April 11, 2013

Barbarians too strong down flanks

Dateline: 23rd March, 2013

The Tokyo Gaijin RFC gathered way out in Chiharadai, out in woop-woop Chiba, to play the Chiba Barbarians for the first time ever. The Chiba Barbarians are the strongest amateur team in Chiba prefecture and the TGRFC were using the game as a level-appropriate warm-up for the upcoming Tokyo Cup First Division. It would also herald the Tokyo Gaijin debut for new prop Tsunaki 'Don' Tanaka

April 11, 2013

Manila 10’s 2013

The Tokyo Gaijin RFC managed to get the minimum 10 players together for a crack at the Manila 10's 2013, set for the weekend of March 16th & 17th, but only due to the assistance of the Old Boys network around the world. In fact only 7 members of the team back in Tokyo would be making the tour. This included a herculean effort by Gorka Gerediaga to join the squad at the last minute while fixing up his new visa at the same time. Tour manager Rick Bales had also been working hard behind the scenes to procure two Fijian players from the Fiji Flat Earth Old Boys to give the Gaijin an eventual squad of just 11 players. Fingers crossed there would be no injuries.

March 26, 2013

This Mandara? Well and truly fighting fit

10th March, 2013

There were worries before the start of the match against Mandara that, much like there was against the disaster that was the Watermelon men game, there would be a lack of backs in the team. Fortunately that was not the case and it was hoped that the troubles that plagued Tokyo Gaijin in that game (and there were too many to mention) would not make an appearance against Mandara.

March 4, 2013

Back on the mountain – Gaijin top Fuji

Dateline: March 3rd, 2013

After a poor result in their last game, failing to even get to base camp of the mountain that was Komaba WMM, the Tokyo Gaijin RFC gathered at Yanokuchi with redemption on their mind. A big squad of 28 players was keen to show that their last loss, a big one, had been an anomoly. Fuji Club was to be the fodder for a team keen to make amends. Within the Gaijin squad were three debutantes in English lock Andy Tinall, Japanese hooker Takamitsu Sakai, and American Ian Munkacsy playing in his first game of rugby. The Gaijin were also very pleased to have Kiwi dynamo Matt Downer back after a year away from rugby.