contacted the Blue Mountains City Council, who referred them to David Campese. in 1996, David Campese was the patron of Wahroonga Rugby and put the two clubs together. With much hard work, Dr. Taba’s vision became a reality in 1997 with the first outbound tour of Tigers players to Japan.
Since that time, each year our clubs take turns visiting one another. The 8-10 day tour is a combination of rugby, sightseeing and formal and informal activities. It gives a wonderful opportunity for touring players to gain valuable rugby experiences. Both players and adult chaperones are billeted with local families. They are immersed in the local culture, customs and way of life.
2025 Inbound Tour
For more information about inbound or outbound tours, please contact the Sanda Tour Manager
japantour@wahroongarugby.com.au.