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Lonchilds · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:39 am Post subject: Playing rugby in Japan

Hi all, newbie asking a question here (and yes I did search through the forum pertaining to this particular topic and didn�t find my answer).

I�m planning to be living in Japan sometime this summer, and was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on playing club-side rugby here in Japan. I have an interview with GEOS in May and will be submitting my application with AEON tonight, so right now I don�t know where I�ll be staying at in Japan. So two questions:

1.) How easy would it be for me to play for a rugby side with no other foreigners on it. I get the sense Japanese tend to be really homogenous when it comes to activities, particularly those involving sports. Since I�m not sure where I�ll be living at in Japan as of yet, this is becoming more and more of a concern for me. I know of a few ex-pat clubs in Tokyo, one in Yokohama, and one in Kobe, but I haven�t been able to find out about any others.

2.) When does the Sevens season start in Japan? Here in the U.S. it starts in June and goes to August.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Not rugby elated, but.....I play on a softball team and am the only foreigner and I have found my J-teammates to be great. They are really friendly and I sense they really like having me on the team even though (on the most part) they are better than me. This is my second season and I am amazed at their work ethic even in practices. Takes a lot to keep up with them and I try to give a good impression of foreigners as I am sure I am the first one they have had real contact with. It is a lot of fun.

patsensei · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Tokyo

I played rugby only once. it was pretty funny. I went from being one of the smallest from my team in Aussie (half back) to one of the tallest in Tokyo. They put me as their main line out jumper and wanted me in the 2nd row. I found the players a very friendly bunch. We were a really crap team but we played against an even crapper team so that was pretty funny. Sorry I can`t even remember what the team`s name was.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I've no idea where you'll be, but here's the Nagoya Barbarians www.nagoyabarbarians.com