Dateline: 28th April, 2013
With the memories of a humbling loss two weeks earlier the Tokyo Gaijin RFC rallied at the Kasai Rinkai Koen ground once more to take on a strong, yet depleted Olivers RFC in the second round of the Tokyo Cup. With our own problems resulting from a forwards injury list longer than my… arm, a late call up to new recruit Kosuke Yamamoto meant we were able to put a competitive side on the park.
Date: 28th April, 2013
Well, what a week it has been. Whew! The Tokyo Gaijin trained intensely twice this week. On Tuesday it was a few hours in the gym followed by an intense fitness session and then a team run incorporating some new backline moves. The coach would then put it up on the big screen at the stadium and show the players where they were going wrong. Afterwards it was into the ice tubs. On Thursday it was a full team run, with the A team and the B team going full blast at each other in some opposed training. Then it was onto the massage tables as they listened to the team nutritionist go over good eating habits and some fresh recipes. I wish!
Dateline: April 14th, 2013
The Tokyo Gaijin RFC were overwhelmed by a strong Koryo RFC to the tune of 44 v 0 in the first round of the Tokyo Cup for 2013. It was the strong Koryo pack that laid the platform for victory, consistently maintaining possession and building momentum through secure phase work and dominant field position. With a strong wind at their backs they went into halftime up 25 v 0. The Tokyo Gaijin RFC were still in the game with the wind worth at least 20 points but the Gaijin had a poor second half and Koryo ran away with the game.
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