London Japanese RFC set for historic World Cup tour
It was in the late 1970s that a group of Japanese rugby players and enthusiasts based in London decided to form their own team in the city.
Forty years later and the current crop of London Japanese RFC (LJRFC) players are set for a landmark trip to Japan to play local teams, reconnect with their founding fathers and of course soak in a momentous Rugby World Cup.
The founding fathers
LJRFC’s first captain was the late Hiroaki Shukuzawa, a scrum half who was capped by Japan and went on to become head coach of the national side.
He was one of several founding fathers who gathered weekly on Regent’s Park in central London to train. Four decades later and a trip to the same park on a Saturday confirms the legacy they created is still very much alive.
“My memories of those early days are of going along with my dad, who was part of the team, to Regent’s Park,” says LJRFC’s Shuya Takahashi, who followed in his dad’s footsteps to represent the side.
“I was only seven at the time but they used to let me join in their touch rugby sessions.
“It was so much fun, you could tell by being around those guys in the early years that they were just a group who loved the sport and wanted to create a home for Japanese players and fans while they were in this city.”
Most of those founding fathers have now gone back to Japan and reconnecting with them was one of the key reasons for current captain Austin Rose in organising this month’s landmark tour.
Anniversary Tour
“The World Cup has been all that any of us have spoken about for the past year,” says Rose, who got involved with LJRFC three years ago.
“The fact that the tournament coincided with our 40th anniversary was perfect really, we knew we had to get over there. Getting to meet those who started this all for us will be very special.”
The team fly to Tokyo in two weeks to play in a round robin competition with local teams and Rose hopes they will be able to capitalise on interest in rugby among the Japanese expat community.
“We’re a social side so we don’t play in a league but we normally have around two matches a month and we’re always looking to find ways to get more Japanese people in London involved.
“The World Cup is the biggest moment in Japan’s rugby history and we hope to be able to use it to get a few more people down to Regent’s Park every week.”
Continuing tradition
Both Takahashi and Rose are of Japanese heritage and for them maintaining that culture at the club is important while also embracing the side’s increasingly mixed demographic.
“I’ve lived my whole life in the UK. I didn’t have any Japanese friends around me, so having that connection with Japan in the team was important for me growing up,” says Takahashi.
“Back in the early days there were a lot more Japanese players in the team but they all went back leaving a few of us to represent that aspect of the club.
“The tour will be the first time the club has gone to Japan and I’m looking forward to seeing some old faces who have put on the jersey before me.”
The future of LJRFC
Astrophysics PHD student Jorge Fuentes from Mexico represents the LJRFC’s changing player base with the club open to anyone who wants to play.
Fuentes moved to London three years ago to study and had never heard of rugby.
“I joined a football team originally but was asked to come and train with London Japanese so I went along having no idea what it was,” recalls Fuentes.
“Everyone was super friendly and welcoming even though I didn’t know what was going on.
“I soon got asked to play on the wing against Hackney and I remember playing on tour against a Japanese team based in Paris. I got my nickname ‘Phoenix’ from that game because I kept getting smashed, but would always get back up,” says Fuentes, who was named most improved player last season.
“I love rugby because no matter how hard you tackle people everyone is friends after the game. You can have a drink with the opposition and if you make a mistake, and I made a lot, then no one will judge you,” adds Fuentes.
It is be those values that LJRFC hope will encourage more people to join them so they continue to grow and provide a home for Japanese rugby in the capital for decades to come.
