Old Boys Club
The page for those who are gone but not forgotten…
Dan Clark (Hooker)
A one-season wonder during 2004/05, some might have thought Dan a little too pretty for the front row. His performances at scrum and line-out offered some reassurance, but it was his absolute phobia of crossing the tryline with the ball that confirmed the point. Now in Singapore.
James “The Sock” Rogers (No. Eight)
James is a native of the Land of the Long White Cloud, and a disciple of the Long White Sock. He was upset to learn the sex ban on the night before big matches extended to self abuse, but still often disappears to the Gents with his sock for a “warm-up” just before kick-off. He made a massive contribution on the field since joining the club in 2002 (though he seemed to spend 10 minutes every game on the touchline with a bleeding nose) and was first XV vice-captain for 2004/05. Now in England.
Niall “Mad Doctor”Jefferson (Outside Half/Centre/Full Back)
Niall brought a unique mixture of skills to the field – the kicking & running kind that have saw him make a strong claim for the #10 shirt in the 04/05 season, and the medical kind that saw him frequently called to the sidelines to repair bodies shattered by his teammates’ tackles.
Tom Jones (Second Row)
One of YCAC’s best recruits from the US Navy, Tom was a powerful force in the pack and relishes dishing out the sort of cruel & unusual punishment that his training at law school didn’t quite cover. Does he score? Well, it’s not unusual . . . Now posted to the rugby heartland of San Diego.
Richard Corner (Tight Head)
A winger trapped in the body of a 17 stone prop, Richard spent his time in Japan saving up for position-reassignment surgery. In the meantime he was equally happy running straight over the top of would-be tacklers or demonstrating his bewitching sidestep. He threatens to be back one day, but we’re not keeping the 12 shirt open for him . . .
Richard Hoskin (Prop)
Although an athlete of Richard’s natural ability could have picked almost any position on the field and make it his own, he preferred to spend his time in the front row. A stalwart of YCAC and veteran of the rugby section, he made a welcome return to action in 2001, featuring in the Interport in Kobe and again in the 2002 match in Yokohama.
Susumu “Sumo” Nojima (Hooker)
Sumo found his jumpers every time, which is a miracle given how hard it was for him to find the ground before the game starts. He typified the modern mobile, skillful breed of front row forward, and so was completely out of place at YCAC. Unfortunately a neck injury picked up during our 2001 10s triumph has forced him to hang up the boots and stick with more sedate pursuits (surely nothing to do with the girlfriend moving in . . .)
Arthur Gautier-De-Charnace (Second Row/Back Row)
A new arrival in 2001, Arthur made an immediate impression with his lineout skills (mostly due to being a lot less lardy than the club’s other locks). One of the few surviving bachelors in the team, Arthur was among the club leaders in scoring every year, and is now taking his talents to New York.
Robbie Grant (Second Row/Number 8)
Seven feet tall but weighing almost nothing, Robbie made everyone’s life easier at the linout during the 2002/03 season. Trying to keep up when he sets off on a run was another matter, though.
Renaud Biscarrat (Flanker)
Renaud added gallic flair to the back row (when he wasn’t in hospital with another head injury – use your arms to tackle, mate). Although his discipline on the rugby field is a disgrace to his country (he has never had so much as a yellow card) he made his mark for the soccer team on the Bangkok tour, getting sent off 5 minutes after coming on as a sub. Magnifique!.
Benn Shepherd (Winger)
Benn was the master try poacher on either wing. His hat trick in the inaugural Panty Shield (and the subsequect 3 tequila shots) were not enough to stop his relentles assault on the try line, and he had another great season the following year. A telephone injury (honest!) ruled him out of rugby after that, and after a year of YCAC hocky he has now moved to NY.
Austin Sweeney (Outside Half)
Austin claims not to even know of the existence of the YCAC rugby website, and so won’t mind us mentioning that he was born a girl and since his surgery his off-field hobbies have come to include crochet, bestiality and morris dancing.
Brett Wright (Flanker)
Did someone say rock hard? Brett’s immense tackling meant the defensive line close to the breakdown was been all but impregnable when he played. He didn’t score as many “meat pies” as his back row brethren, but none of them would dare to point that out to him. He arrived from Hong Kong, and left after a year for Singapore.
Dan Mori (Almost anywhere)
Another proud son of the US of A, Dan served his homeland in Yokohama as a lawyer for the US Navy. There’s another type of servicing he was well known for too – it wasn’t his service from the base of the scrum, but it did also involve a lot of different positions. Now suffering on a hardship posting in Hawaii. Do we feel a tour coming on?
Mike Powell (Second Row/No. 8)
The 1999/2000 player of the season has lost none of his pace or fearsome aggresion round the field but now displays them from behind a whistle. Naturally the irony of a ref having a guide dog as a pet has not escaped the players under his control.
John “Slugger” Hammond (Winger/Full Back)
This seasoned campaigner and ex pilot sprouted new wings since the birth of his daughter. He now prefers to play sober, and was even tackling opponents WITH the ball in his last season, but he could still teach Mike Tyson a thing or two. Now in France.
Nick Bartelot (Winger/Full Back)
Nick made a huge impression during his short stay on an academic exchange in Yokohama. As well as doing athletics, rugby and God knows what else for his school he found time to make the rest rest of us at YCAC look very slow while scoring from either wing or full back.
Colin “Zoo” Naughton (Winger)
Although the origins of Colin’s nickname are lost in the mists of ancient history, his animal instincts are plain to see whether he is hunting tries on the field or tracking a potential mate on a Saturday night. He won the 2002 Big Hitter award for some outstanding tackling throughout the season – the judges claim his nightime scores were not included in the reckoning, but it’s hard to see how they could have been overlooked. Now on a hardship posting in Bangkok.
Danny Le Blanc (Winger)
Dan learnt to tackle from WWF, and we were all waiting for the day he took out his man with one of the spectators’ benches. He played a full game with a broken hand in early February, before agreeing to take an asprin and rest the injury for a couple of weeks. He is like lightening with the ball in hand, though, and scored plenty of tries, despite the extra drag from that hair. Now back in the US.
Malcolm Barnett (Outside Half/Centre)
Mal was the steel of the midfield, the very soul of the 1st XV backline. Team mates have been heard to scream – “Malcolm – YOU ARE SOUL” at critical moments. Mal brought a rich rugby history to the YC&AC after stints in Australia and Hong Kong, and has now taken it to New York.
James Lovegrove (No. 8/Centre)
James had huge impact on the side after his arrival in the middle of the 2000/01 season, scoring in every game he played that year despite regular visits to the touchline for oxygen. After getting fit enough for 80 minutes, he was incredible whether breaking from the back of the scrum or charging through the midfield. Player of the season in 2001/02, he suffered a nasty broken arm in the last game of the season. Now in Singapore.
Jeff Scott (Centre/Winger)
Jeff’s wild hair and tattoos are in contrast to his gentle and friendly nature – unless you were playing for other side and had the ball, that is, when he was just as crazy as he looked.
Steve Thompson (Flanker/No. 8)
A part-time player due to his commitments as a Calvin Klein underwear model (and yes – he does use a pair of socks down there), Thomo claims to have played for Scotland schoolboys. His last sightings in Tokyo suggested it’s more likely to be Japanese schoolgirls he’s rucking these days.
Terry Brink (Hooker)
Terry arrived from SA via Hong Kong just in time to help win the Gareth MacFadyen cup in 2001. A HK represesentitive player, his contribution in the loose and tight is immense, but we all wished he’d stop calling the lineouts in Zulu. Work has taken him back to HK, but we are still hoping for occasional guest appearances.
Kevin Rideout (Centre)
A 2002 arrival from Hong Kong, Kevin has already made a great impression in the first team midfield. He was awarded the “fallen star” trophy at the end of the 2003/04 season after it was revealed he played for Wales Universities & Saracens 1st XV in his youth before bringing himself down to YCAC level with beer, cigarettes & women.
Tim Wood (Centre/Wing)
WWWW.
Al Ferris (Winger/Flanker)
Al will be hanging up his boots just as soon as his career as an international rock star takes off – which will mean we enjoy his company at the club for years to come. He tried to leave once, but has been drawn back into the fold again. Like most of his compatriots at YCAC, he can play in almost any position (rugby, not the guitar) which is a dangerous skill (hooker, anyone?). Now in NZ.
Yasushi “Sushi” Fujii (Winger)
Every single item of Sushi’s clothing is emblazoned with the letters “HKRFC”. He claims he was a member of Hong Kong Football Club, but the little round glasses, the scar on his head and the way he can magically make a beer disappear suggest the H might stand for a well known school of wizardry. Now a house-husband in NZ
James Robertson (Full Back)
Many has been the time the older, fatter, less skillful members of the first XV have watched scrum-half Dougal at work and wished we could have more like him. Well thank you Mrs Robinson! You have given us just that. Dougal’s brother arrived for the 2003/04 season and has added frightening skill and pace to the back division and scored a hatful of tries so far. All together now: “Well here’s to you Mrs Robertson”. Now in NZ
Saito san (Referee/Touch judge)
Saito san has the unenviable job of trying to keep YCAC players the right side of the laws.
Mike Brooke (Tight Head)
An urbane investment banker during the week, Brookie becomes a man possessed when he pulls on his kit and hits the rugby field. Always leading from the front – especially when aroused by foul play – Brookey loves to harangue opposition and referees alike in their native tongue, just as long as they are fluent in Brookish. Now retired.
Andy Blacoe (Hooker)
Another one of the legion of lawyers arriving at the club in 2005, Andy is happy to put the niceties of the legal world aside for the brutal realities of front row play at the weekend. Now in Australia.
Ben Kiggell (Second Row)
After two years as first XV captain, Ben returned to the ranks for 2002/03. As a lineout jumper he is fighting a losing battle against gravity (or rather his props are) but he can be a powerful force at the breakdown. He will be looking to cross the tryline at least once this year – something he didn’t manage for the whole of last season. Now in Singapore.
Gareth Hayward (Second Row)
YCAC’s very own Mr Orbit plays most of his best rugby with his feet off the ground but is handy across the turf too. A wizard at lineouts and restarts, he also scores too many tries for a tight forward. The backs’ committee is investigating jealously.
Alistair “Stairs” Killen (Second Row/Back Row)
A man-mountain, Stairs has lost a bit of weight recently and is now merely vast. When he jumps in the lineout, people run for cover in case he lands on them. He had an outstanding first season for YCAC in 2004/05.
Johan Slabbert (Flanker/Number 8)
A farm boy originally from Free State, Johan moved to Japan from London where he was playing for Esher. He keeps both barrels of his shotgun loaded at all times in case the likes of the Vicar make a move on his lovely twin daughters. Even without the Purdey, though, he is a scary sight on the rugby field, crunching the ball carrier or flattening would-be tacklers with ease.
Masa Ishida (Flanker)
Masa is playing his second season with YCAC after a season with ISCI in Jakarta and six years with the Nomads in Manila. Still making the hard yards and making big tackles at age 40, his ambition is to play with his sons, which makes us wonder why he sent them to a school where they only play gridiron.
Ryota Yashima (Flanker/Referee)
The 1999/2000 player of the season has lost none of his pace or fearsome aggression round the field but now displays them from behind a whistle. Naturally the irony of a ref having a guide dog as a pet has not escaped the players under his control.
Rob “‘roids” Jee (Flanker)
That’s hemorrhoids, not steroids. Rob’s surname has unfortunate connotations in Japan and leaves the team wondering if that tube in his kit bag is Deep Heat or Preparation H. ‘roids has put in some fine performances on those occasions when he has woken up in time for kick-off.
Thusitha Herath (Flanker)
Another 2005 arrival, but this time from Sri Lanka. TD has played for the Sri Lankan national team at u19 & full international level, and also plays for the Sri Lanka police side. He’s not actually a policeman, though, or he might have met a few of the YCAC boys before on our tour to his home country.
Marcus Waudby (No. 8)
Marcus stands out from the rest of the YCAC squad for his devotion to his physical condition. His plan to weigh more than the entire opposition front row worked to perfection this season with some storming “runs” as evidence, as well as plenty of “meat pies” on the scoresheet to match the ones on his plate. (Editor’s note: the photo used here is temporary – we will switch it for one with Marcus eating a pie as soon as the photographer can buy some fast enough film to catch the pie in motion)
Mike Benner (Fullback)
Mike has been part of the YCAC rugby scene for many years, captaining the Gents in the mid 90s. After spending years grappling in the mud with fat guys in rugby kit Mike has discovered his real love (apart from the new Mrs Benner) is water polo, where he can wrestle underwater with fit men in lycra.
Lyndon Smith (Flanker)
A 2005 arrival from NZ, Lyndon made an immediate impression on YCAC with the most garish rugby shorts ever to grace our pitch, but has added to his reputation with some crunching tackles and classy handling in his time at the club. His background is in rugby league, so of course we always picked him at flanker where he was guaranteed to have no experience.
Rich Freeman (Outside Half/Centre)
Formerly the coach and playmaker at rival KRAC, Rich moved to Tokyo in a transparent attempt to be on the winning side in another Interport. That tactic worked well, and there was also more long-overdue coverage of YCAC rugby in the Daily Yomiuri with him in charge there. Unfortunately a chronic back injury has now forced him to hang up his boots.
Gavin Moolman (Hooker / Flanker)
An executive with a major European car-maker, Gavin spends all day making safe vehicles and all night making unsafe sex. The positive result for the club is that through this policy Gavin has single-handedly created the next generation of YCAC players. The negative result for Gavin is that he keeps getting shown up for pace by his teenage sons. However, the next generation still has plenty to learn from Big Daddy when it comes to commitment – Gavin plays two matches every week and gives it 100% every minute he is on the field. Now in England.
Neil ‘Teflon’ Smith (Lock)
An active and vocal member of the club from 1987 to 1996, Neil was the only lock in the world who didn’t jump in the lineout and was also incapable of catching the ball – hence his nickname. His achievements were many: sent off in the 0ver-35s tournament; sent the Gents fly-half off for kicking too much against young and fast opposition; and in one match both he and his son were penalized. He captained the Gents in 1990/91. Now living in the boondocks of Tottori, he brings his rugby club to YC&AC once a year to renew old friendships.
Ian Miller (Wing)
A strange mix of opposites – a tattooed banker who looks twenty years older than he really is but is blindingly quick on the rugby field – Ian was a regular fixture in the YCAC 1sts for a few seasons before following his banking career to the land of Oz in 2007. (How ironic that Ian, originally from the American South, was given the nickname Ian ‘The Aussie’ when he first joined YCAC and is now actually living in Sydney).
Stephane Tsassis (Lock)
Despite a hectic travel schedule for work and considerable family commitments the French Silver Fox always put in huge amounts of effort on the field. Stephane was also been admired for the good-natured manner in which he takes all the stick given to his home country by his YCAC team-mates. Indeed he seemed to be assimilating a little too well – prior to the 2008 match against All France he was heard to yell “I hate the f*cking French!” during the warm-ups. Now, strangely enough, back in France …
Go Kawai (Prop/Hooker)
Go made his way to YCAC after a spell with the distinguished Narbonne Rugby Club in the south of France. A worker in the wine industry, Go loves nothing more than stomping on grapes during the week and opposition players on the weekends.
Terry Dixon (Hooker/Flanker)
Terry is a cunning linguist – having taken his masters in Japanese as a student at Cambridge, he is now attempting to master a number of Japanese students in Tokyo. Despite some success he always has an enormous amount of energy left for rugby on a Sunday. He has played more rugby in the back row than at hooker for the last couple of years – his random lineout throwing in may be behind that switch, and in fact more often than not he is the one being lifted (by the ankles) as the #4 jumper.
Kieran Walsh (No. 8)
In his day job, Kieran deals with the modern marvel of crystal clear wireless communications. On the field, his vociferous celtic encouragement of team-mates makes you wonder if he needs a translator more than a handset.
Masa Nozaki (Scrum Half)
YCAC’s resident pimp, Masa is Hawaiian shirt wearing, yellow sports car driving dynamo. Despite being a senior member of YCAC’s ‘Midgets Club’, Masa has lightning service from the base of the scrum and is happy mixing it with much bigger players. (For further evidence of this, please consult the ladies’ hockey captain.) Unfortunately, Masa’s trait of thinking he is more of a man than he really is has recently carried over to the rugby field where in early 2008 he put himself forward as a goal kicker. In his only attempt he put forward the worst kick at goal in YCAC history. Barely connecting with the ball, it is fair to say that in the Amazonian rain forests there are tribes of Indians yet untouched by civilization who could have put forth a more convincing impression of a rugby placekicker.
Matt Creagh (Centre)
A lanky Queenslander with good hands and an excellent change of pace who has scored bucket loads of tries for the club since joining during the 2006/07 season. Matt is also unusually punctual for an Aussie. This is perhaps due to the fact that he does not seem to have taken a liking to the local females, instead preferring the companionship of long-term ‘friend’, Dom Townsend, with whom he previously shared a house. Such a stable private life is great for Matt’s rugby – he was the 1st XV ‘Most Valuable Player’ for the 2007/08 season.
James ‘Windmill’ Brooks (Winger)
James joined the club for the 2007/08 season and quickly impressed with his exceptional pace, scoring some excellent wingers tries during the season. A no-show on the second day of the 2008 Bangkok tour blotted the copybook somewhat, but Windmill redeemed himself at the end of the season by allowing fellow YCAC player Dean Stallard to move in with him. This was especially generous considering Dean had broken James’ hand in the Panty Shield match only a few weeks earlier!
Graham Creighton (Fullback)
Standing next to his heavier-set (fatter) YCAC team-mates, many an oppo player has decided Graham is their best chance of getting a ‘big hit’. However, they soon discover that you can’t tackle what you can’t catch and the fast South African usually emerges unscathed. Rumour has it that Graham keeps so lean by assisting his better half in her athletic endeavours – She is a Japan pole-vaulting champion and Graham is her pole!
Mark Partington
Chris Calderwood