This will be the Tokyo Gaijin RFC’s fifth visit to the Manila 10`s and the team is once again looking forward to returning home with many special memories. The Gaijin, as the name implies, is a group of foreigners (or ‘outsiders’) that play rugby in Tokyo, Japan. We also have a core group of Japanese members but only three are on tour. The rest of the workaholics are slaving away from dawn to dusk to ensure that the Japanese Economy stays strong.

The squad is a mixture of old and new tourists with manager Joffa Harris back for his 5th Manila tour and captain Apisai Bati a veteran of the Asian tour circuit with participation in the Hong Kong 10`s, the Beijing 10`s and Manila `08. The Tokyoites are thankful to the overseas contingent of Gaijin old boys Crispian Short, John Condon and Graeme Priddy joining them from Australia, and Peter Harris and Mike Parks coming from England to bolster the squad.

On the field the team will be relying on the explosive power of Kevin Rebay, the guile and cunning of Bati and the Basque Bomber and the grunt provided by bookends Mauro, Crispian, Pikachu & JC. Toru, Hitoshi & Takeshi, will provide the divine wind.

The team management is hoping the squad drinks responsibly and leaves all Makati establishments (souvenir shops, Ice Cream parlors etc) at a sensible hour and doesn’t follow captain Bati’s lead of partying all night. The management has given up on trying to maintain a curfew but if by chance you do see a Yukata (summer kimono) clad samurai with a chonmage (samurai hair style) stumbling along the strip in the early hours of the morning give him a friendly “Konnichiwa” and gently remind him why he is in Manila. Don’t feel threatened as all Katana were confiscatedat customs.

The team will be supported from the sideline by long time supporter and sponsor Peter Lucas, (formerly GM of the superb Oakwood Hotel, Manila, and now directing operations for Oakwood from Singapore), who is sure to keep the beer ladies busy.

Winners of three “Most Festive Team” awards, the TGRFC promise to adhere to the finest traditions of the tournamentand TGRFC rugby as stipulated by the ‘Manila Tour Rules’ and the ‘Narita Convention’. The team is looking forward to sinking a few San Migs with the other teams, adding to the carnival atmosphere, enjoying the local nightlife and
finally breaking through to win some silverware. Go you good thing!

Squad:

• Apisai Bati © (Fiji),
• Jeff ‘Joffa’ Harris (Manager),
• Peter Harris,
• Chris ‘Pikachu’
• Lucas,
• Crispian Short,
• John Condon,
• Graeme Priddy (all Australians),
• Toru Kanamori,
• Hitoshi Chihara,
• Takeshi Ochiai
• (all Japanese),
• Mike Parks (England),
• Mauro Sauco (Argentina),
• Paulo de Berriozabal (Basque),
• Gaz Dalrymple (Scotland),
• Kevin Rebay (France),
• Lonnie Childress (USA),
• Rory Brown (South Africa)