A TOP-class college will say konnichiwa to an international rugby team as they prepare to play host for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Brighton College has been selected by England Rugby 2015 – the organising committee for the Rugby World Cup 2015 – as one of 41 Team Bases that will host the 20 participating teams during next year’s tournament.

The college, based in Eastern Road in Brighton, has been paired with Japan, who are ranked 10th in the world ahead of the likes of Argentina, Italy and Fiji.

The college will provide the outdoor pitch and indoor training venue for the team as well as a gym.

Director of rugby at Brighton College Nick Buoy was delighted to be able to share the tremendous news with some of the boys who play in the college’s own First XV, who have been training ahead of the start of school.

He said: “It is a great honour to have been chosen to host the Japanese team.

“To have players of this calibre training in their midst next year will be an incredible experience for the young people here at the college.”

Sixth former Alex Maguire said: “It will be such a privilege to have these elite athletes here, playing on the Home Ground.

Teammate Lewis Edwards, 17, added: “It says so much about the quality of sport at Brighton College.”

Japanese rugby has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years thanks to the money pumped into its club structure.

It has seen the likes of world-greats Shane Williams, Sonny Bill Williams, Mils Muliaina, Jaque Fourie and Ma’a Nonu ply their trade in Asia and earning in excess of $1.4 million for 10-week stints in the Land of the Rising Sun.