October 3, 2016

TGRFC hold on for win

Dateline: October 2nd, 2016

The Tokyo Gaijin RFC have bumbled their way to a close 24 v 17 win over All JIn Jan RFC (AJJ) in their second round Shuto League match at Inagi Athletics Field.. The game was played in fairly hot and humid conditions more suggestive of mid-August rather than the beginning of October and this had the players struggling to keep up at times. The referee also failed to promote a flowing game with numerous puzzling decisions for both sides.

September 16, 2016

Blue wall blanks Olivers

Dateline: 11th September, 2016

After a tough but victorious warmup last weekend the Tokyo Gaijin RFC began their 2016 Shuto League campaign with a crushing 48 v 0 win over Olivers RFC. Olivers RFC played well but could not crack the blue defensive wall of the Gaijin. The Gaijin picked up all the bonus points on offer in the Shuto League gaining three bonus points (1 for four tries or more, 1 for holding the opposition to zero, and one for finishing more than three tries in front) as well as the four points for the victory to go to the top of the Shuto League ladder.

September 9, 2016

Gaijin pip Saitama Champions

Dateline: September 4th, 2016

The Tokyo Gaijin RFC have started their Autumn campaign with a tight win against Saitama Prefecture champions Kumagaya RFC. The match was organized as a 'friendly' to get rid of the rust from the summer break as the team leads into the Shuto League next week and as a way to get some game time for some newcomers to the team. Overall, there were 6 new players who suited up on the day - Alexander Auldy, Stanley Henry and Doug Picken from New Zealand, Rap Pagai from Samoa, Joshua Bateson from England and local Hiroshi Fukazawa.

July 24, 2016

Tokyo Gaijin RFC 25th Anniversary Match vs. All France

Dateline: July 17, 2016

To celebrate Tokyo Gaijin RFC's 25th anniversary year an Old Boys match was set up to be played at Tatsumi on July 17th. Always a treat to play on, Tatsumi is home training ground for the Japan National Team and the Sun Wolves so ground conditions were as usual, fantastic. To qualify for Old Boys rugby players must be 35 or over,  though the Gaijin did manage to sneak in two 33 year olds. All France on the other hand were an open age team, ie. anyone from 18 years of age and up. With early summer heat and some Gaijin players getting close to 50, the match was played in three 20 minute thirds.
 
The opponent of the day was an old friend and foe over the years: the All France RFC. A lot of games have been played against All France over the past 20-something years and with them being an even more "social" rugby club than the very social Gaijin, the Gaijin have always been the winner, but once.