AS THE Rugby World Cup rumbles on, Sussex can hold its head up high after staging the biggest upset in the sport’s history. GARETH DAVIES reports on Japan’s heroic efforts and the part their hosts Brighton College played.

THE world stopped and watched as Brighton and Hove took centre stage for one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.

At 6.42pm on September 19, Karne Hesketh’s try sent the ruby universe into delirium at the Brighton Community Stadium.

Minnows Japan had beaten two-time world champions South Africa 34-32 in one of the sport’s classic encounters.

The result rocked the sporting world and the city’s leading school played a central role in the result.

Having hosted the team and provided their training facilities in the build-up to their opener at the Brighton Community Stadium, students gave them a hero’s welcome as they returned to Eastern Road.

More than 1,000 schoolchildren at the team base formed a guard of honour for the Brave Blossoms as players arrived for their last training session in Sussex before heading to Gloucester for their showdown with Scotland today.

The players laughed and waved as they walked through the tunnel created by 1,200 boys and girls from the prep and senior school plus their teachers, with the college’s own First XV at the end of the line to shake their hands.

Deputy headteacher Steve Marshall-Taylor addressed the players.

He said: “It has been a real honour to play host to you here at Brighton.

“It has meant a great deal to the boys and girls to watch such dedication and focus on the pitch and see it pay off so spectacularly at the match on Saturday.

“Today’s welcome on your last day with us is our way of thanking you for creating such an amazing experience for everyone at the school.”

Miss Wantanabe thanked Brighton College and described their hospitality as “amazing”.

Brighton College head of rugby Nick Buoy said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to host the Japanese team here at Brighton College.

“School is so much more than just what happens in the classroom and watching these players train has set such a wonderful example to the pupils.

“It has been an opportunity to see world-class players displaying the sort of dedication, resilience and determination that produces dazzling results on the pitch. It’s been a life lesson.”

The world’s most-read newspaper – Yomiuri Shinbun – had stories about what happened at the home of Brighton and Hove Albion.

Its circulation is more than 10 million, and it was the top story on its website even 48 hours after the game.

The Sankei Shinbun, which boasts two million readers, was plastered with pictures of the Brave Blossoms training at Brighton College as six of its top 10 sports stories were centred around the rugby.