September 21, 2012

Deroeck gets 4 tries: All France smashed

Dateline: 8th September, 2012

The Gaijin gathered at Yanokuchi Field for their first round Shuto League game of 2012, in their quest to remain Shuto League champions. The opposition was All France who had just been promoted from the 2nd Division. The Gaijin had a big squad and the aim was to get an early lead and get as many players as possible onto the field in the second half as the Shuto League has fairly relaxed rules and allows more than the regulation 7 reserves; in fact the number of reserves allowed is unlimited.

August 2, 2012

Around the Traps 12

Dateline: July 31st, 2012

This is the column where you find out what is happening with your team. Read on to find out about the comings and goings nto and from your team, the rumours and innuendo, with a few sprinkles of real news to top it off. This is the first Around the Traps since February 1st so there has been a lot of new players join the team and a lot has happened.

August 1, 2012

Points Scoring Spree

Dateline: 15th July, 2012

The final 'friendly' of the spring season before the summer break over August was played at the lovely Tatsumi National Training ground in Tatsumi. The Gaijin were up against Otowa Club, apparently the third ranked team in the Saitama League. It was the first time the two teams had ever clashed but the main aim was to give everybody a run before the summer break. With that in mind the game was set to be played in three 30 minute halves (or should that be thirds?) to give both teams chances to practise their combinations and to avoid dehydration in the heat and humidity.

July 21, 2012

Debutantes make winning start

In a further 'friendly' game before the upcoming summer break the Gaijin gathered at their usual training ground, the dry-as-a bone Yanokuchi Field out Chofu way, for a match against Dasewa RFC, who have just been promoted to the 1st Division of the Tokyo Cup. The Gaijin team kicked off featuring 5 new players and one on the bench. New starters were props Lachlan Ainley from Australia and Gorka Gerediaga from the Basque region of Spain, utility back Maxwell Manson from New Zealand, brothers Ebba and Eaman Kamuhanda from Uganda, and virgin rugby player Andrew Fennel from the USA.