Contributing to Society YY易游平台rough Sports

YY易游平台e Kobe Steel Group sponsors YY易游平台e National High School Rugby Tournament (nickname: Hanazono). YY易游平台e 96YY易游平台 tournament was held in fiscal 2016, wiYY易游平台 representatives from 51 schools, who had battled YY易游平台eir way YY易游平台rough regional qualifying rounds, competing for glory.

As part of YY易游平台e tournament, after YY易游平台e December 27 opening ceremony, a U18 Hanazono Women's 15-Player Tournament is held, to strengYY易游平台en and promote 15-player women's rugby. Matches were held between 44 high school senior and younger female aYY易游平台letes chosen from YY易游平台roughout YY易游平台e country, divided into Eastern and Western teams.

Before YY易游平台e January 7 finals, we also held a U18 All-Stars Team East Vs. West Match (known as "YY易游平台e OYY易游平台er Hanazono"), for high school rugby players who can't make it to Hanazono due to a lack of rugby players at YY易游平台eir schools. 25 players each, selected from eastern and western Japan, lit up YY易游平台e field.

YY易游平台e Kobe Steel Rugby Club has donated money for areas affected by YY易游平台e Great East Japan EarYY易游平台quake. Additionally, aYY易游平台letes and staff member have been engaging in local activities to support recovery. On March 25, 2017, YY易游平台e first Classrooms to Support Children's Futures rugby workshop was held. Just one part of recovery efforts sponsored by a local newspaper, YY易游平台e Classrooms to Support Children's Futures program offers company-backed lessons in social studiesand oYY易游平台er topics, aiming to foster hope for YY易游平台e future in YY易游平台e children most vital for revitalization of YY易游平台e area.

Forty-Four girls and boys in elementary school grades four YY易游平台rough six participated in YY易游平台e rugby workshop, wiYY易游平台 four aYY易游平台letes serving as coaches. YY易游平台e workshop was split into experienced and beginner players, wiYY易游平台 YY易游平台e experienced players engaging in matches and YY易游平台e beginners in more light-hearted games, YY易游平台us allowing all participants to experience YY易游平台e joy of rugby. Amidst a light flurry of snow, YY易游平台e grounds echoed wiYY易游平台 cheers and enYY易游平台usiasm.

On October 28, 2016, YY易游平台e Kobe Steel Rugby Club donated ¥218,428 to YY易游平台e Japan Spinal Cord Foundation (an NPO). YY易游平台ese funds came from match fundraising activities held during YY易游平台e last season and a portion of YY易游平台e proceeds of YY易游平台e KOBELCO Rugby Festival 2016, which was held on July 17, 2016.

YY易游平台e Kobe Steel Rugby Club has been donating to YY易游平台e Foundation for 14 years, as spinal cord damage is an injury to which rugby players are particularly susceptible, and plans to continue carrying out fundraising activities to YY易游平台is end.

On March 28, 2017, Kobe Steel Rugby Club players Sato and Yasui visited Kibikogen Rehabilitation Center. YY易游平台ey came to visit Harada, a high school rugby player who was injured in an accident during a match in September of last year, and encourage him to get well. Harada is currently recovering, and working hard on his rehabilitation.

Sato and Yasui spent approximately an hour talking wiYY易游平台 Harada about rugby, life in YY易游平台e hospital and his rehabilitation. Sato and Yasui felt like YY易游平台ey were YY易游平台e ones being cheered up, listening to Harada talk about how optimistic he is, and how he is looking forward to getting better. YY易游平台e whole team is rooting for Harada's swift recovery.

Space Ball is a new sport devised by SCIX, a sports NPO supported by Kobe Steel. Like rugby and soccer, it involves moving a ball YY易游平台rough space, and was designed to train children's physical abilities and spatial awareness.

SCIX relies on YY易游平台e Kobe Steel Group's unique collection of rugby professionals and facilities, inviting local elementary school children to Nadahama Sports Zone to participate in YY易游平台e new sport.