Fun With Touch (FWT) // Touch Rugby, Tokyo, Japan

Saturday 30th July is the last game of FWT before we break for the summer.

We will be back on September 11th, so lets make our last day of touch a big one!

One of the highlights of the year is upon us! The Shonan GB social touch tournament and BBQ is little over a month away.

We will enter a team or two to participate, then enjoy a BBQ with all participating players. Here are the details for the event:

What: Shonan GB Social Tournament and BBQ
When: Sat 23rd July
Where: Shonan Shiome Park ( 湘南汐見台公園 )
http://www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/kenritu/10shounansio/10shounansi.htm

Schedule:
9am – 13.00 Social touch tournament
13.00 – 15.00 BBQ time at the beach

The tournament is free to play in and the BBQ is JPY 1,000 per person.

今年もタッチラグビーと海岸でのバべキューを1日楽しみながら皆さんと親睦を深める、湘南大会（第１０回）を下記のとおり開催いたします。是非御参加下さいます様お願いいたします。

【第１０回湘南大会概要】
目的　　タッチと海岸バべキューを通して
メンバー間さらに各チームの親睦を深める。
日時　　7月23日(土)　　
　　 　　9時～13時　　　　　 タッチ試合
　　　　 13時～15時　　　　　海岸バーべキュー
場所　　試合：湘南汐見台公園
http://www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/kenritu/10shounansio/10shounansi.htm
　　ＢＢＱ：辻堂海岸（試合会場からご案内します）

試合　　エンジョイが目的です
　　　　今年もチーム単位での試合と混合チームでの対抗試合を考えています。チームが組めなければ　個人参加（他のチームと合同となります）でも結構です。
※ 今年はグランドが狭いため１面しかとれません。
申し訳ありませんが、１団体１チームでの参加をお願い致します。

会費　　　試合　　 　　無料
　 　　 　バべキュー　 1,000円／人

We are in the final stages of designing the Fun with Touch supporter shirts and should have everything soon. If everything goes to plan, we will be taking orders from next week. We will need to know sizes, your number, name on the back, collar option etc.

The supporters shirts have a multi purpose function as it can be worn during FWT sessions on Saturdays, at social tournaments as our uniform as well as when you are out and about. We will keep you informed about the shirts once they are ready for order!

We have been invited to bring together a team for a practice/friendly game against the Japanese All Star parliamentary rugby team as a warm up for their participation in the parliamentary rugby RWC competition in NZ. It’s a hybrid game between touch and rugby.

Post Update: The games have been played and the photos have been uploaded onto the photo gallery. To see the photos of the day, click on the following link. http://www.funwithtouch.com/media-gallery/2011-photos/?album=3&gallery=24

The touch World Cup is finally underway. Japan sent four teams; Mens open, Womens open, Mens 30s, Mens 35s. We are supporting four players that have regularly been involved with Fun with Touch – two in the Men’s open and two in the Men’s 30s teams.

Here is an update of the each of the teams:

Mens Open
After the first preliminary round, Japan topped their Pool C with strong wins against Germany, England and Ireland. The results were:

Japan 13 – 0 Germany
Japan 12 – 4 England
Japan 7 – 1 Ireland

Brett scored a hat trick against Germany and has scored five tries in total!!

By winning all three games, the Mens Open team has advanced to the Cup Group. The schedule and results for the following games are:

Day Two: Thursday 23rd
Japan 8 – 7 Cook Islands
Japan 8 – 3 Scotland

Brett is keeping with his try scoring form with 9 for the tournament.
On the same day, NZ beat Australia 5-4 and the Cook Islands drew with South Africa 4-4.

Day Three: Friday 24th
Japan 3 – 20 New Zealand
Japan 1 – 20 Australia
Japan 10 – 5 France

Day Four: Saturday 25th
Japan 2 – 4 South Africa
Japan 10 – 6 England

Day Five: Sunday 26th
Semi final
Japan 1 – 15 New Zealand

Bronze Medal match
Japan 5 – 8 South Africa

In the Grand Final, Australia (7) def New Zealand (6)

Brett was the second highest points scorer in the Japan side with 11 tries.

Mens 30s
The Men’s 30s division has 10 teams involved. They play each team once, with the top four advancing to the semi finals.

The results and fixtures are as follows:

Day one: Wednesday 22nd
Japan 9 – 1 Wales
Japan 9 – 7 Scotland
Japan 7 – 3 Germany

Day Two: Thursday 23rd
Japan 2- 14 Australia
Japan 4 – 10 South Africa

Day Three: Friday 25th
Japan 3 – 3 Fiji
Japan 13 – 0 Luxembourg
Japan 6 – 5 England

Day Four: Saturday 26th
Japan 6 – 8 France

Japan and Fiji were tied on points, but Fiji had the better points differential so they advances to the semi finals while Japan played off for 5th and 6th.

5th/6th Play off

Japan 7 – 8 South Africa

The 3rd and 4th play off was won by France as they defeated Fiji (8-4). In the final, Australia beat England (18-2).

Weesang top scored for the M30s with 10 tries in total. Glen ended up with 5 tries.

Womens Open
The womens team is 3rd in Pool B. They beat Austria (8-0), but have lost to Singapore (0-9) and New Zealand (0-13) on Day one. Day Two saw the Japan Womens team in the bowl group and played Austria again beating them 9-1.

Day Three: Friday 24th
Japan 9 – 2 Scotland 30s
Japan 4 – 5 Scotland
Japan 3 – 2 England 30s

Day Four: Saturday 25th
Japan 9 – 1 Germany

Day five: Sunday 26th
Bowl Group Semi Final
Japan 11 – 2 Austria

Bowl Group Final
Japan 6 – 3 Scotland

Singapore (5) def England (4) for the Bronze medal
Australia (5) def New Zeland (3) for the Gold medal

Mens 35s
The M35s are in Pool C against France and Switzerland. They beat Switzerland (5-4) before losing to France (5-6).
Day two game the M35s won against Scotland (7-3), but lost to the US (4-6).

Day three games saw the M35s defeat Switzerland (7-4), draw with Spain (6-6) and beat Ireland (10-4).

Their final game on day four was an 8-6 win against the US.

Australia (11) def. South Africa (6) for the gold medal.

To keep up with the Japan teams progress, click here: http://www.touchworldcup2011.co.uk/fixtures-results/club:japan/