Framesby seventh at Sanix

The tournament takes place at the Global Arena in Munakata, Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu during the Golden Week holidays, this year April 29 to May 5.

There were eight Japanese and eight foreign teams in the tournament.

Overseas teams: Framesby High School (South Africa),  Jianguo High School (Chinese Taipei), Henley College (England), Queen Victoria School (Fiji), Lycées de la Borde Bass (France), Puchonbuk High School (Korea), Mount Albert Grammar School (New Zealand), Enisei-STM (Russia)

Japanese teams: Toin Gakuen High School (Kanagawa), Tokai University Sagami High School (Kanagawa), Gose Industrial High School (Nara), Tokai University Gyosei High School (Osaka), Osaka Toin High School (Osaka), Iwami Chisuikan High School (Shimane), Saga Technical High School (Saga), Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka)

It is an exacting tournament.

The teams are divided into four pools. Framesby were in a pool with Jianguo, Gose Industrial and Osaka Toin.

The three pool matches are played in the four days from April 28 to May. 1 Then follows three play-off matches in four days – May 2 to May 5.

Osaka Toin won Pool D followed by Framesby, Gose and Jianguo. Framesby beat Jianguo 45-21 and Gose 35-7 but lost 17-5 to Osaka Toin.

Winners of the other pools were Lycées de la Borde Bass, Toin Gakuen and Tokai University.

Unusually, the Japanese schools won three of the four pools. Then came the matches for position.

Lycées de la Borde Bass beat Framesby 24-10. Framesby then lost to Queen Victoria of Tailevu in Fiji 19-14 before beating Tokai University Sagami 29-19 to secure seventh place.

Lycées de la Borde Bass went on to beat to Gakuen 12-11 and then, in the final, Mount Albert of Auckland 9-3. And so Lycées de la Borde Bass are the champions.

Winners from 2000's first tournament

2000: The King's School, Parramatta (Australia)

2001: Grey College, Bloemfontein (South Africa)

2002: Boland Agricultural College (South Africa)

2003: Rotorua Boys' High School (New Zealand)

2004: Rotorua Boys' High School (New Zealand)

2005: Christchurch Boys High School (New Zealand)

2006: Christchurch Boys High School (New Zealand)

2007: Westfields Sports High School (Australia)

2008: Glenwood High School (South Africa)

2009: Dax Landes High School (France)

2010: Hamilton Boys High School (New Zealand)

2011: Hamilton Boys High School (New Zealand)

2012: Kelston Boys High School (New Zealand)

2013: Saint Kentigern College (New Zealand)

2014: Hamilton Boys High School (New Zealand)

2015: Paul Roos Gymnasium (South Africa)

2016: Glenwood High Schools (South Africa)

2017: Lycées de la Borde Bass (France)