Dateline: 3rd November, 2013
The annual Tour to Yamanashi turned into a bi-annual tour this year with the Tokyo Gaijin RFC making their second trip up to Yamanashi. A squad of 19 players gathered at Yanokuchi at 8am for the 3 hour bus trip out to the green hills of Yamanashi. There were three halves (thirds?) of rugby waiting to be played with the Gaijin playing Daen RFC first up, then Ashitaka RFC and then a combination of the two, called the Mt Fujis. The first two halves would be split with a half between the Daen and Ashitaka Clubs.
Dateline: 20th October, 2013
On a day best suited for ducks the Tokyo Gaijin RFC were up against Shinjuku Jacks in the fourth round of the Tokyo Cup. With a typhoon approaching Japan, the heavens had opened and the rain was bucketing down. Tatsumi field, a delicious rectangle of green grass (yes, delicious, because we don't get much green grass, especially this close to the city centre) usually drains well but even it was struggling with the constant down-pour and had a sheet of water on its surface.
The opposition, Shinjuku Jacks, had been the big improvers in the Shuto League and had only been beaten by 3 points by Olivers RFC earlier in the league, whilst the Gaijin had been beaten by about 40 points by the same opposition. All players were expecting a tough game and the TGRFC squad was a little short on numbers, perhaps due to the conditions, making the mission even tougher.
Dateline: October 13th, 2013
A strong Tama Club & Musashino Ruggers combination had too much fire-power for the Tokyo Gaijin RFC in a 'friendly' game played at Yanokuchi Field. It was to be long term player Ikuo Fukuda's last game for the Gaijin as he moves to greener pastures in Osaka. In a game where he would have liked to finish on a good note and be remembered for all the good things he has done for the team he had, unfortunately for him, one of his worst games for the club and got the Goat of the Game award.
Dateline: October 6, 2013
The Tokyo Gaijin RFC played Kurumi RFC at Edogawa in a game organized to give the guys outside the regular match-day 22 more game time. With only 18 players on deck there was a lack of depth but ample opportunity for some of the guys to show their skills and push for more game time in the future. Tom Burke, despite joining the club back before summer, was having his first game with the club and regular flanker Daniel Worden was having his first game at lock due to a lack of numbers in the position.