A Systems Approach to Progressing University Rugby Student-Athlete Wellbeing in Japan

This paper presents a year-long program with a men’s university rugby team in Japan, focused on progressing student-athlete wellbeing through a systems-based approach. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the program combined a wellbeing questionnaire with collaborative follow-up interventions. Conducted across two timepoints, the questionnaire informed data-driven decisions and supported the integration of mental health interventions within the team culture. Outcomes included improvements in mental health, athlete voice, and broader student-athlete support. The program offers a practical model for integrating sport psychology in high-performance university environments, emphasizing collaboration, feedback, and alignment with a global framework.