After playing in a Mazda Sky Activs Hiroshima jersey for the first time in three months, Ren Ouchi was filled with frustration following the match. “Even though the lineup changed, we were all determined to win every game, claim the title, and carry momentum into the playoff. We wanted to apply relentless defensive pressure and play smart, strategic rugby on offense. But we showed our soft spots and weaknesses,” he said.
It wasn’t just about the team’s performance. For the first time this season, Ouchi balanced his duties with the Japan national sevens team while also playing for SA Hiroshima. Though both are rugby, sevens and 15-a-side are almost like different sports. Struggling to adapt to both, he admitted that in the match against Sayama Secom Rugguts, “I got beaten on defense and couldn’t fully use my strengths on high balls.” It was a disappointing performance.
However, he also feels genuine growth from invaluable experiences that few can obtain. The playoff match in two weeks will be a stage to showcase that progress.
Last season, Ouchi focused solely on sevens and didn’t play a single league match. This year, he takes pride in sharing a sense of purpose with the whole team during training. “In last season’s playoff, the opponent was a step ahead in contact and skills. But this season, we’ve rigorously practiced physicality and fine skills all year, so I’ll take the field with confidence,” he said.
And this playoff holds special meaning for Ouchi. The opponent, Hino Red Dolphins, features his older brother Sora Ouchi. Sora, who also once played for SA Hiroshima, is someone the two-year-younger brother has always chased—both in rugby and in life. “He started rugby before me, and I’ve always been following him. He’s always been ahead of me. I’d love to play against him, but whether we’re on the field or not, I absolutely don’t want to lose. I must win. I’m sure my brother also wants to win, but I plan to win and finally get ahead of him.”
This playoff will be a drama worth watching: a younger brother, brimming with newfound confidence, challenging his older brother.
“It was a great day for rugby, but not the result we aimed for. The referee was very good, and the game was very realistic. We had a different lineup, and I think they now understand what they need to do every week. Today’s opponent was one of the strongest in Division 3,” said the SA Hiroshima coach reflecting on the match.
When asked about the season competing with Sayama RG for the title, he added: “Sayama RG is a very strong team, and we had two good battles this season. Since we had already clinched the title, we rested key players for the playoff. Last season, some players were injured heading into the playoff, so we wanted to enter this year in good shape. We aim to achieve what we couldn’t last season.”
Another player commented: “Thanks to everyone involved in today’s game. We made big changes to the lineup, and it was a good opportunity to show our standard. In the first half, each player showed their strengths in tackles. However, we still had major issues in team connection and executing our roles.”
Reflecting on the season, he said: “Overall, we’ve had a very good season. We achieved our preseason goal of winning the regular season title, and we’re well prepared for the playoff. But there were many games where we left room for improvement. We’ll now step up further to get ready for the playoff.”
“Congratulations to Mazda Sky Activs Hiroshima on their title. In today’s game, they changed their lineup, thinking differently from us. The playoff is in two weeks, so I really wanted to face their best team. Division 2 contact is completely different. Last week’s performance was poor in ball carries and decision-making. We focused on that, and while the first half was average, the second half improved. With the playoff ahead, we must concentrate on ball retention and area management. I’m glad both teams finished without injuries. Both teams can aim for promotion to Division 2, so we’ll focus on that,” said a representative from Sayama RG.
Looking back at the season competing with SA Hiroshima: “Our focus was winning the title, and we didn’t achieve that, but our second goal is promotion to D2. This season we used about 50 players in official matches—up from 41 last season—which positively impacts the team. Depth is crucial for becoming stronger. Since many League One teams are in Tokyo, we even had a practice match with NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu the day after our match against Lurorou Fukuoka. That’s been a focus, and we’ve improved a bit. Scrum-half, hooker, and prop have gotten better. We thought we could challenge SA Hiroshima this season, and we did push them. But they also raised their level. We achieved about 70-80% of what we imagined, but we lacked precision in key areas. One or two percent can make a big difference, so we’ll prepare well for the playoff.”
Another player added: “Congratulations to SA Hiroshima on their title. They played great rugby this season. Thanks to the refereeing, the game was very positive. I was a bit unsatisfied in the first half. We wanted to play with the wind, but it changed during warm-up, and our kicks went over the goal line. We couldn’t play our ideal rugby. A positive was gaining momentum from the scrum. Looking at the data, the front row deserved Player of the Match. In the second half, after some tough words from the coach, we focused on executing our plan and keeping the ball, which led to many tries. Even though SA Hiroshima changed their lineup, winning today gave us important momentum.”
Reflecting on the season: “To add to what Scotty (head coach Scott Pierce) said, the first match against SA Hiroshima decided our season. The first 20 minutes were excellent, but then we lost momentum and it became a close game. If we had sustained that first 20 minutes, the season might have been different. Maybe that match was the real final.”