It took 49 years to win the plate and just a year later we've bagged the cup in Japan's highest profile 7's tournament.
Congrats to Doogs, Ian Miller, Matt Creagh and Ryan Rogers from our regular club ranks for making such oustanding contributions. Joe was a very competent manager. Nike, Kyoko and Massivo King were all brilliant water carriers. A couple of contributions saved the rest of the committee from being declared completely useless.
See Rich Freeman's report at the following Daily Yomuiri link:
http://
Rich unfortunately had limited space for his story - see below a larger piece written by Ian McDonnell from RiJ.
Kyoko has very kindly(as always) uploaded her photos from the day - click on the link.
She has displayed exceptional shutter timing for the boys with the cheer girl shots.
http://
Joe's individual match reports to follow.
Simon
50th YC&AC Japan Rugby Sevens
Participating Teams – Keio University, Coca-Cola West, Mitsubishi Sagamihara, Hosei University, Takushoku University, YC&AC, Toyota Verblitz, Meiji University, Teikyo University, Kurita, Tamariva, Tokai University, Daito Bunka University, Yokogawa, Kubota Spears and Waseda University.
Championship Final – YC&AC 57 d Tokai University 14
Consolation Final – Meiji University 35 d Daito Bunka University 29.
It was a long time in coming, 50 years to be precise, but finally the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club (YC&AC) took the crown of their own tournament. It took a little help from friends to achieve the feat with Fijian Sevens legend Waisale Serevi, former Japan Sevens captain, Australian-born Nathan Ashley and former Toshiba backrower Sione Kepu lending a hand to regular players such as Dougal Robertson, Ian Miller and Matt Creagh.
In the final, YC&AC defeated Tokai University 57-14 to start the celebrations. The hosts of the tournament scored nine tries to two and after setting up a 28-7 lead at halftime went on to confirm the win in the second ten minutes. Among the try scorers for YC&AC were Isimeli Daveta and Jonetani Ratu who both picked up hat-tricks. The skill, size, power and experience of the YC&AC team proved too much for the students who tried their best and came away with two good tries of their own. In the 4th minute of the first half Joshua Mau, originally from Christchurch in New Zealand scored for the students with the conversion evening up the score at 7-all. However, that was as close as Tokai would get to YC&AC who then exerted their dominance to score a further 3 first half tries and then five more in the second half. The students found the guile of Serevi, the power of Kepu and Jimmy Maher at the breakdown and the speed of Daveta and Ratu out wide too much to handle as the game wore on.
Tokai was playing in its second Championship final in a row after losing to Kanto Gakuin University last year, but again the students ended up bridesmaids. Along the way this year, Tokai defeated Yokogawa Denki 24-19 in the semis, Teikyo University 31-5 in the quarters and Tamariva 36-0 in the opening game.
As for YC&AC, they defeated Coca-Cola 10-7 in a tight semi, Toyota 34-7 in the quarters and Takushoku University 55-0 in the opening game.
In the Consolation final, Meiji University came from behind at the death after Daito Bunka University was reduced to 6 men after a yellow card for a reckless tackle to win 35-29.
After the win over Toyota, Waisale Serevi took some time out before the semi-final clash with Coca-Cola to speak with the media. Although Serevi had played rugby in Japan in the early 90s, this was actually his first time to the YC&AC Japan Sevens. “I had been invited over the last few years but had always been too busy to come.” He confirmed with the press. On the just completed game against Toyota he said that they knew it would be tough and that they had to lift their performance. He went on say, “As this is William Ryder’s team, maybe he taught them a few Sevens skills.”
At 39 years of age, Serevi has a positive outlook on life in that he does not drink or smoke and he trains every day to keep healthy. At the moment he is coaching the Taiwan Sevens team and at training he commented, “Sometimes they stop and I keep going.” This is a fair indication of the good shape he is in.
When he tried to put into words his own Sevens philosophy, he made the comment, “I always play like it is the last seven minutes of my life. I give 110%, 150% and try to do the right thing at the right time.”
When asked about Japanese Sevens he said, “Japan has got the players to play the best Sevens in the World. They must pick the best players and for tournaments like this invite countries from overseas, especially the region like China to lift the level to know where you are at.” He also used his own country of Fiji as an example, “We are a small country with not a lot of money but Fiji takes its Sevens very seriously,” he said.
In the YC&AC team warm-ups before each game, Serevi took the lead and took the players through a series of short but intense high level drills that seemed to lift the players to new heights. His mere presence on the field also settled the team and created an atmosphere of great confidence that even in the tight semi-final against Coca-Cola meant they were extremely difficult to beat.
On the ground after the match while the dust was still settling, Simon Ryan, the YC&AC Rugby Club President and coach of the Sevens side noted, “It was appropriate that we could win it on our 50th anniversary.” In reference to the fact that after hosting the Japan Sevens tournament for 50 years YC&AC actually won the event for the first time. He went on to add, “It was a privilege to be associated with a master like Serevi. He gelled the team and quickly gained their respect. He is a genius!”
YC&AC team manager, Joe Fisher also said, “This was obviously a very strong team and the club is proud of the result.” He went on to say that despite some obvious names it was also a day for club regulars like Dougal Robertson who has played for the team for more than seven years. Dougal scored a try in the win and also kicked a conversion.
Former Toshiba forward Sione Kepu came up to Japan from New Zealand for the tournament to back up his participation from last year. On playing alongside Serevi for the first time he said, “It was a case of combining my abilities of power and speed with his ability of flair.” He also noted that he loved the response from the Japanese crowd. Sione’s brother, Sekope (22) also debuted as a loose head prop with the NSW Waratahs this season.
Past Tournament Winners
1959
Yawata Steel
1969
Yawata Steel
1979
Nippon Steel (Kamaishi)
1989
Toshiba Fuchu
1999
Toyota
1960
Hino Diesel
1970
Nippon Steel
1980
Nippon Taiiku Uni.
1990
Toshiba Fuchu
2000
Isetan
1961
Yawata Steel
1971
Ricoh
1981
Waseda Uni.
1991
Ricoh
2001
Sanix
1962
Yawata Steel
1972
Nippon Steel
1982
Meiji Uni.
1992
Toshiba Fuchu
2002
Toyota
1963
Hino Diesel
1973
Nippon Steel
1983
Waseda Uni.
1993
Toshiba Fuchu
2003
Sanix
1964
Yawata Steel
1974
Tokyo Sanyo
1984
Suntory
1994
Toshiba Fuchu
2004
Toyota
1965
Yawata Steel
1975
Acorn Club
1985
Tokyo Sanyo
1995
Ricoh
2005
IBM
1966
Yawata Steel
1976
Meiji Uni.
1986
Toyota
1996
Isetan
2006
Mitsubishi Sagamihara
1967
Yawata Steel
1977
Tokyo Police
1987
Toyota
1997
Niko Niko Do
2007
Kanto Gakuen Uni.
1968
Yawata Steel
1978
All Japan
1988
Sanyo
1998
Kubota
2008
YC&AC
Congrats to Doogs, Ian Miller, Matt Creagh and Ryan Rogers from our regular club ranks for making such oustanding contributions. Joe was a very competent manager. Nike, Kyoko and Massivo King were all brilliant water carriers. A couple of contributions saved the rest of the committee from being declared completely useless.
See Rich Freeman's report at the following Daily Yomuiri link:
http://
Rich unfortunately had limited space for his story - see below a larger piece written by Ian McDonnell from RiJ.
Kyoko has very kindly(as always) uploaded her photos from the day - click on the link.
She has displayed exceptional shutter timing for the boys with the cheer girl shots.
http://
Joe's individual match reports to follow.
Simon
50th YC&AC Japan Rugby Sevens
Participating Teams – Keio University, Coca-Cola West, Mitsubishi Sagamihara, Hosei University, Takushoku University, YC&AC, Toyota Verblitz, Meiji University, Teikyo University, Kurita, Tamariva, Tokai University, Daito Bunka University, Yokogawa, Kubota Spears and Waseda University.
Championship Final – YC&AC 57 d Tokai University 14
Consolation Final – Meiji University 35 d Daito Bunka University 29.
It was a long time in coming, 50 years to be precise, but finally the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club (YC&AC) took the crown of their own tournament. It took a little help from friends to achieve the feat with Fijian Sevens legend Waisale Serevi, former Japan Sevens captain, Australian-born Nathan Ashley and former Toshiba backrower Sione Kepu lending a hand to regular players such as Dougal Robertson, Ian Miller and Matt Creagh.
In the final, YC&AC defeated Tokai University 57-14 to start the celebrations. The hosts of the tournament scored nine tries to two and after setting up a 28-7 lead at halftime went on to confirm the win in the second ten minutes. Among the try scorers for YC&AC were Isimeli Daveta and Jonetani Ratu who both picked up hat-tricks. The skill, size, power and experience of the YC&AC team proved too much for the students who tried their best and came away with two good tries of their own. In the 4th minute of the first half Joshua Mau, originally from Christchurch in New Zealand scored for the students with the conversion evening up the score at 7-all. However, that was as close as Tokai would get to YC&AC who then exerted their dominance to score a further 3 first half tries and then five more in the second half. The students found the guile of Serevi, the power of Kepu and Jimmy Maher at the breakdown and the speed of Daveta and Ratu out wide too much to handle as the game wore on.
Tokai was playing in its second Championship final in a row after losing to Kanto Gakuin University last year, but again the students ended up bridesmaids. Along the way this year, Tokai defeated Yokogawa Denki 24-19 in the semis, Teikyo University 31-5 in the quarters and Tamariva 36-0 in the opening game.
As for YC&AC, they defeated Coca-Cola 10-7 in a tight semi, Toyota 34-7 in the quarters and Takushoku University 55-0 in the opening game.
In the Consolation final, Meiji University came from behind at the death after Daito Bunka University was reduced to 6 men after a yellow card for a reckless tackle to win 35-29.
After the win over Toyota, Waisale Serevi took some time out before the semi-final clash with Coca-Cola to speak with the media. Although Serevi had played rugby in Japan in the early 90s, this was actually his first time to the YC&AC Japan Sevens. “I had been invited over the last few years but had always been too busy to come.” He confirmed with the press. On the just completed game against Toyota he said that they knew it would be tough and that they had to lift their performance. He went on say, “As this is William Ryder’s team, maybe he taught them a few Sevens skills.”
At 39 years of age, Serevi has a positive outlook on life in that he does not drink or smoke and he trains every day to keep healthy. At the moment he is coaching the Taiwan Sevens team and at training he commented, “Sometimes they stop and I keep going.” This is a fair indication of the good shape he is in.
When he tried to put into words his own Sevens philosophy, he made the comment, “I always play like it is the last seven minutes of my life. I give 110%, 150% and try to do the right thing at the right time.”
When asked about Japanese Sevens he said, “Japan has got the players to play the best Sevens in the World. They must pick the best players and for tournaments like this invite countries from overseas, especially the region like China to lift the level to know where you are at.” He also used his own country of Fiji as an example, “We are a small country with not a lot of money but Fiji takes its Sevens very seriously,” he said.
In the YC&AC team warm-ups before each game, Serevi took the lead and took the players through a series of short but intense high level drills that seemed to lift the players to new heights. His mere presence on the field also settled the team and created an atmosphere of great confidence that even in the tight semi-final against Coca-Cola meant they were extremely difficult to beat.
On the ground after the match while the dust was still settling, Simon Ryan, the YC&AC Rugby Club President and coach of the Sevens side noted, “It was appropriate that we could win it on our 50th anniversary.” In reference to the fact that after hosting the Japan Sevens tournament for 50 years YC&AC actually won the event for the first time. He went on to add, “It was a privilege to be associated with a master like Serevi. He gelled the team and quickly gained their respect. He is a genius!”
YC&AC team manager, Joe Fisher also said, “This was obviously a very strong team and the club is proud of the result.” He went on to say that despite some obvious names it was also a day for club regulars like Dougal Robertson who has played for the team for more than seven years. Dougal scored a try in the win and also kicked a conversion.
Former Toshiba forward Sione Kepu came up to Japan from New Zealand for the tournament to back up his participation from last year. On playing alongside Serevi for the first time he said, “It was a case of combining my abilities of power and speed with his ability of flair.” He also noted that he loved the response from the Japanese crowd. Sione’s brother, Sekope (22) also debuted as a loose head prop with the NSW Waratahs this season.
Past Tournament Winners
1959
Yawata Steel
1969
Yawata Steel
1979
Nippon Steel (Kamaishi)
1989
Toshiba Fuchu
1999
Toyota
1960
Hino Diesel
1970
Nippon Steel
1980
Nippon Taiiku Uni.
1990
Toshiba Fuchu
2000
Isetan
1961
Yawata Steel
1971
Ricoh
1981
Waseda Uni.
1991
Ricoh
2001
Sanix
1962
Yawata Steel
1972
Nippon Steel
1982
Meiji Uni.
1992
Toshiba Fuchu
2002
Toyota
1963
Hino Diesel
1973
Nippon Steel
1983
Waseda Uni.
1993
Toshiba Fuchu
2003
Sanix
1964
Yawata Steel
1974
Tokyo Sanyo
1984
Suntory
1994
Toshiba Fuchu
2004
Toyota
1965
Yawata Steel
1975
Acorn Club
1985
Tokyo Sanyo
1995
Ricoh
2005
IBM
1966
Yawata Steel
1976
Meiji Uni.
1986
Toyota
1996
Isetan
2006
Mitsubishi Sagamihara
1967
Yawata Steel
1977
Tokyo Police
1987
Toyota
1997
Niko Niko Do
2007
Kanto Gakuen Uni.
1968
Yawata Steel
1978
All Japan
1988
Sanyo
1998
Kubota
2008
YC&AC
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